I think a third was the best he could get for a guy coming off major knee surgery. I mean, maybe it could have gone better. He also botched the Pete Kendall situation too. Other than that, he's been really good.
Great! This could still give the Jets to option to draft Vontae Davis to play Nickel and possibly overtake Sheppard if he doesn't pan out. And Fabian Washington is also a free agent next season, and the way Rex got him to play after the trade from Oakland was very good, he could also be a possible target IF Lito doesn't work out. Thing is, Fabian will probably want the same conrtract figure that Lito could get.
I don't know that I see it the way the green glasses do at this point. If Sheppard plays 85% but the Jets don't want to give him the roster bonus and the extended contract they wind up giving up a 3rd round pick to rent him for a year. That's a pretty steep price to pay in my opinion to rent a CB when you drafted Lowery last year and the main thing that was wrong with him was the Jet's pass rush petered out to nothing by the late season.
The only scenario that scares me is what if Sheppard plays up to his pro-bowl form in 2009 so that the Jets give him the pricey contract extension and then once he has his money he reverts back to the player he was in 2008 for the Eagles. I'm not saying this is the case with Sheppard but some players only play to their potential when there is money at stake.
I'm talking about letting the Saints have the opening to let FA start then sign him. They shoulda put some sort of clause in there to protect us from that. Not that big a deal. Can't argue with what MT's done.
