TRADE dept. ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

Chiefs will cut Dwayne Bowe if they cannot trade him

 

Could the Chiefs and Dwayne Bowe be headed for an inevitable divorce ?

 

Per NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, Bowe could end up on the free agent market if the Chiefs are unable to trade him, per two sources informed of the team's plans. The 30-year-old is set to make almost $11 million this year as part of the five-year, $56 million contract he signed back in 2013.

 

 

{C}

NFL Now delivers a non-stop video stream highlighting the next generation of NFL talent in preparation for the 2015 NFL Draft. Start using it now!

 

However, working against Bowe is the fact that little of that money is guaranteed. The Chiefs could move on with a minimal cap hit if need be.In a way, it will be interesting to see Bowe in another uniform. Long thought to be among the league's better wide receivers, he was never in a system that truly emphasized his strengths. His best years -- 2010 and 2011 -- saw him catch 153 passes for 2,321 yards and 20 touchdowns. In the three years following, he's managed just 2,228 yards and eight scores.

 

In an ironic twist, Bowe was the last wide receiver to catch a touchdown pass in a Chiefs uniform -- more than 365 days ago. His 22-yard catch from Alex Smith on Dec. 8, 2013, stands as the last touchdown catch made by a Kansas City wideout.Essentially, few would blame Bowe for exploring his options and not accepting a watered-down version of the mega-deal he signed just two years ago.

His presence on the free agent market would not immediately shake up the soon-to-be lively bidding wars, but it will be fascinating to see where under-utilized veterans like he and Andre Johnson end up.

Perhaps we could be treated to a brief window of what might have been.

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000476637/article/chiefs-will-cut-dwayne-bowe-if-they-cannot-trade-him

[kelly]

A few takeaways on the New York Jets' reported agreement to acquire wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the Chicago Bears  :

1. The Jets are replacing one pain in the butt (Percy Harvin) with another, but the trade makes sense because Marshall is more talented than Harvin -- and he'll cost less, too. Marshall has three years, $24.3 million left on his contract, including $7.7 million this season. Harvin has four years, $41.5 million left on his deal, including a non-guaranteed $10.5 million this year. Basically, the Jets upgraded their receiving corps, saving $2.8 million in the process. The downside: Marshall, who turns 31 on March 23, is four years older than Harvin.

 

[+] Enlarge

Scott Cunningham/Getty ImagesBrandon Marshall will start his 10th season with his fourth team.

2. Adios, Percy. Once Marshall passes his physical to complete the trade, the Jets will release Harvin, whom former general manager John Idzik hailed as a "potential coup" when he traded for him last October. To complete the deal, they will send a sixth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks. It would escalate to a fourth-rounder if he's on the roster March 19, but that won't happen.

3. The Jets reportedly will send a fifth-round pick to the Bears. So they walk away from the Harvin-Marshall swap still holding a fourth-round pick, but they're without their fifth- and sixth-rounders.

4. This is the first splashy move for the Mike Maccagnan-Todd Bowles regime, a strong indication they will take an aggressive approach to rebuilding a team that finished 4-12. Bowles played an instrumental role in this trade because he's familiar with the enigmatic Marshall, who tends to wear out his welcome because of his "me" personality. Bowles was on the Miami Dolphins' staff during Marshall's two-year run in South Florida, so he presumably knows how to handle this soon-to-be-31-year-old problem child.

5. The Marshall-Geno Smith dynamic will be fascinating. Marshall can be tough on his quarterbacks (why else would he be traded three times?), and you have to wonder how he'll respond when Smith (assuming he's the starter) sails a few passes over his head. Smith isn't the confrontational type -- he's more of an introvert -- so it'll be a relationship that bears watching.

6. This trade shows the Jets didn't like what was available in the free-agent market -- or maybe they weren't willing to pay what it will take to land a receiver such as Randall Cobb or Jeremy Maclin. The upside to the Marshall situation is that only this year's salary ($7.5 million base) is guaranteed, meaning they can cut bait after a year if it doesn't work out. In other words, they could be faced with another Harvin-like decision next year. This also means they probably won't take a receiver with the sixth overall pick in the draft, allowing them to focus on defense or a quarterback.

7. A Marshall-Eric Decker tandem gives the Jets' their best receiving corps since 2010, when they had Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards. At 6-foot-4, Marshall should help in the red zone, the Jets' Achilles' heel. The one thing they don't have, though, is a true burner to stretch the field. You can't argue with Marshall's production, though. From 2007 to 2013, he was second in the league in catches (692) and second in receiving yards (8,741). His numbers dropped last season, but he played with a variety of injuries. He was hampered by an ankle injury much of the early season and he ended on injured reserve with two fractured ribs and a collapsed lung.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49605/brandon-marshall-trade-a-worthwhile-risk-for-jets

[kelly]

Brandon Marshall is coming to the New York Jets, assuming he passes his physical. Could Jay Cutler be on the way, too ?
 

It's a natural question, considering Marshall and Cutler spent three seasons together with the Chicago Bears and another three together with the Denver Broncos before that. Cutler also still hasn't received a public vote of confidence from the Bears' new regime. There have been rumblings about a possible trade, but know this: Marshall's soon-to-be former quarterback won't be coming to the Jets. They have no interest in trading for the diva QB.

The Bears have to make a decision soon -- by next Thursday, actually. If Cutler still is on the Bears' roster, it triggers a $10 million guarantee for the 2016 season. His $15.5 million salary for 2015 already is guaranteed. Even if the Bears want to trade, it will be hard to find someone willing to take on that much money for a talented, but turnover-prone, passer.

The Jets have Geno Smith and will look to add a veteran, but it won't be Cutler. It's probably just as well. The Cutler-Marshall relationship deteriorated last season, according to reports out of Chicago.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49640/could-new-york-jets-reunite-brandon-marshall-and-jay-cutler-dont-bet-on-it

[kelly]

The good and bad of the Percy Harvin saga with the Seahawks

 

Percy Harvin never was worth what the Seattle Seahawks invested in him. But realizing their mistake and getting rid of him before it was too late are the reasons the Seahawks made it back to the Super Bowl.

If the New York Jets release Harvin as expected, the final door will close on one of the worst trades in Seahawks franchise history. Here are the facts:

 

[+] Enlarge

Rich Schultz/AP PhotoThe Seahawks made the gutsy move to trade Percy Harvin to the Jets in October 2014.

Harvin cost the Seahawks $18.3 million over two seasons. He also cost them a first- and seventh-round draft choices in 2013 and a third-round pick in 2014 in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings.

And what did the Seahawks get for that investment ?

They got a man who played in only six regular-season games -- one in 2013 and five in 2014 -- before being traded to the Jets, and two playoff games. He caught 23 passes for 140 yards in the regular-season games.He rushed for 92 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown. He also had a 58-yard kickoff return against his former Minnesota Vikings teammates in his only 2013 regular-season game.And he had one dramatic moment in the 2014 Super Bowl with an 87-yard TD on the opening kickoff of the second half.

The Seahawks will receive a sixth-round draft choice from the Jets if Harvin is released, which seems likely now that the Jets made a trade Friday to acquire wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the Chicago Bears.That's about it -- more than $18 million and a minus-2 on drafts choices for a guy who played in a total of eight games and had minimal impact on the field.And it could have been much worse had the Seahawks not made the gutsy move of trading Harvin last October. He was a much bigger problem off the field than he was an asset on it. The Vikings knew it when they let him go and the Seahawks found out the hard way.

"We took a shot [acquiring Harvin] for a highly explosive player," said Seahawks general manager John Schneider. "For a number of different reasons it didn't work out. We knew we had to resolve that situation as quickly as we could so we could move forward as an organization. It was a very hard decision, one we didn't make overnight."But Harvin had to go. He had confrontations in the locker room with receiver Doug Baldwin and former Seahawks receiver Golden Tate.

