I think AT would have been a good signing, but other than that the FA market didn't hold much for us. Steinbach had no interest in playing in NY, Nate Clements is not worth 80 million. Those were the only guys I was interested in getting, we missed on AT, but still hvae a chance for Porter.
The terms are out there. Thomas is essentially getting 22 million over the next two years. That's not light spending. He's got 14 million in bonuses over that term and about 20 million total. They'd better not hope he's a system product, considering he's getting up there and the rest of their 'backers are 30 plus. Oh and that Wes Welker deal is moronic. -X-
The Welker deal, is not a deal. It is an offer sheet. It came out days ago the pats have that thing loaded with poisen pills (dirtbags) This has been being reported for awhile now. Welker is not going to see anywhere close to the bloated amount stated. The sheet is 100 percent designed to make it impossibole for the fish to match. The deal is more lucrative then the Thomas deal. It is a front. He is not going to make anywhere close to 38 million. Peter kings take on the numbers. - SI.com One guy might have been underpaid in Lunatic 2007 Market Dollars: Adalius Thomas. He signed with New England for five years and $35.00 million. The breakdown, according to Management Council documents obtained Sunday night: • Signing bonus: $12 million in 2007. • Option bonus: $8 million payable in 2008, applied for cap reasons in equal $2 million increments in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. • Salaries: $900,000 in '07, $900,000 in '08, $1.9 million in '09, $4.9 million in '10 and $5.9 million in '11. • Workout bonuses: $107,000 annually if he participates in the Patriots' offseason workout program in Foxboro. • Cap numbers: In succession, beginning this year, $3.4 million, $5.4 million, $6.4 million, $9.4 million, $10.4 million. I say "might have been underpaid" because there is always a danger that a unique, great player in one system might not translate to that kind of player in another system. But I'll go on record saying this is a tremendous signing -- for both sides, not just the Patriots. Thomas gets what he wants, staying in the Eastern Time Zone (he did not want to move to California), playing with an annual contender, working under a coach who obviously is an imaginative defensive strategist and playing for a team that isn't a sideshow. The Patriots get what they want, signing a versatile 29-year-old linebacker (mostly) to buttress a rapidly aging unit, adding a perfect locker-room influence, and leaving
I applaud the front office for being smart enough to realize this team isn't one or two big free agents away from being a championship caliber team. Continuing to build through the draft, and going after second-tier free agents like Marc Colombo (would be a great pickup for RT), Kenyon Coleman (big boost to the DL), David Bowens (great situational pass-rusher) is the smart thing to do. If we had some more cap room, you could justify doing that and maybe pursuing someone like Joey Porter... but we don't. I'd rather stick to the current plan: build through the draft, sign solid second-tier free agents, and re-signing the young, core players to long term deals.
I agree 100% with you FOURTHANDLONG! Comparing what we should do in the FA market to what the Pats are doing is like comparing apples to oranges... like you said, they already have a championship caliber team and can win another SB with 1 or 2 additional impact players. I do not understand the frustration over our not wanting to mortgage our future on players we are not ready for yet. The draft will get us there in due time, patience is the watchword... besides, I'm not an expert like Mangnini and Tannenbaum are...
The Jets aren't there yet and they know it. One more year of building and they'll be in the market for a guy or two to put them over the top. This season is a hold the fort and continue building the lines season. If Mangini squeezes 9 or 10 wins out of it then we'll know that we have one of the best coach/GM tandems in football and that they'll win a lot of games for us. I'm not sorry the Jets have sat on their hands so far. Making dramatic moves a year too early can really cripple a franchise's growth into a strong contender.
Great post! I agree with everything except the possibility of trading Vilma and DRob. I wouldn't want the Cap hit, wouldn't want to have to replace them and I just don't think we'd get as much value as we ought to at this point (spinning wheels, in other words). But you're right on the money with your longer-term focus, particularly the focus on the OL/DL.
I'm glad the Jets haven't signed anyone yet. I only wish they would cuz it be exciting but I'll be patient. I don't want to see the Jets overpay for Joey Porter or another big name. I definitely don't want to see the Jets package picks and players to move up in the draft. You think it's frustrating to be a Jets fan right now? Look at the Titans. They have the second most cap room and all they've done is resign some of their depth guys. But they have been in salary cap hell the last few years - they have learned their lesson. They're playing it smart and so are the Jets. Meanwhile, watch as the 49ers and Pats now go the way of the Redskins and right into the toilet.
