Free Agent dept. ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

A look at Marcus Gilchrist's new contract with the New York Jets -- a four-year, $22 million deal that includes $3.5 million in full guarantees (and another $5 million guaranteed for injury only at the time of signing) :

Signing bonus: $2.5 million

2015: $1 million base salary (fully guaranteed); a $1.5 million roster bonus ($93,750 for every game on the 46-man roster). Cap charge -- $3.125 million

2016: $5 million base salary (guaranteed for injury only; becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the league year). Cap charge -- $5.625 million

2017: $6 million base salary. Cap charge -- $6.625 million.

2018: $6 million base salary. Cap charge -- $6.625 million.

 

Analysis : This is an excellent deal for the Jets. If they don't want to keep Gilchrist beyond 2015, they can get out of the deal without any major cap ramifications -- only $1.87 million in "dead" money in 2016, but a $3.75 million savings. In other words, he will have to prove himself as a solid starter to stick around for that $5 million salary in 2016. The benefit to Gilchrist is that he can make up to $5 million this year, counting his signing bonus, base pay and per-game roster bonus.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49983/breaking-down-marcus-gilchrists-contract

[kelly]

Turns out that Osi Umenyiora was just passing through to say hi.

His visit with the New York Jets on Wednesday, which prompted headlines of a possible return to the New York area, was simply a "social call," general manager Mike Maccagnan explained Thursday.

The former New York Giants pass-rusher was on his way to the airport and decided to stop in Florham Park to say hello to head coach Todd Bowles. They have the same agents, Tony Agnone and Rich Rosa. It wasn't a scheduled free-agent visit, according to Maccagnan, but they reported it to the league. As a result, Umenyiora's name popped up on the personnel wire.

"I didn't even know he was here," said Maccagnan, who estimated that Umenyiora was in the building for about 10 minutes.

Maccagnan said Umenyiora will be discussed internally as the team continues to look for defensive-line depth, but it sounded like he was just trying to be nice. Umenyiora, 32, was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Giants, but he's slowing down. Besides, the Jets already have a couple of aging edge rushers, Calvin Pace and Jason Babin.

 

It was a fun possibility while it lasted.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/50024/osi-umenyioras-visit-to-jets-only-a-social-call

[kelly]

Best fits from free agency

 

With free agency winding down, it's time to take a look back. What are the best fits of the moves we've witnessed thus far ?

 

 

~ ~ Darrelle Revis

 

Revis always loved being a Jet and, for years, he was the face of that franchise. Despite having better, younger players now (Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson) there is no one who can handle the market, and the left side of the defense, better than Revis. -- Conor Orr

 

rest of above article :

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000480093/article/best-fits-from-free-agency

[kelly]

Welcome to the second wave of free agency.

 

The New York Jets addressed their offensive-line depth, signing former New York Giants tackle/guard James Brewer to a one-year contract Thursday. Financial details weren't immediately available.

Brewer, a fourth-round pick in 2011, spent four seasons with the Giants. He played in 26 games, starting eight -- including seven starts at guard in 2013. He appeared in only two games last season.

Brewer (6-foot-6, 330 pounds) never developed for the Giants, missing several opportunities over the years to find a place on their line. The Jets see him as a versatile backup, capable of stepping in at guard or tackle.

Last year's backup swing tackle, Ben Ijalana, is an unrestricted free agent, prompting the Jets to search for a replacement. They apparently have found him.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/50033/jets-sign-former-giants-ol-james-brewer

[Beerfish]

I would really hope that one of our development guys actually comes through and makes these total jag fa signings a non need.

[kelly]

Addressing their lack of depth on the defensive line, the New York Jets agreed to terms Friday with former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Kevin Vickerson. He will sign a one-year contract.

 

Vickerson, 32, was signed by the Chiefs last season after Mike DeVito -- a former Jet -- suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the opener. He played in 15 games, participating in 162 snaps on defense. He was primarily a first-down and second-down player, playing mostly left end in the Chiefs' 3-4 front. He finished with 12 total tackles and no sacks.

 

Basically, Vickerson (6-foot-5, 328 pounds) will be an older version of Kenrick Ellis, who left as a free agent to sign with the New York Giants. The Jets needed some experienced depth behind Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Damon Harrison.

 

This will be Vickerson's fifth team. He also has played with the Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins. His best season was 2012, when he started 14 games for the Broncos and recorded 40 tackles and two sacks.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/50070/new-york-jets-bolster-d-line-depth-sign-kevin-vickerson

[kelly]

For the most part, the New York Giants have been bystanders during the first week and a half of free agency. This was by design.

To hear John Mara, Big Blue's co-owner, tell it, the team peeked at what it would cost to bring in new talent and determined it wasn't worth it.

 

 

"There were obviously some star players out there, but for the most part I thought it was a mediocre free-agent class,'' Mara told reporters Thursday, per the New York Post.

Mara's point is valid that aside from the top talent -- the Ndamukong Suhs or Randall Cobbs -- many of the mid-tier players get overpaid when they reach free agency. There is a reason their former team's allowed them to hit the open market.

"And I think a lot of guys got paid more money than maybe they would have in other years because there was a lot of cap room out there," Mara continued. "I think the guys who we got will help us, but we still have a long way to go."

Mara can also look in the mirror when he says players got paid more money than they might have other years. His team gave Dwayne Harris, a good special teamer who doesn't help on offense, $7.1 million in guaranteed money .

The Giants have also added defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis, linebacker J.T. Thomas and running back Shane Vereen -- so, yes, a pretty mediocre class overall.

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000480237/article/john-mara-most-free-agents-available-were-mediocre

[kelly]

Thanks to the offseason overhaul, the New York Jets' cornerbacks are tops in the league.

In payroll, that is.

Bill Kostroun/AP PhotoReunited in New York, cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis represent a combined $23 million against the Jets' salary cap.