The Seahawks revamped their offense to take advantage of Harvin's talents, but he still was discontent at times about not getting the ball enough. The last straw came in the game against the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 12 last season, five days before he was traded, when Harvin reportedly refused to go back in the game.He was singlehandedly destroying the chemistry of a team trying to return to the Super Bowl. The Seahawks' brass knew it couldn't continue, even if it meant getting almost nothing in return.Besides the off-the-field issues, Seattle's offense had gotten away from what it does best -- a power-running team centered around Marshawn Lynch that used the read-option with the best running quarterback in the league in Russell Wilson.

The offense had become more about Harvin and trying to utilize his speed and elusiveness near the line of scrimmage with jet sweeps and bubble screens. For the most part, it just didn't work. Defenses knew what was coming and the Seahawks lost their identity on offense.It was time to go back to who they were and admit the Harvin experiment was a failure on every level. The trade was a stunner, the holy-cow moment of the season in the NFL.It briefly threw the team for a loop. The Seahawks flew to St. Louis the day of the trade and lost to the Rams 48 hours later.In the days following the trade, unsubstantiated reports surfaced about dissension on the team all around, including ridiculous rumors about some players saying Wilson "wasn't black enough."

All the talk of discord became a rallying point for the players. After the loss at Kansas City dropped the Seahawks to 6-4, the players called a meeting. Strong safety Kam Chancellor was the leader of the meeting."I felt it was time," Chancellor said later. "I had to get up and talk and say what was in my heart, talk about how we need to play out there and how we need to play for one another. The guys understood that and we ran with it."

Other meeting leaders were cornerback Richard Sherman, free safety Earl Thomas, Wilson and Baldwin."It was about trusting each other again," Baldwin said a few weeks later. "Believing in the man next to you and not playing like individuals."The Seahawks ran the table after that meeting, going 6-0 down the stretch, including five games against teams with winning records and five against NFC West opponents.And the Seahawks were one play away from a probable second consecutive Super Bowl victory, the interception at the goal line that Seattle fans will never forget.What they should remember, however, is how this team transformed its season after it boldly sent Harvin packing.

No, he wasn't worth the price, but the Seahawks wisely cut their losses and saved their season by saying goodbye.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/163103/the-good-and-bad-of-the-percy-harvin-saga-with-the-seahawks

[kelly]

oh , I hope we release harvin.

 

 

 

 

 

cheers ~ ~

 

[kelly]

Will Nick Foles make it the second straight year an Eagles quarterback takes flight to move to the Jets ?

 

The Jets reportedly made a blockbuster trade on Friday, acquiring wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the Chicago Bears for a conditional fifth-round pick.The trade, Eric Decker, gives the team a solid receiving corps to build around. Now the question shifts to the quarterback position.A question that could be answered with a call to Eagles head coach Chip Kelly.The Eagles desire to trade up in the 2015 NFL Draft to acquire Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is well known. How high the Eagles, who draft at No. 20, will have to go to get him isn't yet known. The two logical landing spots for Mariota, however, are No. 1 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and No. 6 overall to the Jets. One asset the Eagles have to move up is quarterback Nick Foles.

 

So can a deal be struck between the two teams involving Foles, the No. 6 overall pick and Mariota ?

 

Here is a look at why a trade might make sense for both teams.

Why the Jets might do it

With the Eagles, Mariota is a stud prospect. With any other team? That isn't as clear.The questions about Mariota's accuracy and his ability to stand in the pocket and beat teams only grow louder as the draft draws closer. If the Jets could give him time to develop, and put him in the right system, he might make sense at No. 6.These days, however, it is hard to take a quarterback so early and not start him almost right away. Mariota would instantly become the franchise quarterback if the Jets took him at No. 6. If the Jets think he is that kind of player, they should take him. But if they aren't absolutely positive, then taking him is one risky, risky move.

By taking on Foles, the Jets would get a quarterback with plenty of upside and a solid track record. Playing in Kelly's offense helped, but Foles still has 46 career touchdowns to 17 interceptions. He is also a more traditional, drop-back passer, and the argument can be made that he has a better chance at long term success than Mariota does.In addition to Foles, the Jets could likely get more than just the No. 20 overall pick. After trading a fifth-round pick for Marshall, and a conditional fourth-round pick for Harvin, the Jets could easily recoup those picks in a deal with the Eagles.

Should the Jets go after Nick Foles?

<a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/8706062/">Should the Jets go after Nick Foles?</a>

Why the Eagles might do it

Kelly is putting his stamp on this team, and that stamp isn't going to be complete unless he gets his guy at quarterback. There isn't a price too high for landing a franchise quarterback — which Mariota could be with the Eagles.So the simple answer is of course the Eagles would trade Foles to the Jets for No. 6 overall pick, and would likely include a first-round pick next season to do it. And maybe even more.The danger in doing the deal with the Jets, right not at least, is that it might not be high enough. Mariota could still go No. 1 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and another team could trade up to get him, jumping the Eagles do it. If the Eagles give up a good portion of their assets to get up to No. 6, they might not have enough to go even higher to get their guy if they need to.

 

> http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/03/nick_foles_to_the_jets_after_trade_for_brandon_mar.html

[PatsFanTX]

The Jets reportedly made a blockbuster trade on Friday, acquiring [url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/03/jets_will_acquire_wide_receiver_brandon_marshall_i.html]]

Trading an over-the-hill WR for a conditional 5th round draft pick is now considered a "blockbuster" trade?

Pretty funny.

[Rexorcism]

Trading an over-the-hill WR for a conditional 5th round draft pick is now considered a "blockbuster" trade?

Pretty funny.

Everythings a blockbuster to kelly

[kelly]

Everythings a blockbuster to Kelly

 

I did NOT write the aticle..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cheers ~ ~

[joewilly12]

Trading an over-the-hill WR for a conditional 5th round draft pick is now considered a "blockbuster" trade?

Pretty funny.

STOP if New Enlgand would have traded for Marshall you wouldn't feel this way.

 

Go away go play on a Patriots message board.

[kelly]

In 2011, Brandon Marshall was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Since then, he has become a spokesman for mental health. He also has cleaned up his act off the field.But the gifted wide receiver has a long history of bad behavior. Marshall has been suspended twice and arrested five times since 2004, including three times for domestic-violence issues. The New York Jets will be his fourth team. He's a football nomad who wears out his welcome.The Jets haven't commented on Marshall because Friday's trade can't become official until the start of the league year on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

A look back at Marshall's transgressions, starting last season with the Chicago Bears :

• 2014: He traveled to New York every Tuesday (the team's day off) for Showtime's "Inside the NFL" show, raising questions about his commitment to football. He angered teammates with a locker-room tirade after a loss to the Miami Dolphins. He challenged a Detroit Lions fan to a fight in a Twitter exchange. Marshall got into an altercation with an assistant coach for not wearing the proper practice uniform and it nearly escalated to blows. He ripped quarterback Jay Cutler on the radio, saying, "I can understand that as far as as a businessman; I would have buyer’s remorse, too" -- a reference to Cutler's contract and the now-infamous quote from Bears' offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer.
•  
• March 2012: Two days before his trade to the Bears, Marshall was accused of hitting a woman in the face at a New York club, the New York Post reported. No charged were filed because of lack of evidence.
•  
• April 2011: Marshall was stabbed near his stomach by his wife, who was charged with battery with a deadly weapon.
•  
• August 2009: He was suspended by the Denver Broncos for the final two games of the preseason for conduct detrimental to the team. He reportedly didn't report on time to a physical-therapy session. An angry Marshall once lashed out at practice by swatting away footballs instead of catching them.
•  
• March 2009: He was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after an alleged fight with his fiancee. The charges were dropped the next day.
•  
• August 2008: The NFL suspended him three games for violating the league's personal-conduct policy. He appealed and the suspension was reduced to one game and a $52,000 fine.
•  
• March 2008: Marshall was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge. His girlfriend filed an affidavit claiming Marshall struck her in the mouth and left eye. A jury found him not guilty.
•  
• October 2007: He was charged with drunk driving. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
•  
• March 2007: Marshall was arrested and charged with suspicion of domestic violence. The charges were eventually dismissed after he attended anger-management counseling.
•  
• January 2007: Marshall was present at a nightclub in Denver where Denver Broncos teammate Darrent Williams was fatally shot while leaving the club in a limo.
•  
• October 2004: While attending Central Florida, he was arrested and charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, refusal to obey, disorderly conduct and resisting an officer.

