Since it appears that some of you are incapable of using a harmless list...let me take a stab at it instead of slappin' a guy around that just put up a few lines of text...and some wonder why I don't post here more often anymore...grow up...Jesus!!! Patrick Ramsey, UFA, Denver Broncos - This is actually not that as unattractive as some might think. He's still young, has skills and survived the endless FA merry go round that was Washington...he will forever be on the bench behind the Denver stud though...he might come at a decent price for the SHOT of competing for a starter. Kerry Collins, UFA, Tennessee Titans - Not going to happen...Tennessee will re-sign him. Vince Young is not the answer unless he seriously grows up. Besides, Collins is NOT going to want a new zip code at his age, nor does he want to come back to the region that basically blew him up on the way out. (besides, I have personal knowledge on this one) Charlie Batch, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers - Now...if we were looking for someone to come in and be strictly a backup then this wouldn't be all that bad of an option. Charlie has been a solid backup for a number of years and at his age wouldn't want the starting gig. Problem is, I don't see Pittsburgh giving him up...unless they feel Leftwhich is the better option. Kyle Boller, UFA, Baltimore Ravens - This one is tough...he had a prime shot at the Ravens job for years...Hard to tell what he could or couldn't do...question is, does he provide us anything better than what is currently on the roster. I don't think so...especially considering his win/loss record with a defense that has been better than average for a number of years. I'd pass Rex Grossman, UFA, Chicago Bears - No No No...This guy is too Jekyll/Hyde for me...one game he looks like the next coming of whomever...follow that with a game that would make Jim Druckenmiller look like Dan Marino and there ya have it. Byron Leftwich, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers - Somehow I think the Steelers like him...and if they make the right offer he'll stay. Thing is, Leftwich still wants to start and he's still young. But who is going to take a chance on him with the mileage on his oft repaired wheels? I can think of a few, San Francisco (hey if they are actually considering Mike Vick then this is not even close to a stretch), Jets...I personally don't think he's that much better than Clemens and Leftwich had a superior run attack while he was in Jacksonville, Minnesota...hmmm...a upgrade to Jackson I think...ESPECIALLY with that running game and the addition of a possible WR (maybe Boldin here) and Chicago...who REALLY needs a QB in the worst way, even if they draft one...but an option to watch. J.P. Losman, UFA, Buffalo Bills - Some less edumacated Jets fans will shoot this down in a heartbeat...but they will forget that Loseman got there with alot less talent than Edwards was privy to have at his disposal and he took a beating. Loseman has the tools...but I think his confidence is shot...ala David Carr. Now, do we sit down and put him through a thorough mental exam to see where his head is at...or pass. I think David Carr has benefited from being with the Giants to get back to where his mentality needs to be, maybe the same with Loseman...might be worth a shot but I don't know. I'll bet he gets a look from Chicago AND Minnesota. Kurt Warner, UFA, Arizona Cardinals - Not gonna happen...he'll be a Cardinal or retire and we're NOT going to cough up the kind of money that it would take anyway...coming off a super bowl do you REALLY think he would leave the Cardinals?? This is not a WR or RB or LB...it's the QB. He goes nowhere. Jeff Garcia, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - I personally do not see this happening. While I think this would be a decent signing, I think Garcia is going to want a bit more than we can spend (he was the starter in Tampa you know) and at his age do you think he wants to come to the AFC East...half his games, for sure, freezing his ass off after being in Tampa with the fun and the sun? I doubt it...especially if he gets a call from Minnesota to play in a dome. Do NOT rule out San Francisco for a double shot...Singletary doesn't give a rats ass if he played there before and yeah...old skool like that. Charlie Frye UFA Seattle Seahawks - No...With Hasselbeck's back the way it is...he has a fairly good shot of starting half the season. But, you never know. Not sure on this one, nor do I think he would be a good fit for the Jets. Brooks Bollinger UFA Dallas Cowboys - Ummmm....I DOUBT this will be a re-run. I'll bet the Cowboys resign him for the Vet minimum anyway. Also, don't see him getting any play from any other team. This is Brooksie's last stop. Chris Simms UFA Tennessee Titans - Interesting...But I don't see the Titans letting him go...I could also see him looking into the 49'ers and Vikings as well. J.T. O?Sullivan UFA San Francisco 49ers - I think he stays as well. Matt Gutierrez UFA New England Patriots - not the skills to be a starter...strictly a backup. Not going to come do the Jets to compete. We already have career backups on the roster. Gibran Hamdan UFA Buffalo Bills - Who??? Enough said! Luke McCown UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers - I think the Bucs allow this guy to be the realistic starter in Tampa with the departure of Garcia. I think the new regime is going to give Luke every opportunity to start. Tampa locks him up. Brock Berlin RFA St Louis Rams - Career backup. Shane Boyd RFA Houston Texans - Ditto. I know you all are asking...why does he keep mentioning Minnesota??? I think Frerotte is not the long term answer and he has many injury questions. Can he stay healthy? With that running game, they can bring in someone that can display reasonable accuracy and manage a game. Add a decent receiver and this team can be scary. (reason why Favre wanted to go here) I just think if I'm the Vikings brass I bring in someone with a legitimate shot at competing with Jackson and Frerotte. Jackson in my mind is never going to be a viable consistent starter...and Frerotte...well...he's an injury away from being done. So there you have it. Nothing really enlightening or new, and it doesn't answer our pressing question. Honestly, I think we go into next season with what we have. Possibly drafting a QB...maybe. I just don't see the new regime hanging their new coaching hats on a crafty vet that may go down at any time...especially considering the options. Feel free to comment. Intelligently please...none of this crap I've been seeing of late. If you have nothing intelligent to say...just pass this by. Peace! The Mezz
This hasn't been brought up as far as I know, but why wouldn't Minnesota deal Jackson for a late-round pick? He is entering the final year of his rookie deal. They aren't going to start him this year and they will lose him next year with no compensation. I think he is a better option than most on the provided/argued about list and wouldn't be too costly to acquire.