By signing Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine, the Jets added nearly $26 million in cap charges, giving them a league-high $32.56 million for the cornerback position, according to ESPN Stats & Information. They're well ahead of the next-highest team, the Dallas Cowboys, who have $24.81 million tied up in their corners.Most of the Jets' money is allocated to four players: Revis ($16 million cap charge), Cromartie ($7 million), Dee Milliner ($3.45 million) and Skrine ($2.75 million). In case you're wondering, 22 percent of the Jets' entire cap total is devoted to the cornerback position.

 

Details of Cromartie's contract emerged late Sunday and, like many deals in free agency, it's not what it seems. Yes, it's a four-year, $32 million deal, as initially reported, but it includes only $7 million in full guarantees, according to ESPN Stats & Info -- a $2 million roster bonus at signing and a guaranteed $5 million base salary for 2015. Therefore, the cap charge is $7 million.Cromartie's cap figures over the remainder of the deal are $8 million, $8 million and $9 million. After this season, the contract has no guaranteed money or pro-rated bonuses, meaning he can be released with no cap ramifications.

 

The Jets invested more money in Revis ($39 million guaranteed) and Skrine ($11 million) than Cromartie, meaning Cromartie could be the odd-man out in 2016. By then, the "three-headed monster," as Cromartie called the trio, will count close to $33 million on the cap -- a bloated amount. Any decision would be based on a variety of factors -- Cromartie's performance, the team's overall cap situation and Milliner's progress.Milliner is coming off Achilles' tendon surgery. If he proves this season he can be a full-time player, it probably will make Cromartie expendable next year. Or maybe Milliner will be trade bait.

 

Bottom line : They will have options. The Jets aren't locked into a bunch of bloated, long-term contracts. General manager Mike Maccagnan did a nice job of following a plan that created flexibility beyond 2015.

 

Another contract note : In addition to an $870,000 base salary (the veterans' minimum), guard Willie Colon received a $65,000 signing bonus. He also has a chance to earn a $15,000 roster bonus. He could earn up to $950,000, but he will count only $665,000 on the cap due to the minimum-salary benefit.The Jets have $12.4 million in cap space, per ESPN Stats & Info. That doesn't include James Brewer and Kevin Vickerson, both of whom signed one-year deals. Their rookie pool is expected to be about $6.3 million, so there should be a few million dollars in leftover space.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/50095/new-york-jets-soar-to-no-1-ranking-in-cornerback-salaries

[kelly]

The last time he talked about Darrelle Revis in a public forum, Woody Johnson ticked off the New England Patriots and got slapped with a tampering charge. So it came as no surprise Monday that Johnson wasn't too expansive on the subjects of Revis and the Patriots.

 

Yes, he's happy to have Revis back in a New York Jets uniform.

 

No, he hasn't heard from the league on the tampering accusation.

 

No, he didn't explain why he wanted no part of a Revis reunion a year ago.

 

"I’m not going to go back," Johnson told reporters at the league meetings in Phoenix. "We had some different times. So, we’re going to concentrate on looking ahead. Hope and change."

 

He changed, all right.

 

One year after giving Revis the cold shoulder, the Jets stole him away from the Patriots with a five-year, $70 million contract. The Patriots felt they made "a competitive offer," according to owner Robert Kraft.Johnson declined to get into the specifics on why they pursued Revis so aggressively. Their pursuit of the star cornerback has raised suspicions, as the league dispatched an investigator to the Jets' facility two days before Revis hit the open market.

 

"After he became available, he became a target for us not only to us but for other teams as well," said Johnson, making sure he said after he became available. "He’s a gifted athlete."Obviously, Johnson had to temper his enthusiasm, with the tampering charge still pending. The last thing he wanted to do was come across as a sore winner.

 

"It’s just something the league is looking at," Johnson said of the charge. "So, I’m not worried about anything. I’m worried about getting better."

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/50107/jets-woody-johnson-addresses-all-things-revis-sort-of

[kelly]

The New York Jets added much-needed depth on the defensive line, signing former Washington Redskins defensive end Stephen Bowen on Tuesday to a free-agent contract. It's likely a one-year deal for the veterans' minimum.

 

It's a homecoming for Bowen, who attended Hofstra and Half Hollow Hills West High School in Dix Hills, Long Island. He also will be reunited with Todd Bowles, who was a Dallas Cowboys' assistant coach when Bowen broke into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2006.The Jets' strategy in the second wave of free agency is clear: They're adding experienced, backup-type players on the offensive and defensive lines, paying minimum contracts.

 

Bowen, who turns 31 on Saturday, joins Kevin Vickerson, 32, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs. If they make the team, they'll provide depth behind the big three, Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Damon Harrison. Both Bowen (right) and Vickerson (left) play end in a 3-4 front. On Tuesday, Bowles confirmed his base defense will be a 3-4.Bowen has appeared in 113 games, starting 56, but he has experienced major knee issues in recent years. He underwent microfracture surgery at the end of the 2013 season and opened the 2014 season on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

 

He appeared in eight games (225 snaps) last year for a woeful Washington defense, playing mostly on first and second down. He recorded 11 tackles and no sacks. He was released Feb. 28.

Bowen went into the season with big expectations."I'm one of the top 3-4 D-ends in the league, and for what they ask me to do, I know there's not many people who can do it better than what I do," he told the Washington Post last April. "That's not me being cocky. It's me being confident in my ability. As for me, I think yeah, definitely, I'll be a starter again."

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/50130/former-redskins-de-stephen-bowen-signs-with-jets-returns-home

[kelly]

Free agent tight end Kellen Davis recently visited the Jets,a league source confirmed Tuesday. Davis's visit was first reported by NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.

 

The source spoke to NJ Advance Media on a condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the visit. The source did not say when the visit happened.Davis, 29, was a fifth-round draft pick by the Bears in 2008. He played for them through 2012. In 2013, he was with Cleveland and Seattle. Last season, he was with the Giants and Detroit. Davis is 6-7 and 265 pounds.

