Thanks to the re-discussion of the CBA it's very likely that the Jets won't have to count the guaranteed money of players they cut (Gholston, Woody, Jenkins, Taylor, etc) in their 2011-12 salary cap (if there is one). That frees up a lot of money but not enough to re-sign Harris, Cromartie, Holmes AND Edwards, unless they take a home team discount. Keep in mind that even if this season will be uncapped teams will still operate with a budget in mind, so let's not consider the "Woody will break the bank" for the moment. The easiest way to free up money is to re-work some of the contracts of players already on the team... and who has the biggest contract on the team for 2011? Mark Sanchez. He is set to earn 14.75 million $$$ in base salary, and can earn as much as 17.75 million in one season. The numbers go down to a total 14.25 mill in 2012 and 8 mill in 2013 (although there might be some incentives available that will boost the pay in those 2 years too). My questions are: 1) Once a new CBA is struck (hopefully giving the NFL some stability and teams the ability to program their future) should the Jets re-sign Sanchez to a longer deal, asking him to spread out some of the money he is set to earn this year on the rest of his contract? 2) If no longer deal is proposed, how much money will he agree to re-work in his current contract to help the team re-sign it's valuable players, especially his two biggest weapons in Holmes and Edwards? 3) Should a run/defense first team, in a pass first league, invest so much money (Holmes+Edwards+Cotchery) in it's WRs, or are two very good WRs enough? 4) Will Sanchez agree to rework his contract even if it's to keep other players (and only one between Holmes and Edwards stays)? I think that: 1) It's too early to re-sign Sanchez to a long expensive contract. Love the kid, the work ethic, etc etc but I think it's still unclear what his ceiling will be. No doubt he'll be a winner in this league... but will he be a Manning/Brady/Rivers etc? Too early to tell. What I'd like the Jets to do is offer him a 2 years extension on his current deal (which means his contract will expire when he's 29) and free up some of the money he'd be owned in 2011 and 2012. How much money he should average depends on what the new salary cap will amount to. Certainly less than the 17.75 mill he's owed this year though! Plus the first years of a contract are always cheaper then the last years, meaning we could free up quite some space with a move like this (4-6 mill in 2011 I'm guessing). 2) Sanchez would agree to re-work his contract if that means he can keep his WRs. He is a smart guy and realizes that both his and his team's success depend on the guys he's throwing to. Also re-working a contract doesn't mean he won't see that money, only that he'll see some of it right away (money converted in signing bonus) and some further down the road (roster bonus/ higher base salary). He knows he'll be staying here for a long time and has every advantage in re-working his deal. 3) I don't think we should keep Holmes (8.5 mill $), Edwards (7 mill $) AND Cotchery (4 mill $) at their market value. Considering the brand of football we play that would be too much money spent on a position we wouldn't use as much as others. If we find a way to keep all three without jeopardizing other positions on the field, like Edwards taking a home town discount and offering a new deal to Cotchery (whose deal expires after 2012), I'm not against it. However my dream scenario is Cotchery and one between Edwards/Holmes stays and then either we bring in a cheaper guy in FA or we bring in a veteran and next year we draft someone in day 1 or 2. 4) Yes, but maybe a little less money than the #2 scenario. PS: Sanchez's contract: http://www.nyjetscap.com/marksanchez.html
I don't think convincing the Jets to rework Sanchez's contract is the problem....convincing Sanchez would be the roadblock.
I don't doubt for a second that Sanchez would take a hit to keep his guys. Edwards and Cotch are locks anyways. My gut tells me that Mark would give a little to keep Holmes too. My gut also tells me that I'm hungry right now, so back in a bit...
The pitch is fairly easy for Tanny: "Hey Mark, do you want all your money now? Or do you want some of it later, get to keep all your weapons, win a Superbowl, and then make a SHITLOAD more later?"
That's another aspect I was thinking of. If he agrees to take a little less to have a 3 headed monster WR corp he'd put himself in the best possible position to be successful in the biggest media market in the US. A mexican QB having success in NY? That's A LOT of money coming your way...