Your post to God's ears (or vision, or whatever). The Pats, having already created their "dynasty," seem to be deviating from the very thing that made them successful. They're not following their own pattern for success, possibly because they're now willing to extend themselves and take one more wild shot at going balls to the wall to obtain another title during these time of almost complete parody. That's great and it's certainly their decision, but it shouldn't have anything to do with what our current decision-making is.
Not only that, but we aren't one or two players away from winning a superbowl. We will build through the draft and keep our own guys and eventually when they think they are ready for a run they may add top flight Free agents...right now though...we arent ready... New England can do it now because they were only a few plays away from the Superbowl last season.
Crap just when I thought this place could not get any dumber you guys go and totally redeem it. My lord reading these threads I had scars on my wrists from the electric razor. I would be shocked if any of the whiny crying babies complaining about us not signing anyone really looked at the money beiing thrown around and to whom. Many of these players receiving huge contracts are scrubs. Sorry but Leonard Davis is a scrub or at the very least a chronic underachiever. Who the hell wants that guy for 18.5 million+ guranteed over 2-3 years. How about the O-lineman the bills signed? Mediocre city, their talent actually decreased and they spent a boatload. Paralleling the sentiment of the many wise posters here, this team is far from being 1 or 2 players away from the Super Bowl. In fact there is nary a position on this team that can not get upgraded, with obvious few exceptions. As much as I hate saying this, we are not the Patriots with a once in a generation QB and the best defensive front in football, this front office can not afford to make a huge mistake in free agency. They have to do it smart and cheap. There was no way in Free agency this front office was going to fix the lack of a rushing game <hint: which for the most part was not because of a lack of RB's>. What about the Defensive line the true weakness of this team. Who on the free agency list is going to fix that mess? Seriously on the Offensive line we are 2-3 starters away (taking into account Kendall's age) and the same goes for the Defensive line. Hey they plug half of those holes during the draft and I am one happy camper. It took at least 3 drafts for the Patriots to create their defensive and Offensive fronts. Using them as the model of how our front office is going to operate we have at least another 2 years to go. It sucks hearing that but it is true.
So True FITM...It's funny how initially most people where happy with Tannenbaum and Mangini and then last year when we moved slowly through the FA period, people went into panic mode because of what OTHER teams were doing, we were not supposed to win 6 games last year, but won 10 and went to the playoffs, the players we cut or lost were not a major impact for us and other than Thomas, I don't see what the big deal is so far. Spending the most money and getting the biggest marquee names does NOT guarantee success. M&T are going to pick the players THEY want for their system, not the players the MEDIA and the FANS want. Trust that this is NOT Hackett, Bradway and Edwards (Even though I still think to this day that BADway sorely underminded Edwards) and we will be o k. Have FAITH!
As a poster said in another thread (sorry, forgot your name), the Jets are starting to get "looks" from some FAs. Thomas openly stated he signed with NE because of NE (CNN.com peter king interview March 5th). Someday we will also be seen as a "close contender" and be able to sign player like Thomas "on the spot" just b/c we are the Jets. But in the mean time (2-3 yrs), the FO has two major items of focus: 1- Build a solid young team of Mangini type hard nose players through the draft. 2- Be patient and watch what teams like NE do early and then do our best to counter. For example, we know NE signed Thomas, which will influence what FAs or rookies we sign (this signing almost makes it certain we will draft TE/OL/FB early). But if NE had spent $20 to bring in a top receiver, than we would counter by looking at paying for a shut down corner to play with Dyson and/or a top pass rushing DE to slow the passing game. OT: Seems to me that most players have 3 contract cycles: 3-4yr "Rookie contract" (age 22 thru 25/26), then 4-7yr "paydirt contract" (age 26/27 thru early 30's), then blah blah blah. Top FA contracts are almost always the second "pay dirt contract", which means they will get market value no matter where they sign, so they ALWAYS mention a strong desire to play for a "contender". So with the Jets becoming a contender like NE, it will certainly play a strong role in attracting one or two top FA (Sweeny->Colts, Thomas->NE for example).
Free Agency was not Schlegeled !!! Those of you who felt the Jets needed to spend a little cash in the FA market and were getting peaved that it wasn't happening were in line with the thinking of our highly paid front office experts who went out and spent some dinero. PS: Pretty much everybody that was against the Jets making bold offseason moves was wrong. PSS: They're not done yet, so save some crow for later they are a small bird.