 

The Giants released him during final cuts last year, at the end of training camp. He joined the Lions in October, on a one-year contract that expired earlier this month.Davis could be a blocking tight end for the Jets, who have two pass-catching tight ends: second-year pro Jace Amaro and Jeff Cumberland.

 

Davis has 50 career catches for 561 yards and 12 touchdowns. The bulk of that production came in 2011 and 2012 with the Bears, when he had a combined 37 catches, 435 yards and seven touchdowns. Those are his only two NFL seasons as a full-time starter.

 

 

Davis didn't play a game for the Giants last year. They had signed him last April. He played six game for Detroit last year, with zero starts. Over the past two seasons, he has been targeted for just seven passes in his 21 games played. In 2013, he got four starts and a Super Bowl ring with Seattle.

 

The most recent season in which Davis received a rating from Pro Football Focus was 2012. PFF that season rated him the NFL's 29th-best pass-blocking tight end, and No. 18 as a run blocker. He was last in PFF's tight end pass-catching ratings that year. In 2011, he was rated eighth among tight ends as a run blocker, 31st as a pass blocker and 29th as a pass catcher.

 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/03/free_agent_kellen_davis_former_giants_tight_end_vi.html

[#27TheDominator]

Free agent tight end Kellen Davis recently visited the Jets,a league source confirmed Tuesday. Davis's visit was first reported by NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.

 

The most recent season in which Davis received a rating from Pro Football Focus was 2012.

 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/03/free_agent_kellen_davis_former_giants_tight_end_vi.html

 

When I see that I think: Daniel Simpson Day has no grade point average.

[kelly]

One of the elements the New York Jets lacked last season was a true blocking tight end. Now they have one.

 

On Wednesday, they signed former Detroit Lions tight end Kellen Davis to a one-year contract, according to a league source.The 29-year-old Davis, joining his sixth team in nine years, will join a tight-end group that includes Jace Amaro, Jeff Cumberland and Zach Sudfeld, all of whom are better receivers than blockers. Davis has only 50 career receptions -- only three over the last two seasons -- so we're not talking about a player who will be featured in the passing game.Davis (6-foot-7, 265 pounds), who won a Super Bowl ring with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013, played only six games with the Lions. After getting cut by the New York Giants in training camp, he didn't sign with the Lions until October. He got released a month later and returned in December. He played only 137 snaps on offense, had no catches and was targeted just three times.

 

Detect a trend ?

 

The big spending is over, and the Jets are shopping in the bargain aisle, beefing up their depth by signing older vets to one-year contracts -- defensive linemen Stephen Bowen and Kevin Vickerson, guard James Brewer and tackle Corey Hilliard. Chances are, some of them won't make the team, but these are no-risk signings in terms of the financials.They're also showing interest in linebacker Jason Trusnik (Miami Dolphins) and linebacker Spencer Paysinger (New York Giants).

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/50165/jets-sign-former-lions-te-kellen-davis

[kelly]

Grades & Analysis on Jets in Free Agency

Marks on the Green & White's Showing the Past 2 Weeks Are High from Online NFL Observers

Two weeks into the unrestricted free agency signing period, Jets fans appear to love what general; manager Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles have done in the signings and trades departments.And the fans aren't alone. Here is an informal aggregation of online grades and opinions on how the Jets have done in free agency, topped by a pair of the highest marks, as we continue our March into 2015.

 

Alessandro Miglio, Bleacher Report. Grade: A-plus

"Even without counting Brandon Marshall — acquired by the Jets a few days before free agency hit — things could not have gone better in New York for new general manager Mike Maccagnan and fans," Miglio wrote recently. "The Jets had one of the worst secondaries in the league last season—partially due to injury, but mostly due to roster deficiencies. That is certainly not the case any longer."

Miglio cites the CB signings of Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine, then wraps up with:

"An upgrade at safety in Marcus Gilchrist capped a fantastic week, and the Jets now have one of the best secondaries in the league. Again."

Matthew Gideon, thesportsquotient.com. Grade: A-plus

"Todd Bowles is going to be a great fit for the Jets. I think Bowles can be one of the next great coaches in the NFL. He will do wonders for a defense that is once again stacked with Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis in the same secondary. Brandon Marshall’s presence on the Jets will certainly help the offense improve in the passing game. Plus, Ryan Fitzpatrick provides the Jets with a quarterback that won’t turn the ball over four times a game but rather just three, so they can improve. The Jets have killed it so far this offseason."

 

Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com: Grade: B

"They started the offseason with a bang by trading to get Brandon Marshall from the Bears. He's a good player, but he can be a disruption in the locker room and he doesn't stretch the field. They then went wild spending on corners. They added Darrelle Revis, bringing him back to the team, on a mega deal. They also signed corners Buster Skrine and Antonio Cromartie. There was a need at that spot, but that's overdoing it. They signed James Carpenter to help the offensive line, which is a solid move. They paid way too much to keep linebacker David Harris."

 

Carl Cockerham, withthefirstpick.com, FanSided Network. Grade: A

"The Jets went out and got [Geno Smith] a true No. 1 receiver with a huge catch radius to work with. They surely won’t have the same issues in coverage this year that they had last year."

 

Dan Hanzus and Conor Orr, NFL.com

Hanzus: " ... The Jets and new GM Mike Maccagnan addressed their most glaring deficiency head-on with a complete rebuild of their secondary —- a four-signing barrage highlighted by the return of Darrelle Revis. As a result, the Jets are undeniably better and the Patriots are undeniably worse. Add in the no-brainer trade for Brandon Marshall, and I'm convinced Maccagnan can win a mayoral election in half of Long Island."