He's not Mexican. He's a born American of Hispanic decent. My roots are Scottish and German. I'm just a white guy in the US. Just because he has a tan and has dark hair... Really? The last name will get him some endorsements, but I really am getting tired of the 'nacho' thing.
what does him being a Mexican QB have to do with Sanchez having alot of money coming his way? i dont understand this comment lol. him being a pretty boy, and a new york QB will make him money. He has already done a Pepsi, Car, and a uhh Direct TV or something similar to that commercials. I'm sure he could get a deal with Nike, Gatorade, etc, etc sponsor deal. He made only 600k in endorsements his rookie year(according to this http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703597204575484014073687350.html). compared to Eli making 7 mil, and Peyton 15mil. edit3: its also documented that Sanchez turned down alot of offers, because he wanted to focus on football, and not overhype himself(in 2009)
Because not only will he have the normal expected amount of endorsements, adulation, fame, etc. that comes along with winning a championship in New York.. he will also tap into the Latino market that maybe normally wouldn't give a crap about who won the Super Bowl. He could be looked at as a hero, being the first Mexican quarterback to win the Super Bowl. I don't know if any of you guys follow MMA, but look at Cain Velasquez. It would be similar to that. Not only did he become huge due to winning the UFC championship, but he became HUGE in Mexico and developed a huge following. And winning the Super Bowl is a way bigger deal than the UFC championship.
Truth is he could work for free next year. He's only gotta win one for us and he'll never have to work again the rest of his life. I say Mike T. offers to pay him in In-And-Out burgers for a season. He'll take it.
great post. I too am tired of the "nacho" and "dirty" (yes.. i know what a dirty sanchez is) nicknames. I know they are just used here and not mainstream or anything, but its dumb. Same with the people who wear sombreros and shit to the games - I don't know if Sanchez finds it offensive or if our neighbors from the South do, but its just a stupid charicature that annoys me. By that same reasoning why doesn't anyone call Devito "the spaghetti man" or wear scottish kilts to the game to honor our Left Tackle with the last name Ferguson. He's Mark Sanchez.. Jets QB from the state of California. If he chooses to honor his heritage, like he did in college with the mexican flag eye patches or something thats fine but its not like he represents the country of Mexico in the NFL or something. Go Jets.. bring back Braylon.
So many other ways to make money... until some freak injury puts him out of action or shortens his career. Easy to say, but the decision isn't going to be quite that cut and dry. Even if he doesn't get hurt, but if they don't have a good year or fail to go far into the playoffs - then what?
It would be great to see Ferguson in a kilt. Bring back woody and to bookend the line and there's tartan right there. Plus Moore played for a season in Scotland so he'd be an easy sell. Now the tough nuts to crack would be mangold and Slauson. Imagine the Jets starting O line in tartan. That's gotta be worth an extra 40 yards rushing per game and giving up no sacks over the season. I'm allowed to make this comment tongue in cheek as it is because I'm Scottish Back on point. If Sanchez could be reworked so that we can keep the current WR corps then he needs to be comfortable what with the work last year and Jets West both years. That could be a very wise short term investment. I can dream right?
Save the sympathy for your mothers. I will call Sanchez: beaner, spic, nacho, pancho, jose, wetback, or piece of shit day laborer as I please.
If it comes down him losing Braylon or Tone because he refuses to rework his deal, then he's just improving his chances that he doesn't have as good a year as he can have. And nobody would be asking the guy to take a pay cut, just move around the numbers with cap magic. Sanchez makes plenty. He's on the verge of owning New York City at the age of 25. He's on top of the world. I seriously doubt he'd lose any sleep over whether he ends up with 11 million or 14 million in his bank account next year.
I doubt very much that it would take convincing for Sanchez to restructure his contract. For years, Terry Bradway and Michael Tannenbaum restructured the contract of Curtis Martin to make room under the salary cap for free agents when the Jets were still fumbling to deal with grey beard Vinny Testaverde's unfortunate deal, and all that happened, as others have alluded to, is that Martin got future contract money immediately, and Martin was treated as a hero for it by the fans. Which likely increased his jersey sales. Young Sanchez would have nothing to lose and everything to gain by restructuring his deal.
