I'm with you. I'd rather make a big bet on the future than pay mostly for past performance (see: Chrebet) or the couple of Super Bowl MVPs that cashed-in and were busts. I am sure many people on here get some comfort in the fact that Parcells was willing to go $20mm+ on Pace as well. Also, the reason that Cards couldn't make a run at re-signing him was due to their salary cap / Fitzgerald situation. At the end of the day, the Jets FO staked their futures on this off-season...much better in my opinion that not taking risks and reminding woody they were more profitable. My expectation for Pace are high, but I wouldn't be surpirsed if he was anything from a bust to a pro bowler. The next things to deal with are Rhodes and Coles.
That wasn't lost on Mangini and Tannenbaum, either. Parcells rebuilds teams better than anyone, unless he was bluffing his old understudys, but that would be pretty risky on his part.
It's like battered Jets fan syndrome. Losing seasons coupled with thrifty spending in free agency, then all of a sudden one off the wall spending spree and everything is ok. Until it happens again that is..
If the Jets had the same FO for the past decade I would agree with you. I think you have to give each front office a chance to do things their way. And, most people will side with activity over inactivitiy. (Ultimately, it could be the owner and then we are all f*cked.)
I understand your concern, yet, I caught Adam Schein on SNY early this morning raving about how great Pace will be for the Jets.. "perfect fit, he'll really excel... mark my words..." etc., etc. He was really pounding the table over this aquisition.