Orr: "Mike Maccagnan brings back two fan favorites and instantly turns his defense into a contender. He takes a flier on Brandon Marshall and signs an eligible backup in Ryan Fitzpatrick that already knows the offense. I'm so noxiously high on the Jets at the moment that I'm starting to believe in Geno Smith. What have you done, Maccagnan?"

Last for now, Greg Sulik of RantSports grades our five biggest free agency moves here.

 

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-randylangefb/Grades--Analysis-on-Jets-in-Free-Agency/6d3b7521-5366-4174-94c9-ce88800806db

 

[kelly]

-- We all know Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis is perhaps the best player at his position in the NFL.

 

There are certain, obvious things everybody can see about Revis's skills. But what about the more nuanced, less-obvious skills that make Revis so special ?

 

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, who has a lengthy background as a defensive coach, offered some insight Wednesday at the NFL's annual meeting.Carroll has a pretty darn good corner of his own, Richard Sherman, so that makes for an interesting comparison, between Revis and Sherman.

In terms of Revis's less-obvious skills, Carroll said, "I think the less obvious [thing] would be the savvy, the ability to utilize all of the variables and the factors that are there, so that he can identify an opportunity [to take advantage of what the offense is doing], and then have the skill to take advantage of it. Much like Richard Sherman, he has, I think -- and I don't know Darrelle at all -- he has the very unique talent to analyze what's going on in the flash of an instant and make sense of it, and utilize that.

 

"Whereas some guys can see it, but they can't do anything about it. [Revis] also has the skill and the quickness and the strength and the agility to take advantage of that which he sees. He has to be a very deep[-thinking] player, in terms of his understanding of the game. He's too good [not to be that way]. You have to have all of this to be the kind of player he is. They're very similar in that regard [sherman and Revis are], that they can take advantage of so many variables, because they can process that."

 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/03/what_is_darrelle_revis_most_underrated_quality_sea.html

[kelly]

Darrelle Revis drew interest from Packers, Ravens

 

Darrelle Revis had no shortage of suitors during his brief time on the open market this month.

Revis, who signed a five-year, $70 million deal with the Jets on the first day of free agency, told SNY's Loud Mouths with NFL Media's Adam Schein and Chris Carlin that he was in communication with multiple teams besides the Jets and Patriots before his final decision.

 

"(It) was the Packers, Steelers, Baltimore as well as Cleveland, the Chiefs, the Jets and also the Pats, so there was a number of teams there," he said. "I sat down and had conversations with (them) to see if we could work something out."Most of these teams were known to be connected to Revis, though this is the first we've heard of interest from Green Bay and Baltimore.Revis was asked if there was anything the Patriots could have done to keep him from leaving after one season.

 

"You know they had the opportunity, they had a number of options to do a number of things," he said. "I had an option for $20 million they could have picked up and they didn't decide to which is fine. They tried to negotiate another deal so you know that was just something I had to go through as well."This always felt like a two-horse race between the Jets and Patriots, and the Jets came out on top -- not a common result in this rivalry. We'd go on, but Bill Belichick had decreed this as "not a big story."

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000481555/article/darrelle-revis-drew-interest-from-packers-ravens

 

[kelly]

The San Francisco 49ers released offensive lineman Jonathan Martin on Thursday, the team announced.

 

Martin thanked the 49ers via Twitter and said he's looking forward to playing for another team.

He spent one season in San Francisco, appearing in 15 games (nine starts) at right tackle.Martin played at Stanford and was a 2012 second-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins. He started all 16 games as a rookie.

 

In Martin's second season with Miami, he left the team in October 2013 after a bullying controversy involving former teammate Richie Incognito. An NFL investigation determined Incognito and two other Dolphins offensive linemen engaged in persistent harassment of Martin.

 

Martin played the first seven games but sat out the rest of the 2013 season, and then in the offseason the Dolphins traded him to the 49ers for a conditional seventh-round draft pick.

 

> http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12564071/jonathan-martin-waived-san-francisco-49ers

 

 

~ ~ imho,.. we should give this guy's agent a call  

[kelly]

Free Agency: Five Worst Signings

It happens every year, a team with a desperate position of need throws a bunch of money at a player to fill the hole. Then after a season or two the player is cut as soon as the cap hit allows it because he never solved the problem. They can come as a surprise (Michael Johnson’s 2014 contract) or be glaringly obvious (Michael Oher’s 2014 contract). This article deals with the contracts we believe to be the latter. Sometimes it’s because the money is excessive, other times it’s because the player isn’t starting quality, but either way these five deals just don’t sit right after reviewing the value each player provides to their new team.

 

Buster Skrine, CB, New York Jets

 

This one didn’t make sense at the time, but made even less sense after the Jets signed Antonio Cromartie for an even more lucrative deal just days later. Performance aside, they paid Skrine the 15th-most guaranteed money (four-year, $25m, $13m guaranteed) of any cornerback in the league to come in and be the Jets’ nickel corner. That’s bad business from the outset. When you look at Skrine’s past production it gets even worse.

 

The fifth-year cornerback was the weak link in the Browns’ secondary ever since he was thrust into the nickelback role in 2012. Skrine was promoted to starter in 2013 and turned in overall grades of -12.1 and -6.3 in the two subsequent seasons. He’s simply been a below average player over the course of his career, and even though he has played slot corner, he’s never stood out. His lowest passer rating against from the slot over the past three seasons is 95.5 and that came last year.

 

There are two other pretty glaring concerns with the deal, the first being Skrine’s limited stature at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds. Undersized corners around the league tend to have a suppressed market due to many teams being unwilling to sign them. The other issue is Skrine’s egregious penalty problem from a year ago. He committed 17 penalties, the most at the position in the PFF era. There are so many red flags in this deal that it is easily the worst one we’ve seen yet this offseason.

 

rest of above article :

> https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/03/25/free-agency-five-worst-signings/

[kelly]

Kellen Davis..

