flgreen Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 New York Jets prepare for March madness March, 2, 2014 MAR 2 8:00 AM ET By Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com A belated welcome to March, a month of madness in the NFL. It will be eventful for the New York Jets, whose roster will undergo major changes over the next four weeks. A sneak preview: 1. The purge: Even though they have plenty of salary-cap space, the Jets will unload some dead weight. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes will be released any day, an $8.25 million savings. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie ($14.98 million cap charge) will be released unless he takes a pay cut for the final year of his contract, which includes a prohibitive $5 million roster bonus. When healthy, Cromartie still is a quality corner. My gut tells me Cromartie will end up playing for the Jets in 2014. 2. The Sanchez saga: General manager John Idzik has yet to reveal his hand with regard to his plans for quarterback Mark Sanchez. At this point, why would he? He has until March 25, when a $2 million roster bonus is due. Starting March 11, I expect the Jets to chase the top free-agent quarterbacks, namely Michael Vick and Josh McCown. If they get shut out, the possibility of retaining Sanchez becomes realistic. It would be contingent on a pay cut (his base salary is $9 million) and a positive medical report on his surgically repaired throwing shoulder. He spent last week at the team's facility, rehabbing under the watchful eyes of the trainers. While I still think Sanchez's ouster is likely, I wouldn't call it a foregone conclusion. Why cut the man unless you have a replacement? 3. Idzik's first big deal: In 13 months as the GM, Idzik has yet to dole out a big contract for a veteran player. By big, I mean at least $5 million per year. Who will be his first major investment? Chances are, it will be right tackle Austin Howard, who will be an unrestricted free agent. The Jets are trying to get him locked up before March 11. Other players they'd like to keep are tight end Jeff Cumberland and outside linebacker Calvin Pace. 4. Gentlemen, start your checkbooks: With a $133 million salary cap, the Jets are $21.2 million under the cap, according to ESPN's figures. They have the flexibility to be big spenders. Look for them to attack the wide-receiver market, with Golden Tate (Seattle Seahawks), Emmanuel Sanders (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Hakeem Nicks (New York Giants) among the most likely targets. Eric Decker (Denver Broncos) will be a hot commodity, but probably too pricey for the Jets. They could be looking for a tight end, perhaps Brandon Pettigrew (Detroit Lions), if they fail to re-sign Cumberland. The goal for the offseason is to upgrade the offense. By the end of the month, the skill positions could have a different look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewillie78 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Rich Cimini wrote this, hah, then none of its true, and the exact opposite will happen, right Klecko? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Put the Gators as your National Champion in your brackets because we're brining the title back home, baby!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewillie78 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Put the Gators as your National Champion in your brackets because we're brining the title back home, baby!!!!!! #1 over an undefeated team? Wichita St. My "sleeper" is Wisconsin this year, and UCLA if they get in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenseed4 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Put the Gators as your National Champion in your brackets because we're brining the title back home, baby!!!!!! Wanna know how I know you didn't read the OP? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 #1 over an undefeated team? Wichita St. My "sleeper" is Wisconsin this year, and UCLA if they get in. Wichita St. doesnt play anyone...the Gators would throttle them. Wisconsin is good call. They're the only team that actually beat Florida (Uconn won on a fluke play)....but the Gators were missing some players and were on the road. The Badgers could make a run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewillie78 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Wichita St. doesnt play anyone...the Gators would throttle them. Wisconsin is good call. They're the only team that actually beat Florida (Uconn won on a fluke play)....but the Gators were missing some players and were on the road. The Badgers could make a run. The most money I ever made on this crapshoot, was the year TYUS EDNEY went coast to coast and UCLA with the awful JIM HARRICK won the whole thing. I had UCLA that year, and blew the doors off that pool. I should have had the Syracuse team with Melo and, Warrick, an G-mac, but everytime I bet BOheim, he chokes on me. I don't know what I'm doing with them this year. They could go a long ways, or get bounced in the 1st round. Erratic but talented. Florida and Donavan (what a coach, old big east providence), will be in about 95% final fours. Good luck, to you and the Gators FWIW, Cornell went to the sweet 16, 4 years ago, and beat WISCONSIN that year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCarl40 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Wichita St. doesnt play anyone...the Gators would throttle them. Wisconsin is good call. They're the only team that actually beat Florida (Uconn won on a fluke play)....but the Gators were missing some players and were on the road. The Badgers could make a run. Wichita State who made the Final Four last year? Winning every game no matter who you play is an accomplishment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewillie78 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Wichita State who made the Final Four last year? Winning every game no matter who you play is an accomplishment. Yeah it is, in fact its a great accomplishment, but in this tournament, the POWER conferences very rarely do not prevail. Wichita st. will get a lot of love for a final 4 , but winning it all, I always go with a power conference team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Wichita State who made the Final Four last year? Winning every game no matter who you play is an accomplishment. Didn't say it wasn't, but they don't play anyone and I suspect they get throttled by a battled tested team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Didn't say it wasn't, but they don't play anyone and I suspect they get throttled by a battled tested team. They only lost by 4 to Louisville in the Final 4 last year. It's ludicrous to question them as a legit contender. It's the same kind of argument that was used against Butler in their 2 runs to the national title game. The Missouri Valley is a legit basketball conference whether the BCS conferences like to admit it or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 They only lost by 4 to Louisville in the Final 4 last year. It's ludicrous to question them as a legit contender. It's the same kind of argument that was used against Butler in their 2 runs to the national title game. The