Not to be negative here....but If I'm writing that many of these FA go to Minnesota to replace Jackson/Frerotte....why would I want to see Jackson in NY? Jackson is not an NFL caliber starting QB....a backup option at best. I wouldn't waste a draft pick or player in a trade. Just my opinion on that one.
I Would go with Jeff Garcia. He's a vet with good leadership whos been to the playoffs the last 3 years with 2 different teams. I would go with him then second i would go with Leftwich.
Well done. Looking at the list the crafty veteran who can win now is Warner and Garcia. The scrap heep young guys who have talent but have washed out elsewhere, Simms, Lossman and Grossman are a complete crap shoot, you might catch lightning in a bottle or you might have another guy who doesn't have the makeup to be a good backup and teammate? That leaves the pure backup vet who brings stability to the position without playing. That's Batch and maybe Ramsey. After looking at the list I would sign Batch if we could get him as a backup and give the ball to Clemens. If Clemens washes out in TC and/or Ratliff or Ainge blow people away than you basically unload Clemens and Batch is the veteran behind the young gun.
Jeff Garcia is the best veteran available. Perfect veteran backup. His football knowledge would be invaluable to a developing QB.
Winston, I agree with you that the best option is to pass on the guys who the cost of would require they start, and go with Clemens, but on the notion of getting a vet Qb as backup, how about Boller? He would be imo better than Batch, and Ramsey did not impress his last time through here. Too bad Simms would be such a crapshoot as you say. I think he has tremendous upside potential, but there's the unkown factor with him, too...
Nice write up. Most of the Vets that will be available to us may provide a push to Clemens/Ratliff but I do not think will provide any kind of upgrade. They do not know our system or players. Also a couple of those guys seem to have questionable health records. 2 big knocks for me, let alone the top fact, why aren't they starting somewhere else? I am hoping that a good prospect falls to us in the draft, but am fully realistic that even if that does happen he wont be starting this year. I don't expect one of guys to be top 5 QB, just a good consistent QB. Add (hopefully) a strong defense to back him up, and I think we will have a competitive team this season
Ramsey was horrible the last time he was here... I have a hard time believing he's going to be a good choice for us a 2nd time around. He's only worth it if you have a truck sized whole in your OL and you need someone to hold the football and take hit after hit. Tackling dummy is about his best attribute at this point. Batch is an interesting idea. He's had good games off the bench, but we'll see if Pittsburgh wants to let him go. I wouldn't mind Garcia, but he's another one who has a hard time staying healthy.
As I slept on what I wrote last night...this FA crop really is the have and have nots, as Winston summed it up. you have the couple, three or four, that really can start right now but want starters money to do it and will only last a year or two (maybe). Top it off, have to learn a new system and personnel. Then you have the maybe's in the young guns. The more I think about it...go with what we have, draft a new guy if someone relatively decent falls into our spots and go with it. If Rexy can put a decent defense on the field then we will only have to have Clemens/Ratliff/Ainge manage the games. If one of those three has the lightbulb turn on then we are money ahead...if not you work to groom the new/younger guys. There, I'm done on this topic. Peace! The Mezz
I am not basing my opinion on Jackson on what you are writing. I personally think Jackson has a higher upside than the younger FA's that have been mentioned. Minnesota has given up on him because he has choked on multiple occassions. I'm not saying that I want to see him here. I want to see Clemens/Ainge/Ratliff fight it out, but I would rather see Jackson acquired for a 7th than sign Ramsey/Grossman/Boller.
I dont get the love for Leftwich. He's been injured and while he had good stats a few years ago, he's been tailing off. He doesn't seem promising to me.
If we do sign a veteran, it will be under the assumption that they will win the QB battle and start game 1 of the season. So there is no insurance policy. If we signed a vet to back up either Clemens or Ratliff, I do not think anyone worth mentioning will want to come, but that would be an insurance policy.
This is exactly my point in bringing up Tavaris Jackson. He isn't going to start in Minnesota, but I don't think he is washed up. He has one year left on his rookie deal and wouldn't doubt if the Vikings try to move him for cheap or outright cut him. If he outplays Clemens/Ratliff in camp, so be it. If he doesn't and is the backup, at least we have someone besides Clemens that has started an NFL game.
Tavaris Jackson is another I don't ever want to see wearing a Jets uniform. That guy is horribly inconsistent and there is a reason he lost his job in Minnesota where they had a great running game. If we can't manage to get a quality FA vet affordably, we just need to take our lumps with what we have, and look for another possible draftee.
Of the guys available, I don't see anyone I'd want to be our starter except maybe Leftwich or Garcia. I'd rather they approach this list looking for veteran insurance and see if Clemens or Ratliff can step up. Both guys have been here and gone through the grooming process, the time comes to take the job or not take it, this is the time.
