If Mike Tannenbaum is looking for a second career, he might consider entering the ?World Poker Challenge.? He?s turned out to be quite a poker player, and he?s beaten some formidable opponents. In the last week, the Jets' 37-year-old GM has gotten the best of Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, and now Falcons GM Rich McKay, who might be the NFL?s next commissioner. Both thought they could take advantage of Tannenbaum?s inexperience in his new job by making him take deals below market value. Tannenbaum called their bluffs in both cases, and came out the victor. First, Tannenbaum refused to give up the reported third-round pick the Redskins wanted for backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey. By waiting the Redskins out, Tannenbaum was able to steal the former first-round pick for a sixth-round selection, giving the Jets insurance for Chad Pennington. Then in a poker game involving even higher stakes, Tannenbaum insisted on getting a first-round pick from the Falcons for defensive end John Abraham. The Falcons were holding fast on offering just a second-round pick, and a player (probably running back T.J. Duckett). But Tannenbaum wanted nothing less than a first-round pick. After all, we are talking about one of the NFL?s premier pass rushers, a man responsible for 53.5 sacks in his first six years. Players like Abraham are really hard to find. But McKay believed the Falcons' first-round pick, 15th overall, was too much to give up. So Tannenbaum turned his attention to the Seahawks, who agreed to send the 31st selection of the first round to New York for Abraham. While it was very clear that Abraham wanted no part of going to Seattle, Tannenbaum sent a message to the Falcons that he?d be willing to take a late first- round selection for the prized defensive end. So, after several days of deliberating, on Tuesday McKay went out and got a late first-round pick from the Denver Broncos, 29th overall, and sent it to the Jets for Abraham. Tannenbaum is now 2-0 in stare-downs. While it remains to be seen if he is a good talent-evaluator, with a somewhat limited football background, you can?t question his negotiating skills. They are topnotch. So now, with Abraham gone, it?s essential that the Jets use one of their two first- round picks on a 3-4 outside linebacker with pass rushing and coverage skills. Ohio State?s Bobby Carpenter (the son of former Giants running back Rob Carpenter) would be a perfect choice at 29, if he?s still there. The rumors that the Jets want to use the extra draft pick to possibly trade up to the No. 2 spot with the Saints -- to grab USC quarterback Matt Leinart -- are a little crazy. With Pennington doing well in his rehab, and with Ramsey and plucky Brooks Bollinger on board, why would they want to throw Leinart in the mix? It would be the mother of all quarterback controversies, the last thing a rookie coach (Eric Mangini) and GM need to deal with in the New York market. Plus, Leinart is basically a lefty Pennington in that he?s smart, a good leader and a great decision-maker, but lacks a rocket arm. The Jets have so many needs, they should keep their two first-round picks and add two potential starters. How about picking left tackle D?Brickashaw Ferguson at four, and then grabbing Carpenter at 29? Here is where we see what kind of talent-evaluator Tannenbaum is. Let?s see what he does with a truckload of draft picks. Don?t forget, that aside from two first- round picks, the Jets pick near the top of the second round, which is almost like having another first-round pick. And they also have some compensatory picks on the way, likely at the end of the third and fourth round, due to the free-agent losses last year of tackle Kareem McKenzie, LaMont Jordan and Jason Ferguson http://www.msgnetwork.com/content_n...sports=american-football&team=Jets&league=nfl
I think this is a good evaluation of what the Jets have done thus far in this. I agree that adding another QB to the mix would make for a rough training camp/pre-season. I think I like the thoughts behind this article.
I agree with you AlToon, great post. But I don't think the personal evaluation skills are important for Tannenbaum, because he has a lot of scouts and coaches who will make draft the right player( I hope so). So it doesn't really matter if he has a Football background.
"plucky Brooks Bollinger"?? I'd laugh, but it's not funny. That boy ought'a be pulling teats on a Guernsey before we close out May.