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49652/a-closer-look-at-brandon-marshall-checkered-past

[PatsFanTX]

STOP if New Enlgand would have traded for Marshall you wouldn't feel this way.

No matter what two teams made that trade, an aging WR for a conditional 5th is nowhere close to being a "blockbuster" trade.

[joewilly12]

No matter what two teams made that trade, an aging WR for a conditional 5th is nowhere close to being a "blockbuster" trade.

According to you which means absolutely nothing the Jets needed a #1 WR and they got a damn good one. 

 

Who is New Englands #1 WR?

[nycdan]

Maybe not. What was the lowest slot you thought truly likely for Manziel and Bridgewater?

 

Forgetting about the aftermath, did you ever think Geno would slip to the 2nd round?

[PatsFanTX]

According to you which means absolutely nothing the Jets needed a #1 WR and they got a damn good one.?

That's fine, but it not a blockbuster trade.

[Savage69]

No one thought a lot of QBs, projected into the top 5, would drop to where they ultimately went. 

In the best QB draft ever 1983 after Elway was picked first the next one drafted was Todd Blackledge at 7 ahead of Jim Kelly and Marino..LOL

[PatsFanTX]

In the best QB draft ever 1983 after Elway was picked first the next one drafted was Todd Blackledge at 7 ahead of Jim Kelly and Marino..LOL

No love for Tony Eason in that draft?

[Dcat]

Oh now TX is reduced to semantics, panties all in a bunch over the literal meaning of "blockbuster". Puhlease.

What a waste of human DNA TX is.

[kelly]

1. Center of attention: I like the Brandon Marshall trade from a value/risk-reward standpoint, but there's one concern: How will he react if (when?) the ball isn't coming his way as often as it did in the past ?   Marshall is what the analytics folks like to call a high-volume receiver. Fact: From 2007 to 2014, he was targeted a league-high 1,241 times. The next closest receiver was Larry Fitzgerald (1,172). For the most part, Marshall has been part of pass-oriented offenses. In nine seasons, with the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears, he played on only two offenses that finished with as many (or more) rushing attempts than pass attempts.In case you didn't notice, the Jets emphasized the run under Rex Ryan, and it's hard to imagine them straying too far from that personality as long as Geno Smith is the quarterback. So what happens when Marshall doesn't see his usual 10 balls per game? He has a reputation for being a "me" guy and we know he's not afraid to call out his quarterback. Should be interesting.
 

[+] Enlarge

Bob Donnan/USA TODAY SportsHow will Brandon Marshall react if the ball isn't coming his way as often as it did in the past?

 

 

2. One man's treasure ...: The Marshall trade involved two first-time general managers with two different visions for their team. The Bears' Ryan Pace was so eager to unload the talented, but controversial Marshall that he conducted a fire sale, giving him away for a fifth-round pick. The Jets' Mike Maccagnan was more than happy to bring the volatile receiver into his new program.Each team had its reasons for doing the deal. The Bears, coming off a dysfunctional season, are looking to improve their locker-room chemistry. The Jets have good chemistry, but they need playmakers. So there you have it.

3. Houston, we've got no room: Before the trade, the Jets were considering Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson, but only as a late free-agency option, perhaps post-draft. Marshall's arrival changes that. Johnson, on the trading block, is expected to be released.

4. On thin ice: This hardly qualifies as a revelation, but the Jets are expected to release Percy Harvin as soon as the Marshall trade becomes official, which won't be until 4 p.m. Tuesday at the earliest -- the start of the league year. If they didn't want to pay him $10.5 million this year to be a starting receiver, there's no reason to think they'll pay it to a No. 3. From all indications, he's not interested in a pay cut. Harvin is a terrific kickoff returner and a dangerous situational receiver, but he's not a traditional No. 1. They'll save $10.5 million in cap space by cutting him.

5. Bronco alumni: Marshall will join another ex-Bronco in the Jets' receiving corps, Eric Decker. (They never actually played together in Denver, missing each other by a year.) The popular school of thought is that Marshall's arrival will allow Decker to return to his familiar No. 2 role, where he's supposedly better suited, but the folks at numberFire.com did some number crunching and have a different viewpoint. They consider both top-25 receivers.

6. Waiting on Darrelle: The NFL, especially the New York and Boston markets, will be held hostage in the coming days by Darrelle Revis, who likely will return to the New England Patriots or sign a mega-deal with the Jets. If the Patriots fail to renegotiate with him by Tuesday, they'll probably cut him to avoid a cap-busting, $20 million option for 2015. And then he'd be a free agent, setting the stage for a Jets-Patriots battle.One AFC executive predicted Revis will fetch a three-year, $50 million contract. He probably won't get that much from the Patriots, who don't deflate when it comes to negotiating contracts. They're hardball all the way, expecting their stars to accept less than market in exchange for the joy of being part of the Patriot Way. By contrast, the Jets, perhaps motivated by their desire to stick it to their archrival and win the offseason, probably will overpay for the almost-30 cornerback.

Will Revis take Woody Johnson's millions or accept a lifetime membership to Robert Kraft's fraternity  ?

7. Draft plan: With Marshall in the fold, the Jets probably won't draft a receiver with the sixth pick, so scratch Amari Cooper and Kevin White. Assuming they sign a cornerback or two in free agency, the draft focus will be on a pass-rusher or maybe a quarterback, if they fall in love with Marcus Mariota.

This is a deep draft for edge-rushers; you could see five in the top 10 picks. One of them, Nebraska's Randy Gregory, made some news at ESPN. While taping a "Sports Science" segment with John Brenkus, Gregory became the first defensive player to knock the head off the tackling dummy. So there's that.

8. Stat of the week: This will help explain why the Jets traded for Marshall. They haven't had a 1,000-yard receiver since Jerricho Cotchery in 2007, tied for the third-longest active drought in the league. The Oakland Raiders (Randy Moss) and Jacksonville Jaguars (Jimmy Smith) haven't had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2005.

9. Tall tales: With Marshall (6-foot-4) and Decker (6-foot-3), the Jets will have one of the bigger starting tandems in the league. In 2014, only three teams had two 6-foot-3 receivers start at least 12 games -- the Bears (Marshall and Alshon Jeffery), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson) and the Arizona Cardinals (Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd).

10. Weird coincidence: It's funny that the Marshall trade came down on the same day the Jets signed David Harris to a contract extension. They were linked in speculation in 2009, when the Jets were trying to trade for Marshall before the start of the season. In return, the Broncos wanted Harris. The Jets refused to part with their young middle linebacker. Now they're teammates.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49664/sunday-notes-can-the-jets-keep-brandon-marshall-happy

[kelly]

The Houston Texans traded quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets for a late-round conditional draft pick, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.Fitzpatrick was the odd man out in Houston with the team re-signing Ryan Mallett and agreeing to a deal with free-agent quarterback Brian Hoyer.Fitzpatrick is familiar with Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey's system, having played for him when Gailey was the head coach of the Buffalo Bills.

 

Geno Smith finished last season as the team's starter in a season that had many downs and few ups. Michael Vick, who replaced Smith briefly as the team's starter last season, is a free agent.

 

After starting nine games for the Texans last season, Fitzpatrick was benched in favor of Mallett. Mallett suffered a torn pectoral muscle, which he played through in his second start, then was placed on injured reserve. Fitzpatrick returned, set a franchise record for touchdown passes in a game -- throwing for six in a game against the Titans, and then suffered a broken leg in his second start back.