Missouri Valley is a legit basketball conference whether the BCS conferences like to admit it or not. Missouri Valley is legit? lmfao. wow. Hey the SEC sucks this year, I'll be the first to admit it, but that right there is ludicrous. W.St. isnt the same as Butler. Butler would play tough out of conference games ever year. W.St. hasnt played a rank team this season, not one. Just watch them play, they dont look the same as the top 10 teams. And I never said they werent contenders. In the right bracket, sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewillie78 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Missouri Valley is legit? lmfao. wow. Hey the SEC sucks this year, I'll be the first to admit it, but that right there is ludicrous. W.St. isnt the same as Butler. Butler would play tough out of conference games ever year. W.St. hasnt played a rank team this season, not one. Just watch them play, they dont look the same as the top 10 teams. And I never said they werent contenders. In the right bracket, sure. Agree with this 100%. When I'm putting my money up( and I am) I'm not putting it on the MVC. Sorry, and if I had all these years, I'd be picking up my own Coors Light cans that I toss out the window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Missouri Valley is legit? lmfao. wow. Hey the SEC sucks this year, I'll be the first to admit it, but that right there is ludicrous. W.St. isnt the same as Butler. Butler would play tough out of conference games ever year. W.St. hasnt played a rank team this season, not one. Did it matter when they knocked off Pitt and Ohio State, and nearly Louisville, in the tournament last year? A good team is a good team. Just because the power conferences don't want to face them in the regular season doesn't mean a thing. In neutral court tournament settings, all that matters are matchups and if you can play. WSU can play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Did it matter when they knocked off Pitt and Ohio State, and nearly Louisville, in the tournament last year? A good team is a good team. Just because the power conferences don't want to face them in the regular season doesn't mean a thing. In neutral court tournament settings, all that matters are matchups and if you can play. WSU can play. Last year was last year, this year is this year. I've watched them, they're nothing special. They beat a bunch of sh*tty teams up, but its tough to run the table so kudos to them. They're a good team. Far from great. Seriously though, have you watched them? You're a hoops guy. What's special about them? What do they do well that makes you think they're going to compete with those types of teams besides their miraculous run last year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Seriously though, have you watched them? You're a hoops guy. What's special about them? What do they do well that makes you think they're going to compete with those types of teams besides their miraculous run last year? And it wasn't simply a "miraculous" run last season like you say. They're a legit program and have been for a while. It shouldn't surprise us that Mid-Majors can get to the Final 4 after George Mason, VCU, and Wichita State have done it. But specifically: 1. Consistency. They lost 3 seniors off last year's team and didn't miss a beat. 2. PG Fred VanVleet. The sophomore simply doesn't turn the ball over (VanVleet has 164 assists and just 41 turnovers this season), is incredibly efficient (.465 shooting) and can also rebound (4.0 rpg). Great PG play wins you national titles. And what a name he has! 3. Defensive Efficiency. Through Feb 6 they were averaging 91.8 points allowed per 100 possessions, 12th in the nation, and even better than last season. They rebound (38.7 per game) and block shots (159). They have a terrific coach and they're even better than last year's squad (on both offense and defense) that went to the Final 4. What's not to like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 And it wasn't simply a "miraculous" run last season like you say. They're a legit program and have been for a while. It shouldn't surprise us that Mid-Majors can get to the Final 4 after George Mason, VCU, and Wichita State have done it. But specifically: 1. Consistency. They lost 3 seniors off last year's team and didn't miss a beat. 2. PG Fred VanVleet. The sophomore simply doesn't turn the ball over (VanVleet has 164 assists and just 41 turnovers this season), is incredibly efficient (.465 shooting) and can also rebound (4.0 rpg). Great PG play wins you national titles. And what a name he has! 3. Defensive Efficiency. Through Feb 6 they were averaging 91.8 points allowed per 100 possessions, 12th in the nation, and even better than last season. They rebound (38.7 per game) and block shots (159). They have a terrific coach and they're even better than last year's squad (on both offense and defense) that went to the Final 4. What's not to like? We'll see if it simply wasnt just a miraculous run, if they can do it again. But for now, thats what I see it as because when you watch them play, they're not all that impressive. Nobody scares you, nothing jumps off the screen at you. Just good fundamental basketball. They've got an undersized big man a a decent PG. Having dominant stats in a weak conference isnt impressive, they dont play anyone...I'm sure it would look different if they played a tougher schedule. There is a reason they're not ranked #1 but just went undefeated in the regular season. From what I've seen,they dont really look like a top 10 team. Maybe I'm wrong. We shall see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 We'll see if it simply wasnt just a miraculous run, if they can do it again. But for now, thats what I see it as because when you watch them play, they're not all that impressive. Nobody scares you, nothing jumps off the screen at you. Just good fundamental basketball. They've got an undersized big man a a decent PG. So they have a really good PG, can rebound and defend. But they're gonna get blown out by somebody? lol. What you're saying is exactly what makes them good. There's no reason they should be as good as they are....but they are. It's a "Whole is greater than the sum of the parts" situation. They don't do any one thing great, but they do a lot of things well. So they can beat you in a lot of different ways. Mostly by simply wearing the opponent down and letting them be the ones to make the mistakes. Meanwhile, while so many big programs have kids that are looking to bolt after 1 year, WSU doesn't tend to have that kind of problem. So things like cohesiveness aren't a problem for them. Now, Florida has been very impressive, and if they meant WSU in a Final 4 or National title game, I could definitely see Florida winning. But I don't see anybody throttling WSU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVM Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Carolina sucks. That's all I have to add to this discussion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mildredhanson Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 its a good but not interested in it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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