 

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/photos/photo-gallery/Get-to-Know-Kellen-Davis/7d2d9554-7cc6-4515-9f2a-4a88d9696e40

[TuscanyTile2]

Free Agency: Five Worst Signings

•  
•  
•  

It happens every year, a team with a desperate position of need throws a bunch of money at a player to fill the hole. Then after a season or two the player is cut as soon as the cap hit allows it because he never solved the problem. They can come as a surprise (Michael Johnson’s 2014 contract) or be glaringly obvious (Michael Oher’s 2014 contract). This article deals with the contracts we believe to be the latter. Sometimes it’s because the money is excessive, other times it’s because the player isn’t starting quality, but either way these five deals just don’t sit right after reviewing the value each player provides to their new team.

 

Buster Skrine, CB, New York Jets

 

This one didn’t make sense at the time, but made even less sense after the Jets signed Antonio Cromartie for an even more lucrative deal just days later. Performance aside, they paid Skrine the 15th-most guaranteed money (four-year, $25m, $13m guaranteed) of any cornerback in the league to come in and be the Jets’ nickel corner. That’s bad business from the outset. When you look at Skrine’s past production it gets even worse.

 

The fifth-year cornerback was the weak link in the Browns’ secondary ever since he was thrust into the nickelback role in 2012. Skrine was promoted to starter in 2013 and turned in overall grades of -12.1 and -6.3 in the two subsequent seasons. He’s simply been a below average player over the course of his career, and even though he has played slot corner, he’s never stood out. His lowest passer rating against from the slot over the past three seasons is 95.5 and that came last year.

 

There are two other pretty glaring concerns with the deal, the first being Skrine’s limited stature at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds. Undersized corners around the league tend to have a suppressed market due to many teams being unwilling to sign them. The other issue is Skrine’s egregious penalty problem from a year ago. He committed 17 penalties, the most at the position in the PFF era. There are so many red flags in this deal that it is easily the worst one we’ve seen yet this offseason.

 

rest of above article :

> https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/03/25/free-agency-five-worst-signings/

 

 

I've heard a wide variation on Skrine.  Some say he's an up-and-comer while others say he's over-rated.  I'll give McChicken and Bowles the benefit of the doubt (at least for now). 

[kelly]

Monday Morning Quarterback

Mon Mar. 30, 2015

 

~ ~  Quotes of the Week

 

I

 

“It’s NFL free agency … That’s not a big story.”

—New England coach Bill Belichick, on losing cornerback Darrelle Revis to the Jets in free agency.

 

Riiiight.

 

 

rest of above article :

> http://mmqb.si.com/2015/03/30/extra-points-pat-rule-change-nfl-draft/5/

[kelly]

Monday Morning Quarterback

Mon Mar. 30, 2015

 

~ ~ Stat of the Week

 

According to cap site Spotrac, here are the most and least active teams in the first three weeks of free agency (the market essentially is dried up now) :

 

The five biggest spenders in total contract value of signed players:

1. Jacksonville: $172.5 million
2. New York Jets: $172.0M
3. Miami: $139.8M
4. Philadelphia: $117.3M
5. Tennessee: $110.2M

The thrifty five in total contract value of signed players :

28. Minnesota: $9.3M
29. Carolina: $8.8M
30. Detroit: $8.6M
31. Pittsburgh: $6.6M
32. Green Bay: Zero

The Green Bay Packers have spent nothing in free agency, signing no players, after making deals before the start of the signing period with two of their own: wideout Randall Cobb and tackle Bryan Bulaga.“We obviously have a philosophy,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s kind of like Groundhog Day. I feel like I answer this every year, so I’ll try to be creative and answer it differently this year. But it’s just the way we operate. We do the evaluations. We just stick to our plan. Our number one priority always has been to sign our own free agents. We go into every offseason—if we have 10 conversations, nine-and-a-half of them are about our own guys.”

 

rest of above article :

> http://mmqb.si.com/2...ge-nfl-draft/5/

[kelly]

Source : Ryan Fitzpatrick brought to Jets with idea that he'll be Week 1 starter

 

He may not be ready for offseason workouts or minicamp but that doesn't mean that Ryan Fitzpatrick won't be squarely in the mix for the New York Jets come training camp.

 

Two weeks ago, general manager Mike Maccagnan said that a broken leg suffered last season means that Fitzpatrick likely won't be ready to throw until training camp. The resulting domino effect points to incumbent starter Geno Smith as well as third-string quarterback Matt Simms as the two quarterbacks who will enter the offseason receiving the majority of snaps. Fitzpatrick isn't expected to be back on the field until later in the summer.But a league source tells Metro that even if Smith has a “lights out offseason" the team still won't name a starter until Fitzpatrick is back.

 

There will be patience from the front office and coaching staff to see how the ace of the Wonderlic can recover from his season-ending injury last year. There's also a familiarity with this veteran quarterback as Fitzpatrick certainly has multiple ties to the team. Last year, he was with the Houston Texans where Maccagnan was the director of college scouting, and Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey was his head coach for a spell with the Buffalo Bills.

 

All of which means, in the words of the source, that Fitzpatrick will be given the chance to make a case for the starting job.“There is a familiarity with what he can do. He wasn't brought in just to backup,” the source said. “There's no need to rush him back. The Jets won't hurry to name a starter. This is a true competition at quarterback and 'Fitz' is going to get a chance to win the job.”

 

In fact, it might be more than just a chance to win the job.“He was brought in with the idea that he can start come Week 1,” the source said. “It isn't a lock, it isn't a guarantee. But he was brought in knowing full well that he can win the job and help win some games.“He was brought in and will be given the opportunity to win the job. No one is anointed this year. The best man will start and the Jets seriously think he can win this thing and be their starter.”