 

Overall, Fitzpatrick threw for 2,483 yards while completing 63.1 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

 

> http://espn.go.com/newyork/nfl/story/_/id/12460762/houston-texans-trade-qb-ryan-fitzpatrick-new-york-jets

[predator_05]

The Houston Texans traded quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets for a late-round conditional draft pick, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.Fitzpatrick was the odd man out in Houston with the team re-signing Ryan Mallett and agreeing to a deal with free-agent quarterback Brian Hoyer.Fitzpatrick is familiar with Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey's system, having played for him when Gailey was the head coach of the Buffalo Bills.

 

Geno Smith finished last season as the team's starter in a season that had many downs and few ups. Michael Vick, who replaced Smith briefly as the team's starter last season, is a free agent.

 

After starting nine games for the Texans last season, Fitzpatrick was benched in favor of Mallett. Mallett suffered a torn pectoral muscle, which he played through in his second start, then was placed on injured reserve. Fitzpatrick returned, set a franchise record for touchdown passes in a game -- throwing for six in a game against the Titans, and then suffered a broken leg in his second start back.

 

Overall, Fitzpatrick threw for 2,483 yards while completing 63.1 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

 

> http://espn.go.com/newyork/nfl/story/_/id/12460762/houston-texans-trade-qb-ryan-fitzpatrick-new-york-jets

 

good work kelly

[Ex-Rex]

"If he falls to the Jets, I'd be sending the card up to the commissioner in two seconds," said ESPN analyst Mark Dominik, formerly the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A no-brainer there. Even if the Jets trade for Fitzpatrick, if Mariota is there I draft him and let him sit a year while Fitz does what Fitz does. Otherwise you take the pass rush specialist and own the number one defense in the world. With Revis and Cro solidifying the secondary, the front seven will wreak HAVOC on everyone, especially if they get the pass rusher. Tom Brady will be eating his food through a straw after that. 

[kelly]

The effect of Brandon Marshall's trade to the    New York Jets    ripples to Cleveland.

Because it takes one team off the list of "teams that need a receiver in the draft."Provided he passes a physical, Marshall will pair with Eric Decker to upgrade the Jets' group (or "room," as they say in the most recent NFL vernacular ... the "room"). Marshall is a five-time Pro Bowler whose numbers dropped significantly in 2014 in Chicago.

Prior to the trade, the draft seemed a logical spot for the Jets to add a receiver. Now the Jets have interesting options come draft time, all of which affect the Cleveland Browns  :

• They can turn to the best available player, which increases the chances that one of the top three wideouts in the draft -- Kevin White, Amari Cooper, and DeVante Parker -- will be available when the Browns select 12th. The most likely, clearly, would be Parker. The flip side: If another team needs a receiver, they now know they might have to trade up to get him, which could hurt the Browns if they decide Parker is their guy.
• The Jets might decide to draft quarterback Marcus Mariota after all. If the Jets are at all interested in Mariota, this trade might make it less likely the Browns can get him. Unless ...
• The Jets become more open to trading the sixth pick to further fortify their roster with extra picks. They could demand three first-round picks from the Browns -- which is about the going rate -- for the sixth pick, which the Browns then can use on Mariota.

This will all be the subject of endless chatter and debate as the draft approaches, but it’s clear the ripple effect of the trade does reach Cleveland.One other reality that was good to hear was when ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that the Bears had discussions with the Browns about Marshall.The seriousness of the discussions and the Browns' offer (if there was a concrete offer) aren’t known, but the fact that they at least called is encouraging. Because it shows the team does realize receiver is a need that must be addressed, and because it shows the Browns were at least willing to investigate.

New quarterback Josh McCown knows Marshall from the 2013 season in Chicago, so it’s safe to assume that if he was consulted he gave a positive review. The Browns at least reached out.

They didn’t win on the trade, but no team wins them all.It’s at least good to know they looked into the possibility.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/163059/how-the-brandon-marshall-trade-affects-the-browns

[kelly]

State of the Jets' QB situation: Another year, another Band-Aid

 

Some takeaways on the New York Jets' trade for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick:

1. This was another solid move by Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan, who deals a conditional seventh-round pick (2016) to the Houston Texans for a quarterback who went 6-6 last season on a 9-7 team. Fitzpatrick has been on the Jets' radar for nearly two months as they monitored the Houston QB situation. Actually, this move is similar to what the previous regime did last year by signing Michael Vick -- an over-30 player with experience in the offensive coordinator's system and a guy who can provide competition for Geno Smith. Presumably, Fitzpatrick will get a fair shot to compete for the starting job, something Vick never was afforded. The basic dynamic doesn't change, though: It's a Band-Aid. The Jets continue to hold out hope that Smith can be the answer.

2. Why Fitzpatrick ? It's a lean quarterback market -- no saviors -- but he appealed to the Jets because of his background in Chan Gailey's offense. In three years with the Buffalo Bills (2010-12) in Gailey's spread attack, Fitzpatrick posted some impressive numbers, including 71 touchdown passes. He had the accuracy and quick release to thrive in the scheme -- or so it seemed. Soon after signing a $59 million contract extension in 2011, he became a turnover machine and ended up getting cut after the 2012 season. But the point is, he knows Gailey, he still can win some games and -- let's face it -- Andrew Luck isn't walking through the door anytime soon.

3. When you're a team in transition like the Jets, it's important to have a guy in the quarterback room who can speak the language of the playbook -- besides the coach, of course. Fitzpatrick's knowledge of Gailey's system will help the offense, especially Smith. Hey, Fitzpatrick attended Harvard, so we have to assume he's a smart cookie with the ability to provide intel. Said one AFC personnel executive: "Never underestimate the ability of a veteran who knows the system that can mentor and teach the younger players and be a resource. There is a value to that."

4. Maccagnan, a former Texans executive, got an up-close look at Fitzpatrick. He won't blow you away with his arm strength, but he can direct an offense and get out of trouble if pressured. He was benched after nine games last season and returned to the Texans' lineup when Ryan Mallett was injured, leading to the game of his life -- a six-touchdown pass gem against the Tennessee Titans. His bugaboo is turnovers -- 101 career interceptions and 54 fumbles (24 lost). He finished the season on injured reserve with a broken leg. Obviously, he'll have to pass a physical for the trade to be finalized.

5. Why trade a draft pick when he probably would've been released  ? The answer is money. Fitzpatrick is due to make $3.25 million, relatively cheap in today's market. It would've cost the Jets another $1 million or so if they had signed him as a free agent. Plus, we're only talking about a pick in next year's draft, which could increase to a sixth-rounder based on playing time.

6. A question on everybody's mind: Does this preclude the Jets from drafting Marcus Mariota? No, but as I've been saying for a few weeks, I don't think Maccagnan and Todd Bowles are staying up at night, dreaming of Mariota. If Mariota falls to No. 6, the Jets would entertain trade offers. Fitzpatrick provides insurance and flexibility.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49802/state-of-the-jets-qb-situation-another-year-another-band-aid

[kelly]

Brandon Marshall talked about his hunger to win a championship with the New York Jets. Hunger? The man should be positively famished by now. No player in NFL history has more receptions without a playoff appearance than Marshall.
 

[+] Enlarge

AP Images/Charles Rex ArbogastBrandon Marshall has had strained relationships with his quarterbacks but had nothing but praise for the Jets' passers.

"These guys really created something special here and now you have guys like myself just coming in -- we're all hungry," Marshall said Friday on a media conference call, his first public comments since being traded by the Chicago Bears. "We want something besides freaking Revis Island. He's coming off a Super Bowl. This is a young team, a team that is hungry, that doesn't have much. We want that."Marshall sounded genuinely excited about playing for the Jets, who have created a buzz with their busy offseason. They've acquired three Pro Bowl-caliber talents in Marshall, Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie.No one has ever disputed Marshall's talent (five Pro Bowls), but it's the other stuff that has caused teams to give up on him -- three trades in six years. Aside from his off-the-field issues (five arrests, mostly early in his career), he's known as a "me" guy and a pain in the rear for his quarterbacks.