I fully agree with you. His football knowledge almost doesn't matter. It's the skills at the table that matter here. We still have Bradway doing scouting, and regardless of the fact that he was one of the worst GMs in the league (and then only because there is a man named Millen in Detroit) he is still a premier talent scout, and always has been. Mangini and Schotty Jr are calling some shots as well, I am sure. This is exactly what we needed in the post-Hermway era. A smart, hard-nosed GM who isn't afraid to walk away from the table if the bargain isn't there. It is akin to the Yankees. Yes, I know people say "George calls the shots." Or "They have all that money, that's why they have so much talent." Those are good points, but they don't tell the whole story. George has some of the best scouts in MLB going coast to caost all season looking at talent at every level. They then report back to him, and he tells Cashman what the findings are. Then it's Cashman's job to negotiate, and he doesn't pay ridiculous salaries. Yes, the Yankees payroll is astronomical, but that will happen when you are fielding a team full of potential All-Stars. This is the type of attitude I was hoping for with these guys. I think Tanny gained a lot of respect around the league last night for his stand, and I hope that translates into great moves and deals down the road.
I think this is wrong, as was explained elsewhere, I think we can only expect to get 1 good compensatory pick. Maybe we'll get a 2nd at the end of the 7th round. But we lost 3, and signed 2, and apparently that means that you *never* get two good picks out of that.
He is wrong that drafting a QB will cause a QB controversey. Whatever QB you draft will be sitting on the bench this year backing up the Chad/Ramsey combo. They will not see the field unless there are multiple injuries again. Brooks is the odd man out which is why Leberfeld doesn't want a QB. Sorry, but he is most likely gone. Both the Chad contract and Ramsey contract can easily be absorbed next year so that is mute. Even if the Jets don't take one of the big 3 QBs I am sure they will attempt to get a Whitehurst/Croyle type later on. Bye, bye Brooks in that scenario as well....
I agree on all points except the QB. If not Leinart (who I don't want to trade up for... lefty QB's, I never did like) or Cutler, then get Croyle later on. We need a potential franchise QB to develop. These jerks on the radio just want to get people riled up.... they think it helps their ratings.... sad truth is, they are probably right.
I still think we should either bring in Leinart or Mario, but good points nonetheless. I feel very good about Tannenbaum's moves thus far.
Here's something I cannot wrap my head around though... Would you rather have the 15th overall and give up a couple mid round picks, or have the 29th overall? I'd be curious to see what one of our resident value chart gurus has to say about this. I guess the FO wanted as many picks as possible, but we could have even more picks if we had acquired the Falcons 15th overall, and traded down from 4th overall. For example... Trade Abraham and 2 mid round picks to the Falcons for their 15. Trade our 4 to the Broncos for their 22 and 29, and probably a couple mid round picks. So with the same number of post round one picks we would have the 15, 22, and 29. I would have likedthat alot. However, I suppose we could still deal with the Broncos and have the same picks. I have a feeling we're trading out of the 4 spot on draft day.
I agree completely. I take Mario or Leinart at #4. If both are gone, I start looking for trading partners.
Yeah, I agree with this. We essentially are all ready in a QB controversy and will be for quite some time. I like what his thoughts were on Tangini though. When you consider where we were in early January and where we are now in the last part of March, it is truly amazing what has been accomplished. Mangini must be hooked up to an IV of coffee or something. The guy has to be putting in 18 to 20 hour days. Has to be. Tannenbaum and Mangini seem to be meshing like a Swiss watch in sharp contrast to the oil and water we had in here before.
you really think so? Don't you think Mangini want's a super defender like he had in Richard Seymour? Mario may be the guy.
I don't know. There's an awful lot of water around Miami and we all know how Culpepper likes his boat parties. First day of training camp: Culpepper: "Guys, just got my hands on a sweet 40 footer, who's up for a little party. Thomas, Taylor, you guys in or what?"