 

The source also confirmed a report from Metro in February that Michael Vick is not returning to the Jets.“The team has moved on from him,” the source said.Fitzpatrick suffered the broken leg in December and is progressing well.“He will be ready by training camp,” the source said. “He's making nice progress.”

 

> http://www.metro.us/kristian-dyer/source-ryan-fitzpatrick-brought-to-jets-with-idea-that-he-ll-be-week-1-starter/zsJocE---94bESwmhrv2tE/

 

[kelly]

The New York Jets on Wednesday addressed two of their thinnest positions -- inside linebacker and left tackle -- by signing former Green Bay Packers linebacker Jamari Lattimore and re-signing tackle Ben Ijalana.

Terms of the contracts weren't immediately available, but they're likely one-year deals.

With Nick Bellore still floating in free-agent limbo, the Jets had no experienced backups behind David Harris and Demario Davis. In that respect, Lattimore makes sense. He also has value as a special-teamer.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds, Lattimore started five games last season for the Packers, playing a total of 273 defensive snaps. In fact, he started Week 2 against the Jets, but he eventually lost the job because of poor play. He finished the season with 35 tackles (including eight against the Jets), one interception and no sacks. He suffered an ankle injury Nov. 30 and spent the rest of the season on injured reserve. He's a fast player with durability issues.

He made $1.4 million last season, playing for the restricted-tender amount. In 49 career games, all with the Packers, he has two sacks and one interception.

Ijalana spent the last two seasons with the Jets, but he dressed for only three games. In 2014, he played a grand total of six offensive snaps. Right now, he's a primary backup to D'Brickashaw Ferguson at left tackle.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/50344/jets-sign-former-packers-lb-jamari-lattimore-re-sign-lt-ben-ijalana

[kelly]

One of the surprises of the past week was the quiet decision by the NFL and NFLPA to shorten the free-agency period. Normally, free agency goes from the start of the league year (in this year's case, March 10) until June 2. This year, the unrestricted period ends May 12.

 

That doesn't mean teams can't keep signing available players. There is no end to the signing period for a team. All that changes is the status of the player in relationship to the compensatory pool. After May 12, if a team loses a free agent, it doesn't count toward the compensatory pool, which rewards teams for losing more free agents than they sign.

 

Over the past two years, only eight players signed after May 12, including two last year. Shortening the period may give a few free agents a chance to get on rosters because teams expected to get compensatory picks won't shy away from signing some of the players without jobs.

 

So what have we learned so far from the 2015 free-agency period ?

 

~ ~ The $10 million cap increase is increasing free-agent spending : The cap was increased this year from $133 million to $143.28 million. Overall spending will exceed $1.5 billion in contracts. Last year, it was $1.43 billion. Two years ago, it was $1.271 billion. Agents for more unrestricted free agents are willing to test the market with hopes of getting the big dollars. With draft choices unable to sign extensions in their first three years with a team, rolling the dice and hitting the market could mean an extra $1 million or $2 million a year.

 

~ ~  AFC East teams are willing to spend to try to catch the New England Patriots : The    New York Jets    have invested $177.2 million in unrestricted free-agent contracts to add three cornerbacks, including Darrelle Revis, and guard James Carpenter. They also picked up wide receiver Brandon Marshall in a trade. The Buffalo Bills acquired tight end Charles Clay and fullback Jerome Felton in free agency and running back LeSean McCoy in a trade. The Miami Dolphins snagged the best player in free agency, Ndamukong Suh, replaced Clay with Jordan Cameron and picked up wide receiver Kenny Stills in a trade. Overall, the Dolphins have spent $134 million in unrestricted free-agent contracts.

 

rest of above article :

> http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12617206/five-things-learned-nfl-free-agency-john-clayton-mailbag

[kelly]

Former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Erin Henderson, who sat out last season after being cut by the team following two drunk driving arrests in a six-week span, will attempt to restart his career with the New York Jets.

 

Henderson, 28, agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract with the team, a league source confirmed. He joins recently signed Jamari Lattimore as projected backups in the Jets' linebacking corps.After spending a year out of football, Erin Henderson hopes to restart his career with the Jets.Henderson, who played with the Vikings from 2008 to 2013, was an emerging player when his career was almost ruined by substance-abuse issues.The Vikings released him in February 2014, shortly after his second DUI arrest -- a one-car crash with no injuries. He also was charged with possession of marijuana. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to two years of probation.

 

Henderson served a four-game league suspension last September even though he was a free agent. He's not subject to any further discipline, according to a source.He reportedly checked into an inpatient rehab facility soon after he was released from jail. His second arrest,he told USA Today in an interview last April,was"the extra kick in the butt I needed."Henderson told the newspaper he sometimes practiced with a hangover,adding: "I like to call myself a recovering alcoholic. I understand it's an ongoing battle. It's a lifelong battle."The Jets performed due diligence, investigating his background and coming away satisfied after face-to-face meetings that he's ready to resume his career.

 

Henderson also worked out for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.Originally signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of Maryland, Henderson has 33 career starts, 8.5 sacks and two interceptions.

 

> http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/12640117/erin-henderson-signs-deal-new-york-jets-sitting-last-season

[kelly]

Jets reportedly interested in Joe Mays

 

The Jets have added a pair of veteran inside linebackers through free agency in recent days with the signings of Jamari Lattimore and Erin Henderson, but they may not be done adding to the mix.

 

Adam Caplan of ESPN reports that the Jets “have interest in signing” Joe Mays, who spent the 2014 season with the Chiefs. Mays’s only known visit of free agency thus far was with the Chargers last month.Mays began last season on injured reserve because of a wrist injury, but was activated halfway through the year and wound up making eight appearances for Kansas City. His playing time was more limited than it had been during previous seasons as a starter with the Broncos and most of it came in running situations.

 

If the Jets sign Mays, it will likely set up a competition for the reserve roles on the team once the regular season rolls around. Special teams ability should factor into the decisions about which players will join David Harris and Demario Davis on the final roster.