He tried to dispel those perceptions.

Marshall said he already has been in touch with Geno Smith, with whom he struck up a "weird relationship" two years ago when Smith was drafted by the Jets. He belongs to a gym near Smith's home in Miramar, Florida, so there's some common ground. Marshall said he was expecting Smith to arrive Friday night so they could begin off-season workouts. They expect other teammates to join."He has a drive and a passion that a lot of people don't see," Marshall said of Smith.Marshall also threw some love to the newest quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, whom the Jets acquired from the Houston Texans."This guy's a freaking player's coach," Marshall said. "He can play ball, but he can also be a freaking coach. That can help, not only all of our quarterbacks, but it's going to help everyone else on our offense."

Marshall described himself as a more mature player than early in his career, noting that two years ago he made a decision to take a "selfless" approach within the Bears' offense. The emergence of Alshon Jeffery and the arrival of Martellus Bennett, he said, caused him to subjugate his ego.That statement probably will cause some eye rolls in the Bears' organization. Late in the season, he was critical of Jay Cutler, perhaps fracturing their relationship. Obviously, the Bears' new regime traded him for a reason, giving him away for a pittance -- a fifth-round pick. They actually sent a seventh-round pick with him to the Jets. It was a fire sale.

Marshall, who said he wasn't surprised by the trade, claimed he hasn't been that guy since early in his career."The perception of the first five years [of my career] is close to being reality," he said. "I was lost and really didn't cope and deal with things the right way the first couple of years. My second year in Miami (2011) was really when there was a transformation in my life and in my heart, and I started seeing the world the way it’s supposed to be [seen]. Since then, I've been living my life in a way that hasn't been perfect, but one that I would say I'm happy with."

In 2011, Marshall announced he had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. He has become a spokesman for mental illness. That's also when he formed a relationship with Todd Bowles, then the Dolphins' assistant head coach. Bowles was instrumental in bringing him to the Jets.

"Look, out, everybody, he's a man's man," Marshall said. "He's a leader."

Marshall said he won't mind sharing the ball with others. This, he said, is where he wants to end his career. He turns 31 on March 23."Being a one-hit wonder or a rental definitely affects you emotionally," he said. "I don’t want go through that again. I want to take this opportunity and make the best out of it."

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/164112/brandon-marshall-never-in-playoffs-hungry-for-championship

[kelly]

1. Finally, a real competition: Incredibly, the Ryan Fitzpatrick trade was overshadowed by Darrelle Revis and the flurry of other free-agent signings, but it was the second-most significant move of the week, behind Revis. That's because Fitzpatrick could be the starting quarterback.

Team officials haven't commented, but I've talked to people who believe Fitzpatrick was acquired to be more than a mentor/insurance policy for Geno Smith. In other words, we could have a truly fair and open competition this summer, not a repeat of last summer's charade. You could make the argument that Smith is the underdog. Consider:

• The new bosses, Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles, have no loyalty to Smith. The Jets are in win-now mode, judging by the big bucks in free agency, so they won't tolerate Smith's growing pains the way the previous regime did. The Jets haven't had an open dynamic like this since 2006, when it was a Chad Pennington-Patrick Ramsey-Kellen Clemens competition. (That lasted about a week.)

•  
  Fitzpatrick has a distinct advantage because he already knows Chan Gailey's system from their three years together in Buffalo. Smith will be in catch-up mode, and it's hard to catch up these days because field and classroom time are limited under the collective bargaining agreement. Smith faced a similarly experienced quarterback last summer, Michael Vick, who had four years in Marty Mornhinweg's system, but it was different because Smith already had a year under Mornhinweg. Now he's starting from scratch.

• The Jets gave up a draft pick for Fitzpatrick, showing they weren't willing to risk losing him to another team on the open market. Granted, it was only a conditional seventh-round pick (2016), but teams don't give away draft picks for nothing.

• Quite frankly, Fitzpatrick is a better quarterback than Smith, based on the last two seasons. He has a better starting record (9-12 to 11-18), a better passer rating (88.3 to 71.5) and a better Total QBR (55.4 to 35.7).

So, yeah, Fitzpatrick could end up being a stop-gap starter. Said one source: "That's what he's been in these situations. His knowledge of the system and the Gailey offense will allow for a more seamless transition, but it's also what he can be as a resource to Smith. That's valuable for Geno to watch and learn from."

2. Revis tries to buck trend: Clearly, the Jets expect Revis to remain an elite player for at least the next three years. They're paying him $48 million over that span, including a fully guaranteed $39 million. Revis celebrates he Big Three-Oh in July. How many 30-and-over cornerbacks dominate in the NFL? It happens, but rarely longer than a year.Since 2005, only 11 cornerbacks have made the Pro Bowl at the age of 30 or older, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Of those, only five have made multiple Pro Bowls -- Champ Bailey (four), Antoine Winfield (three), Brent Grimes (two), Al Harris (two) and Charles Tillman (two).Let's take it a step further. Only one player in that age group, Tillman, has made the All-Pro team -- only once. Once.If Revis can maintain his excellence, he'd probably approach Deion Sanders' level. The Hall of Famer, generally regarded as the premier corner of our generation, was an All-Pro at the age of 30 and 31.

3. Big weekend for Revis family: Revis' uncle, former NFL player Sean Gilbert, is running for executive director of the NFL Players' Association this weekend in Hawaii, where the vote will occur Sunday at the union's annual meetings. Gilbert is one of eight challengers to DeMaurice Smith.Gilbert, in a speech Saturday to the membership, was sharply critical of Smith, whom he believes created a "$10 billion problem" by agreeing to an unfair CBA in 2011. Gilbert said the players will lose $10 billion over the life of the agreement. He's also in favor of free agency after three years, three-year rookie contracts, 57-man rosters and the elimination of compensatory picks.He also claimed the league's funding rule, which requires teams to fund fully-guaranteed contacts, is a form of collusion because it dissuades owners from spending money. He has a point. Example: Woody Johnson is required to put $39 million in escrow to cover Revis' guarantees; it's not a pay-as-you-go situation.Interestingly, Gilbert mentioned Revis twice in his speech, saying he "helped navigate the waters" for Revis after studying the CBA in 2010. His nephew has made $85 million in his career. That's what you call a successful navigation.

4. Traveling men: Four of the seven new players added by Maccagnan have played for at least three teams -- Revis (three), Antonio Cromartie (three), Brandon Marshall (three) and Fitzpatrick (five). And we're not talking about a bunch of old geezers here; they're all under 33. Such is the nature of the beast in the NFL. As Marshall noted, "It seems like the business side is starting take over more and more every single year." True, but the draft remains vital. You fill holes in free agency, but you find the future stars in the draft.

5. And with the sixth pick ...: After obtaining a receiver and four defensive backs, there's a feeling the Jets will use the sixth pick to take a pass-rusher. There are a few good ones that could be available. My question is: Can you pass on wide receiver Amari Cooper if he's there? That would be tough.

6. A question about Marcus (not Mariota): I wonder if safety Marcus Gilchrist is an ideal scheme fit for Todd Bowles' defense. The Jets needed a true free safety to play opposite Calvin Pryor, but Gilchrist was used more at strong safety than free safety last season by the San Diego Chargers, according to ESPN Stats & Info. One personnel director told me he didn't think Gilchrist's ball skills were as good as the other hybrid safeties on the market.

7. A wet blanket: The Jets have doled out more than $160 million in free-agent contracts, but spending money doesn't buy happiness. A year ago, the teams that spent the most money -- the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos and New York Giants -- all saw a drop in in their win total, according to Spotrac.com. It's hard to be worse than 4-12, so the Jets figure to improve their record

8. Gunning for Brady: Tom Brady can't be loving this offseason. The Jets stole Revis and revamped their secondary, the Miami Dolphins signed Ndamukong Suh and the Buffalo Bills hired Rex Ryan. The defenses are getting better in the AFC East. Meanwhile, the New England Patriots lost their starting corners (Revis and Brandon Browner) and run-stuffer Vince Wilfork. They picked up pass-rusher Jabaal Sheard, who will help.

9. Rex being Rex: So, Ryan has Percy Harvin and Richie Incognito in the same locker room. Who's next, Santonio Holmes?

10. Fireman Who? So now Jets' fans are clamoring for the return of Fireman Ed? Don't they have more important things to worry about ?

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49905/sunday-notes-ryan-fitzpatrick-could-put-geno-smith-on-bench

[kelly]

Report : Jets received trade inquiries on Dee Milliner

 

The New York Jets added a super trio of cornerbacks this offseason in Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine, thrusting the future of former first-round pick Dee Milliner into question.

 

After beginning last season atop Gang Green's depth chart -- and waywardly making a 'best NFL corner' boast -- Milliner currently sits in position to battle for the No. 4 gig after he returns from an Achilles tendon tear.The precarious position near the back of the depth chart caused other teams to sniff around and see if the No. 9 overall pick in 2013 was available on the cheap.

 

The New York Daily News' Manish Mehta reports that teams have inquired about Milliner's availability in trade talks, but the Jets aren't willing to ship the 23-year-old out of town. At least not for cheap, yet.The former Alabama star might not be ready for offseason workouts as he rehabs from the Achilles injury suffered in October. The injury status coupled with a ton of poor and inconsistent game film gives new general manager Mike Maccagnan little choice but to hang on to Milliner or give him away for a mid- to late-round pick.

 

It makes little sense for the Jets to bail on a young player without getting decent compensation in return. It is better to let him sit behind Revis and Cromartie, learn and see if he improves before cutting bait for a low-level pick.As the Daily News noted, new coach Todd Bowles deployed six defensive backs a ton in 2014 (555 snaps) so Milliner could still see substantial snap if he wins the No. 4 gig.Bowles is a cook who utilizes the best ingredients at hand. You give him good apples, he'll make them work; give him great tangerines, get ready for the best tangerine chess pie of your life. We'll see over the course of the next season whether Bowles decides if Milliner is merely a lemon. If so, then the Jets can give him away.

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000479716/article/report-jets-received-trade-inquiries-on-dee-milliner

[kelly]

One of the first questions that came up after the Jets signed cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine in free agency last week was this: Where does Dee Milliner stand now ?

With the arrival of Revis, Cromartie and Skrine, Milliner (the Jets' first-round draft pick in 2013, ninth overall) and Dexter McDougle (their third-round pick last year) have been relegated to backup roles. Milliner is coming off a torn Achilles tendon last season, while McDougle is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.It's not clear how physically ready Milliner will be to contribute in Week 1.

 

Not that the Jets absolutely need him to start anymore.

 

So what should they do with him ?

 

On Wednesday, Manish Mehta of the Daily News reported that other teams have inquired with the Jets about trading Milliner, but that the Jets are currently saying no thanks to shipping Milliner off in exchange for a mid- or late-round pick.The Jets, for several reasons, would be foolish to trade Milliner for a mid- to late-rounder. And it seems unlikely, at this point in Milliner's career, that another team would be willing to part with anything more in order to acquire him.

 

First off, the Jets don't need to trade Milliner. He has a $3.453 million salary cap hit this season, but he would count $3.794 million against the Jets' cap in dead money if they traded him. Rookie contracts are relatively affordable now, so it doesn't make sense to give up on a first-round pick before you absolutely have to.The Jets also have the salary cap space to accommodate Milliner. Overthecap.com estimates the Jets' cap space at $19.66 million, though that doesn't include recent contracts for Cromartie and and safety Marcus Gilchrist. (Cromartie will get $7 million in Year 1 of his contract, a league source confirmed. So the Jets' cap space is now about $12.66 million.)And it's not like the Jets are going to get a lot for Milliner. His value is low at this stage of his career. He is coming off a serious injury -- and dealt with nagging injuries even before that. He played 13 games as a rookie in 2013, and mostly struggled, though he ascended late in that season. He played just three games last season.

 

The Jets might as well wait and see what Milliner can become over these next two seasons. Can he remain healthy? Will he learn from watching Revis and Cromartie? The Jets need to give Milliner a chance to play long stretches of healthy football -- if he can do that -- before they give up on him. It's far too early to say whether Milliner is -- or is not -- going to be a successful NFL cornerback.

 

 

Milliner's rookie contract expires after the 2016 season, when he is due to count $4.028 against the Jets' salary cap. Remember, the NFL's cap is going to rise again next season, from $143.28 million this year to perhaps $150 million or more. And the Jets need to spend a lot of their cap space over the next two years to comply with NFL minimum-spending rules. So $4 million now and $4 million in 2016 won't be the same, with a higher cap.If the Jets trade Milliner now for mid/late-round picks, they might be kicking themselves down the road if he blossoms into an excellent player elsewhere -- especially since the Jets can afford to retain him now.

 

Yes, Revis remains at the top of his game, even as his 30th birthday nears in July. But what will Revis look like at age 31, after the 2016 season? Cromartie hasn't aged quite as well, from a playing standpoint, as Revis. Cromartie turns 31 next month. In 2013, he was bothered all season by a nagging hip injury, though he moved past it last year. But there are no guarantees it won't crop up again. By the end of the 2016 season, Cromartie will be pushing 33. Nobody can play forever. Not even Revis.

 

Maybe Milliner ends up being a first-round bust. Maybe repeated injuries prevent us from ever really seeing what he might -- or might not -- have become. Or maybe Milliner stays healthy and turns his career around over the next two seasons. The Jets can afford to wait and find out.

 

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

[kelly]

Recently-acquired Ryan Fitzpatrick won't be a full participant in the first leg of the New York Jets' anticipated quarterback competition because of, well, his leg.

Fitzpatrick, still recovering from a broken left leg, will be limited throughout the Jets' offseason practices, general manager Mike Maccagnan said Thursday. Fitzpatrick is expected to be ready for training camp.

AP Photo/AJ MastRyan Fitzpatrick, who fractured his leg last December while with the Texans, might not be ready to compete for the Jets' quarterback job until training camp.

Maccagnan said Fitzpatrick will be "involved in some of the offseason stuff," but added that the 32-year-old quarterback "may be limited to a certain degree in the OTAs."

Incumbent Geno Smith, who likely will battle Fitzpatrick for the starting job, and third-stringer Matt Simms will receive the bulk of the practice reps in organized team activities. The Jets have a voluntary minicamp that begins April 28.

Fitzpatrick continues to rehab his leg, which was fractured last Dec. 14 while scrambling against the Indianapolis Colts.

Hoping to create competition at their perennially weak quarterback position, the Jets acquired Fitzpatrick from the Houston Texans for a conditional seventh-round draft pick (2016). Last season's backup, Michael Vick, is a free agent and won't be re-signed.

Maccagnan declined to call it an open competition between Fitzpatrick and Smith, but he did say it "will be a competitive environment and we'll see how it plays out." Neither Maccagnan nor new coach Todd Bowles has publicly endorsed Smith for the job.

The Jets, picking sixth in the draft, have been linked to quarterback Marcus Mariota. In fact, they have a private workout scheduled for March 28 in Oregon. Maccagnan and Bowles are scheduled to attend.

Maccagnan wasn't about to tip his hand on his draft plans, saying only that the addition of Fitzpatrick wouldn't preclude him from picking Mariota.

"I would say simply, I don't think any player is either on or off our board in terms of what we would do, based on our current roster," he said.

Maccagnan also plans to attend Jameis Winston's pro day at the end of the month.

The Jets decided to trade for Fitzpatrick, in large part, because of his background with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey. He was the Buffalo Bills' starting quarterback during Gailey's head-coaching tenure, 2010 to 2012.