 

> http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/08/jets-reportedly-interested-in-joe-mays/

[kelly]

The New York Jets continue to add Patriots to their roster.

 

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that the Jets are signing running back Stevan Ridley to a one-year deal, according to a source close to the situation. Ridley joins the Jets after spending his first four seasons in New England.

 

Ridley joins a Jets backfield that includes Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell. Ridley's final season with the Patriots ended in October after he tore his ACL and MCL. The injury wrecked Ridley's free-agent value, but he could re-establish himself on a short-term deal with the Jets.Rapoport reported that Ridley had offers from multiple teams, including the Redskins and Dolphins. An opportunity to play in Chan Gailey's offense was a contributing reason to Ridley's decision to choose the Jets.

 

This is an interesting signing for New York. Ridley is an established power back who does his best work between the tackles. The same skill-set can be attributed to Ivory, who might find himself on shaky footing under a new regime in New York. The Jets could still use a home-run hitter type back -- if they grab one in the draft, Ivory might be the odd-man out.

 

Ridley's health and history of ball-security issues make him a bit of a gamble, but he's just 26 and only two seasons removed from a 1,200-yard, 12-touchdown season with the Patriots. There is plenty of upside here.

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000484392/article/stevan-ridley-signing-oneyear-deal-with-ny-jets

[kelly]

A few thoughts on the New York Jets signing running back Stevan Ridley, formerly of the New England Patriots :

 

1. It's hard to poke holes in a low-cost acquisition -- a one-year contract, probably for less than $1 million -- but the Ridley addition comes with questions.

 

2. The questions start with his health. He underwent ACL surgery last Nov. 17, meaning he'll be eight months removed from it when the Jets open training camp. We've seen running backs rebound the following year from major knee surgery (Adrian Peterson, anyone?), but it might be a stretch to expect Ridley to contribute early in the season. The fact that he's only 26 should help.

 

3. How does his skill set improve the backfield? Ridley is another version of Chris Ivory, a between-the-tackles runner who plays primarily on first and second down. Where's the speed? The Jets need a home run threat, a back who can make plays in space. Maybe they can find that guy in the draft; he's not currently on the roster. Ridley's longest run is only 43 yards, he doesn't catch the ball (23 career receptions) and he has ball-security issues (nine fumbles in 3½ seasons).

 

4. You have to wonder if the new regime has questions about Ivory, the Jets' leading rusher last season. Ivory is not an ideal fit in Chan Gailey's spread offense, so this could be an insurance move by Mike Maccagnan. Remember, the Jets also re-signed Bilal Powell for $2 million on a one-year contract.

 

5. For Ridley, it's a good situation. He gets a year to show the league he's healthy, maybe convincing a team next year in free agency that he can be the same back he was in 2012. That's when he rushed for 1,263 yards, looking like an up-and-comer with the Patriots. Ivory and Powell also will be free agents in 2016, meaning the Jets will be starting over at running back.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/50494/stevan-ridley-doesnt-solve-jets-running-back-riddle

[kelly]

How Did FA Impact Jets' Draft Plans  ?

 

Green & White to Stick to Best Player Available Approach

 

Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan stuck to his plan in March as the Jets were active in free agency and they achieved their most basic task by increasing the overall talent on the team. While the Green & White remain involved in the middle and lower-tier markets, the draft is only two weeks away and the NFL’s annual selection meeting is in the crosshairs.

 

Equipped with financial flexibility, the Jets filled their primary needs this spring. After head coach Todd Bowles said he wanted to get better at their corner issues and get bigger plays down the field, the Jets signed CBs Darrelle RevisAntonio Cromartieand Buster Skrine in addition to trading for WR Brandon Marshall.The 1^st-year head coach also said he wanted to be tougher on both sides of the ball and the Jets focused on line depth after reaching a deal with G James Carpenterearly in free agency. Willie Colonre-signed and the Jets inked both veteran OL James Brewerand Corey Hilliardto deals. Similarly on the defensive front, Leger Douzablee-upped and the Jets signed DT Keith Vickerson and DEs Stephen Bowenand Ronald Talley.

 

Bowles, who wants to solidify and have less turnovers at the quarterback position, said during a conference call with season ticket holders that he would like to add another signal caller. The Jets already traded for veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will be limited this spring as he recovers from a broken leg he suffered last December. NFL pundits unanimously agree that both Jameis Winston (Florida State) and Marcus Mariota (Oregon) are the top two QBs in this year’s class and it would set up for an interesting scenario if either is available when the Jets are scheduled to go on the clock at No. 6 overall.

 

Even if they don’t address the QB position early on draft weekend, the Jets have four choices in the draft's first 104 selections and prospects Brett Hundley (UCLA), Bryce Petty (Baylor), Garrett Grayson (Colorado State) and Sean Mannion (Oregon State)  all could fall between rounds two and four.

 

While the Jets recently signed former Patriots RB Stevan Ridley, they could be in the market for another runner. Bowles likes the depth and versatility of this year’s class. Up front, Maccagnan pointed out that successful teams find offensive linemen mid-late draft and even via college free agents as well. Having already improved the talent at the WR position, the best player available at No. 6 could be a wideout. If either Amari Cooper (Alabama) or Kevin White (West Virginia) are still on the board, that could be an enticing option for a Jets team that ranked 28^th in scoring (17.7 points per game) last season. Bowles wants explosive plays down the field and both Cooper and White are electrifying talents who can fly.

 

Defensively, the Jets have the potential to be elite. At corner, Dee Milliner(Achilles) and Dexter McDougle (knee) are wild cards and their recoveries would give the Jets stellar depth. The front seven is loaded on paper, but the Jets could find a game-changing pass rusher too enticing to turn down in the first-round.  Eli Harold (Virginia), Nate Orchard (Utah) and Hau’oli Kikaha (Washington) are among the intriguing names after that first-tier of edge prospects.