Maccagnan, formerly the Texans' director of college scouting, got a chance to observe Fitzpatrick last season.

"I was very impressed with him -- his work ethic, his approach, his personality and definitely from a leadership standpoint," Maccagnan said. "I thought he played well for us prior to getting injured."

Fitzpatrick went 6-6 as the starter and finished with a 95.3 passer rating, but he was benched at midseason in favor of Ryan Mallett, who eventually got hurt. Maccagnan also addressed the Jets' aggressive offseason, saying he's "very happy with how it's played out. But it doesn't equate to wins and losses. There's still a lot we have to do."

The Jets have been one of the NFL's most active teams, trading for Fitzpatrick and wide receiver Brandon Marshall and doling out $168 million in contracts to sign five free agents.

The biggest prize was cornerback Darrelle Revis, whom Maccagnan called "one of the better players in the league." He also said he wants to sign defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson to a contract extension, but he declined to put a timetable on it.

 

> http://espn.go.com/newyork/nfl/story/_/id/12514219/leg-likely-limit-ryan-fitzpatrick-new-york-jets-camp

[kelly]

Jets mailbag: Philip Rivers or Drew Brees on

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Taking a break from March Madness to answer your New York Jets questions :

@RichCimini: There haven't been any reports saying the Saints or Chargers are shopping Drew Brees or Philip Rivers, respectively, but it's fascinating to consider. People are speculating about Brees because he's 36 and the Saints are overhauling their roster. I'd give more credence to the Rivers scenario because he's already on record as saying he intends to play out the final year of his contract. That, coupled with a report that the Chargers are working out Marcus Mariota, makes you wonder if they might be willing to part with Rivers. Frankly, I think they'd be crazy. The Chargers own the 17th pick. If I were the Jets and I had a chance to get Rivers (still only 33) for a package that included the sixth pick, I'd absolutely do it.

@RichCimini: I think you meant six pick, not pack, but it's the weekend, so I totally understand your mindset. No, I don't think a Johnny Manziel trade will happen. The Browns won't give up on him after a year, but you raise an interesting possibility. They own the 12th and 19th picks, so the Browns have the ammunition to move up if, say, Mariota falls to the Jets. I think the Jets would consider dropping to 12th, picking up a premium pick in the process -- maybe a second-rounder or a first-rounder in 2016. It's something to watch.

@RichCimini: The Jets aren't shopping either player, but Quinton Coples is more tradeable than Dee Milliner. Right now, Milliner has no trade value, and that won't change until he gets on the field and proves he has recovered from Achilles' tendon surgery. They'd get pennies on the dollar if they traded him now, and Mike Maccagnan won't do that. Milliner has two years left on his contract, a fully guaranteed $3.7 million. Coples has one year left (a guaranteed $1.5 million), and he'd attract some interest if they put him on the market.

@RichCimini: I'm assuming you mean in the first round. I think it'll be a pass rusher, meaning a defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid. The most realistic candidates are Randy Gregory and Dante Fowler Jr., both of whom are regarded as top-10 picks. There's a good chance one of the wide receivers, Amari Cooper or Kevin White, will be there, but I can't see the Jets going in that direction after picking up Brandon Marshall. Mariota is a possibility, but I don't think he makes it to six. The Jets have strong interior rushers, but they need an edge player who can pressure the quarterback. Their current outside 'backers -- Coples, Calvin Pace and Jason Babin -- will be free agents next year, so they need to start grooming a replacement. So for now, on March 21, I say pass rusher.

@RichCimini: Yes, there's a very good chance. I'd be surprised if they don't draft a running back in the first three rounds. It's a need. They released Chris Johnson and re-signed Bilal Powell, giving them Powell, Chris Ivory and Daryl Richardson. They need a versatile, breakaway back who could help in the passing game. They also have to think of the future, as both Powell and Ivory will be free agents after the season. There are some quality backs in the draft, starting with Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon. There are some interesting second-round possibilities, such as T.J. Yeldon, Duke Johnson and Ameer Abdullah. It was a good move to keep Powell, but their work isn't done in the backfield.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/50055/jets-mailbag-philip-rivers-or-drew-brees-on-the-radar

[kelly]

Philip Rivers once replaced Drew Brees in San Diego and the two are better than any quarterback the Jets have had since Joe Namath.

 

Connect the dots and it’s not impossible by the time the Jets are on the clock with the sixth pick in the first round on April 30 they will have to make this decision :

 

Rivers or Marcus Mariota ?

Or:

Brees or Mariota ?

 

Rivers has one year left on his contract and said he has no intention of signing an extension before the end of the 2015 season in part because of the uncertainty of whether the Chargers will be playing in Los Angeles in 2016. Maybe he doesn’t love L.A., but could he love the New Jersey countryside for his wife and kids ?

 

Rivers turned 33 in December and has some very good years remaining. Tom Brady won his fourth Super Bowl at the age of 37. Peyton Manning threw an NFL-record 55 TDs when he was 37.

Oregon QB Marcus Mariota could be a Gang Green target early in the first round.

San Diego has a private workout planned for Mariota. He has already worked out for the Titans (second overall pick) and will work out for the Bucs (first pick) and Jets. The Chargers are way down at No. 17, which means if they plan to draft Mariota, the spread-offense QB from Oregon, they will have to trade up to get him. Mariota fever is starting to grip the league, and if the Jets want him, they might have to move up. But, just for fun, let’s say he’s still on the board at No. 6.

What if the Chargers offered Rivers for the Jets’ pick? I would do it in a second. Mariota is going to be a star, and he’s much better than anything the Jets have, but Rivers is a sure thing.

Rivers is making $15.75 million this season and San Diego can keep him next year with the franchise tag. If he does get traded — and the Mariota workout is the reason to believe San Diego would listen to offers — then the Jets would want to sign him to an extension to lower his cap number and make sure they have him for more than one season. Rivers was playing at an MVP level for much of the season and he finished with 31 TDs, playing through rib and back injuries.

Saints QB Drew Brees

Brees turned 36 in January. Sean Payton has given the Saints a new look in the offseason with big names coming and going and now there are rumors that the Saints want Mariota. That could mean Brees is on the way out, although it’s more likely to happen next year. He is making $18.75 million guaranteed this season and then $19.75 million next year. Dumping his contract would free up a lot of cap space. New Orleans owns the 13th and 31st picks so it has lots of ammunition to move up.

What if the Saints offered Brees for the Jets’ pick? I don’t do it.If the Jets are presented with a choice of Brees or Rivers for the No. 6 pick, here’s what I would do: Trade for Rivers. He’s three years younger. Rivers and Brady are the two most competitive quarterbacks in the league and Rivers would give the Jets a huge personality.

 

The Jets have built a win-now team after investing $39 million in Darrelle Revis, who will be 30 in July, and $7 million guaranteed in 2015 for Antonio Cromartie, who will be 31 in April. They are also paying Brandon Marshall, who will be 31 on Monday, a hefty $7.7 million this season.It’s foolish to pay that kind of money and then have Geno Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback.The rookie salary cap has ended the huge rookie contracts, so it’s financially feasible for Rivers and Brees to stay put even if their team is able to draft Mariota.

 

One other issue : If the Chargers and Saints are that hot for Mariota, maybe the Jets need to do everything they can to make sure he comes to Florham Park. Of course, all this becomes moot if the Titans take Mariota right after the Bucs take Jameis Winston.

 

rest of above article :

> http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/myers-brees-rivers-possibly-mix-jets-article-1.2157881

[kelly]

Should the Jets Listen to Offers for Dee Milliner ?

 

Manish Mehta had an interesting story this week about the Jets getting calls from teams interested in trading for Dee Milliner. The Jets signing four defensive backs in free agency has changed Milliner's role on the roster. After entering training camp as the number one cornerback in 2014, Milliner will likely start 2015 as the fourth corner.

Should the Jets cut their losses and deal Milliner ? I say no for the following reasons.

 

• Even the fourth corner will have an important role on the defense. Todd Bowles loves to play with extra defensive backs.  As Mehta noted in his article:

Bowles used six defensive backs about half the time (555 snaps) last season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Cardinals had six or more defensive backs on the field for an eye-opening 619 snaps. Bowles had six or more defensive backs on the field more than twice as often as four or fewer.

The fourth corner will be something resembling a regular player on this defense. There is a prominent spot for him.

 

• The Jets did invest in the cornerback position, but Antonio Cromartie and even Darrelle Revis aren't long-term solutions. They will need to be replaced in a few years. Milliner is a 23 year old who was highly regarded coming out of school.
• Even if Milliner has a bad year, it is unlikely his value is going to get lower than it is right now. He had a bad rookie season and then missed almost his entire second season. He is also recovering from a serious injury. It is difficult to envision anybody giving up much of value for him. What is the harm in keeping him for a year and seeing whether he can make good on his potential? The Jets are in a position now where they can take their time waiting for him to fully recover and then give him some easier matchups against number four receivers to develop him. If he pans out, he can become that long-term solution discussed above. If he doesn't, the Jets likely can still trade him in a year and get a similar return than they would now. Lots of rookie corners struggle, and his second year was lost due to an injury. While I will admit the odds are probably against him becoming a good player, it isn't THAT unrealistic to think he can become a good player. Why not give this another year?

There are only two scenarios where I could get behind a trade. The first is if a team was willing to overpay and give up a premium pick. The second is if a team was willing to give up a similarly talented young player who hasn't put it together yet. This player's position would need to be in a place of need like edge rusher or offensive line.

 

> http://www.ganggreennation.com/2015/3/22/8272761/should-the-jets-listen-to-offers-for-dee-milliner

[kelly]

With the Saints revamping seemingly their entire team this offseason, speculation ran rampant that New Orleans could trade quarterback Drew Brees and move into full rebuilding-mode.General manager Mickey Loomis emphatically shot down those rumors Monday at the NFL Annual Meeting.

"Anybody who thinks we're trading Drew Brees, that's just not true," Loomis told USA TODAY Sports' Jim Corbett.

 

 

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NFL Now delivers a non-stop video stream highlighting the next generation of NFL talent in preparation for the 2015 NFL Draft. Start using it now!

 

 

Brees, 36, isn't coming off his best season, but still completed 69.2 percent of his passes for 4,952 yards in 2014.Loomis traded Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham and young receiver Kenny Stills, while re-signing running back Mark Ingram and adding shifty C.J. Spiller to the backfield. Those moves indicate coach Sean Payton will emphasize a burgeoning ground game over a high-flying aerial attack in 2015.The Saints still want Brees running the show and aren't going to start over with a young quarterback.

 

Loomis also took issue with the perception that the Saints' salary cap is a mess necessitating many of the moves."We're not in cap jail," Loomis said. "That's a myth since it's always a year to year deal."The Saints started roughly $23 million over the threshold before moves put them slightly under the $143.2 million cap.It's not a surprise for Loomis to defend his cap management, just as it wasn't a surprise when he said he wanted to bolster a disappointing defense after a 7-9 season.

 

Whatever moves Loomis has left in the draft -- as well the veterans left on the free agency scrap heap -- he'll do it knowing Brees will be his quarterback in 2015.

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000480785/article/new-orleans-saints-gm-were-not-trading-drew-brees

[kelly]

 -- New York Jets coach Todd Bowles doesn't need to get to know Brandon Marshall. The two were together with the Miami Dolphins in 2010 and 2011, so the Jets' new head coach and their new star wide receiver won't need much of a get-acquainted period this spring.Bowles said Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings that he thinks Marshall gets misunderstood and that he's looking forward to having him on his team again."Me and Brandon go back," Bowles said. "We have real conversations. The guy is so much more than what I think everybody's trying to paint him as. Everybody, if you look at their past, is going to have some shaky things going through it. But Brandon's come a long way, and I think he's in a great spot in his career to have a breakout year."

 

Marshall has a long history of off-field incidents. The Jets acquired him in a trade with the Chicago Bears, and there have been rumblings that the Bears weren't happy with Marshall's weekly appearances on Showtime's NFL show. But Bowles doesn't anticipate having a problem with Marshall's off-day schedule, as that show tapes on Tuesdays."If it doesn't interfere with his practice time -- and we'll talk about it -- his days off are his days off, and I think he can do whatever he wants to do," Bowles said. "Brandon's smart enough to handle it professionally. So we'll have a talk about that, but I have no problem with it."

 

Marshall, 31, is on his fourth different NFL team and has now been traded three times since 2009 -- an oddly checkered resume for a player who has five 100-catch seasons and has been among the best at his position since entering the league. But the Jets have high hopes that he has a lot left in the tank and will enjoy himself in New York."We think Brandon's still a top-flight receiver," Bowles said. "He's not just a big body. His presence and the way he runs routes, he understands the game. He's a student of the game. He understands when he has small guys on him, he can get vertical when he needs to get vertical. He's a sharp route-runner. He has great hands. He knows how to block. He brings a work ethic and he brings a fire to us that we need on that side of the ball."

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/50145/new-york-jets-coach-todd-bowles-brandon-marshall-has-chance-to-enjoy-breakout-year

[kelly]

Mailbag: Will Jets trade up for Marcus Mariota ?

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Due to demand, we'll have another New York Jets mailbag on Sunday. Popular team, these Jets.

 

@RichCimini: I'd be stunned if that happens. I wouldn't be surprised if they take Marcus Mariota at six, but trading up is a different animal. Consider: The Washington Redskins moved up from six to two in 2012 to select Robert Griffin III, and it cost them three first-round picks (2012, 2013, 2014) and a second-round choice. Mariota is a good prospect, but he's not a can't-miss, Andrew Luck-type guy. The Tennessee Titans, currently holding the second pick, may receive numerous offers, so there would be a bidding war. The Jets would have to trade their entire draft, based on the draft value chart -- and even that probably wouldn't get it done. Chances are, they'd have to surrender at least one future No. 1 pick, maybe more. They'd be mortgaging their future for one player, and that's risky.

 

 

@RichCimini: Obviously, you're referring to Randy Gregory, who tested positive for marijuana at the scouting combine. More than that, he admitted he was a habitual user at Nebraska. As for your question, none of the edge players are ideal fits. They're all 6-foot-3 (Dante Fowler Jr. is actually a shade under), not the prototypical length you're looking for in a 3-4 outside linebacker. Vic Beasley has short arms, another concern for scouts. Shane Ray was tremendously productive at Missouri, but a closer look reveals that many of his sacks came against lesser competition. I'm not saying the Jets won't draft one of these players -- all top-15 talents -- but when you're sixth overall, you have to be careful not to force a pick to fill a need.

 

@RichCimini: This is a fair question, but I don't think you're going to like my answer. I don't think any of the minimum-salary additions will make an impact. We're talking about backup-type players, most of them over 30, some of them with injury issues. If you really press me for an answer, I'd say Kevin Vickerson and Stephen Bowen. I don't think the Jets will draft a defensive lineman, so these guys will get first dibs on the backup job. But, again, we're not talking about front-line players here. We're talking 15 to 20 snaps a game, maybe.

 

@RichCimini: They're not committed to any position, I can tell you that. You raise an interesting point because there's a very good chance that Amari Cooper or Kevin White will be available. If Mariota is gone, do you take the receiver? Mike Maccagnan says he will take the best player. Well, I think most folks will tell you Cooper and White are top-5 talents, probably ahead of the pass rushers. The Jets have a nice receiving trio with Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker and Jeremy Kerley, but I have to think they'd consider a receiver (especially Cooper) is he's the top guy available. It would be a tight squeeze, but let's not forget there's no financial commitment to Marshall beyond this year. It could be done.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/50222/jets-mailbag-will-jets-trade-up-for-marcus-mariota