 

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-6/How-Did-FA-Impact-Jets-Draft-Plans/835d3d69-9085-436e-8697-5eeb360411be

 

[kelly]

Restricted free agency draws to a close on Friday

 

 

Restricted free agency is usually to excitement as the library is to partying and Mobile, Alabama is to unsweetened iced tea.Nevertheless, the 2015 RFA signing period, which ends Friday, has had a couple bursts of action.Most notably, the Bills signed away tight end Charles Clay from Miami, giving him a five-year, $38 million contract. The deal was technically an RFA signing, per NFL rules, after the Dolphins gave Clay the transition tag, thus securing the right to match an offer sheet. But in the end, Miami let him walk.Later in the signing period, the Buccaneers struck a three-year, $9 million deal with Lions RFA defensive end George Johnson. Detroit disputed the terms of the deal, but the clubs agreed to swap 2015 draft picks to settle the matter, with the Lions getting a fifth-rounder and the Buccaneers getting Johnson and a seventh-rounder.While the Buccaneers and Bills got the players they sought, the Raiders struck out in their bid for Packers RFA safety Sean Richardson, with Green Bay matching the one-year, $2.55 million offer from Oakland.

 

As of Friday, here were the 10 remaining restricted free agents who had yet to sign their tender offers or receive an offer sheet from another club, per NFL records. (An 11th RFA, Ravens safety Will Hill, reportedly re-signed on Thursday, but it wasn’t reflected in the NFL’s daily transactions.)

 

The compensation due to the player’s original club if an offer sheet is unmatched is in parentheses :

 

— Broncos cornerback Tony Carter (right of first refusal).

— Browns safety Tashaun Gipson (second round).

— Browns nose tackle Ishmaa’illy Kitchen (right of first refusal).

— Buccaneers tailback Bobby Rainey (right of first refusal).

— Colts inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman (second round).

— Eagles running back Chris Polk (right of first refusal).

 

—  Jets nose tackle Damon Harrison (second round).

 

—  Jets safety Jaiquawn Jarrett (third round).

 

— Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse (second round).

— Steelers safety Robert Golden (right of first refusal).

 

In short, if there’s any more signing drama to occur in restricted free agency, it will center on one of these 10 players, and it will come on Friday.

No matter what happens, though, it’s been a fairly interesting RFA period nonetheless. There has been a little more chatter in the library this year.

 

> http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/24/restricted-free-agency-draws-to-a-close-on-friday/

 

[kelly]

Jets safety Jaiquawn Jarrett signs RFA tender

 

A former second-round pick of the Eagles who’s rebuilt his career with the Jets has officially re-signed with New York.Safety Jaiquawn Jarrett, a restricted free agent, inked his one-year tender with the Jets on Friday, the club said.

 

The 25-year-old Jarrett started 5-of-14 games for the Jets in 2014, recording 40 tackles and intercepting two passes. Overall, he’s played 30-of-32 games with New York over the last two seasons. Jarrett will vie for playing time in a safety corps that includes 2014 first-round pick Calvin Pryor and ex-Charger Marcus Gilchrist.

 

A Temple product, Jarrett was the No. 54 overall selection in 2011. However, he lasted just 13 games with Philadelphia, which waived him early in the 2012 campaign. Nevertheless, Jarrett overcame that setback and earned his way back into the NFL, and he will be able to test unrestricted free agency after this season.

 

> http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/24/jets-safety-jaiquawn-jarrett-signs-rfa-tender/

 

[kelly]

New York Jets nose tackle Damon Harrison is officially under contract for 2015.Harrison confirmed Wednesday he signed his one-year tender this week, securing a $2.356 million salary for the coming season. The amount was determined by the Jets' decision in March to extend a second-round tender offer for Harrison, who was a restricted free agent. That means the Jets would've received a second-round draft pick if they had declined to match an offer sheet from another team. An offer sheet never materialized for him.

 

The former undrafted free agent will make more money in 2015 than he did in his first three seasons combined ($1.44 million). Harrison, one of the top run-stuffing tackles in the league, has come a long way. When he arrived out of William Penn University, an NAIA school in Iowa, he received a $7,000 signing bonus.Barring a long-term contract this season, Harrison will be an unrestricted free agent in 2016.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/50966/jets-nt-damon-harrison-signs-rfa-tender-for-2-3-million

[kelly]

just an fyi..

 

 

~ ~ Ex-Redskins tight end Fred Davis now eligible to sign with any team

 

The NFL has reinstated former Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.Fred Davis, suspended in February 2014, is now eligible to sign with any team. 

 

Davis, 29, is now eligible to sign with any team, effective immediately.Pro Football Talk earlier reported Davis' reinstatement.Davis was suspended indefinitely by the NFL in February 2014 for his second violation of the league's substance abuse policy. He said he was suspended for taking a supplement that included a banned substance. He says it wasn't for marijuana, which was the reason for his first suspension.

 

A day after his suspension was announced, he was charged in Virginia with driving under the influence.

Davis played for the Redskins from 2008 to 2013. He's unlikely to be back with the team.

 

> http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12839260/fred-davis-reinstated-nfl

[kelly]

just an fyi..

 

~ ~ Washington is parting ways with its starting right guard.The club will release Chris Chester, ESPN’s Adam Caplan reported Wednesday.The 32-year-old Chester has started 64 straight regular season games for Washington. Overall, he has started 111-of-137 contests since entering the NFL with Baltimore in 2006.Chester was set to make $3.5 million in salary in 2015, per NFLPA data.

 

Second-year pro Spencer Long could be among the options to replace Chester at right guard. A Nebraska product, Long was a third-round pick of Washington in 2014, and he was listed as the top backup to Chester as a rookie.

 

> http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/27/report-washington-releasing-chris-chester/