JetNation Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 The Jets made some roster moves along the defensive line in the week leading up to the first regular season game. They released DL Marcus Dixon and NT/DT Martin Tevaseu, picked up by the Colts, and added NT/DT Isaako Aaitui who was waived by the Miami Dolphins. As was reveled on the HBO show Hard Knocks the Dolphins were high on Aaitui but released him in hopes he’d clear waivers and could be signed to their practice squad. The Jets decided to claim Aaitui choosing to cut Dixon and Tevaseu. Unfortunately Aaitui suffered a knee injury soon after his signing prompting the Jets to release him and resign Dixon. On the surface the release of Dixon (6’4”, 295) was a surprise as he was a viable reserve in 2011 recording 16 tackles and 1.5 sacks. With starting NT/DT Sione Po’uha sidelined for most of training camp with a back injury the Jets must have believed that Aaitui’s potential was greater than Tevaseu and given his size (6’4”, 315) would provide more depth at the NT position than keeping Dixon. There is an alternative explanation to the Jets decision to bring in Aaitui besides just adding some insurance. Second year player NT/DT Kenrick Ellis has been taking a majority of the work at the NT spot during training camp, preseason and now starting opening day in place of the injured Po’uha. The emergence of Ellis, seen as Po’uha’s replacement when drafted, might lead to this being Po’uha’s final season as a Jet. This offseason Po’uha (6’3”, 325) signed a 3 year $15 million contract with the Jets but at 33 years of age and entering his 8th season in the league the wear and tear of being on the line is starting to show. The Jets might have been looking at the Ellis/Aaitui combination as the future starter/backup heading into 2013 with Po’uha still available this season as Aaitui developed. The Jets are an estimated $19 million over the 2013 salary cap and will have to make some tough decisions during the 2013 offseason. While Po’uha did sign a three year deal an analysis of the contract shows the Jets would save $3.84 million on the 2013 salary cap if Po’uha were to be released before the third day of the 2013 league year, as long as he is not injured, but would count $2.33 million in “dead money”, money which counts on the salary cap for a player not with the team. The Jets would have the option under the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to designate Po’uha as a player who is released after June 1st even though he is actually released sooner. The dead money hit for player’s released or traded after June 1st is spread over two years caps but the CBA allows teams two exceptions for a player who is released before June 1st to be viewed as being released after June 1st. This was done to allow players to become available on the open market quicker instead of forcing teams to wait until after June 1st to release a player for salary cap purposes. If the Jets use this designation they will save $5 million with $1.167 million in dead money in 2013 but will have an additional dead money hit of $1.167 in 2014. Po’uha is a fan favorite and will hopefully be able to get healthy and contribute this season but NFL player’s careers are short and their abilities tend to decline rapidly. Teams cannot base their personnel moves on sentiment but attempt to move away from players before they don’t produce at the level they once did. The question is can Kenrick Ellis give similar or better production than Sione Po’uha next season which could free up resources to be used more effectively on other positions than a 34 year old NT with back issues? The answer to this question may decide if this is Sione Po’uha’s last season as a Jet. Follow Me: View the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Be_a_Jet Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 CJ Spiller: 169 Rushings yards on 14 Carries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoicsentry Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 How are we $19m over the 2013 cap? Contract escalations? That's a huge figure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slats Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 How are we $19m over the 2013 cap? Contract escalations? That's a huge figure. $12M is designated for Jason Smith. I'm thinking they probably have a little wiggle room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason423 Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 The June 1 cut move would not really help the Jets with their cap in this case. While it would lessen the hit by spreading the money over two years, the Jets would have to carry Pouhas entire cap charge until June 1, meaning no cap relief during free agency. This is one of those rules that isnt really reported correctly since everyone focuses on the dead money, but there is no real discussion as to how it works towards the cap from the termination date thru June 1. The idea of the June 1 cut is really not meant for a player like Pouha. Its meant for a disaster on a big contract like Roy Williams in Dallas. You have a situation where a player costs say 7-8 million in cap, but their dead money is higher than that, say 14 million. Perhaps their salary becomes guaranteed or they have an offseason roster bonus if not terminated before March 15. You cant afford a 14 million cap charge so you designate a June 1 cut. They carry that 7-8 million cap fee for a few months, but dont get stuck with the future guarantee and are able to lessen the dead money blow over a two year period. This is exactly what Dallas would have done with Williams if he had bonus money and there was no lockout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denden29 Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 CJ Spiller: 169 Rushings yards on 14 Carries Sept 25, 2011 - Darren McFadden: 171 yards on 19 carries, 9 yards per-carry = Lose Oct. 2, 2011 - Ray Rice/Ricky Williams: 115 yards on 27 carries, 4.26 yards per-carry = Lose Oct. 9, 2011 - BenJarvus Green-Ellis: 136 Yards on 27 carries, 5 yards per-carry = Lose Po'uha played in all these games so if your point is it's Ellis' fault Spiller ran for 169 yards, in a victory, who is to blame for these opposing teams rushing performances? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#27TheDominator Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 This one is obvious. If Ellis plays well they will give Pouha the usual cut your salary ultmatum. If Ellis sucks they will keep him around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JiFtheOracle Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 This one is obvious. If Ellis plays well they will give Pouha the usual cut your salary ultmatum. If Ellis sucks they will keep him around. This. They'll ask Pouha restructure, and he will and he'll starting seeing less and less time because Ellis' upside is ridiculously high. Even with his extension, I'm sure the coaching staff is secretly rooting for Ellis to make Pouha an after thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 It's pretty amazing how much productivity we've gotten out of Pouha. Without Rex there's no chance he would have been a Jet for the entirety of his career, much less been in the league through the age of 33. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SenorGato Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Pouha used to be an injury machine when he first got into the league. Thought starting later would buy him more years but negative because of the injuries. Anyway, what 27 said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitonti Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 This. They'll ask Pouha restructure, and he will and he'll starting seeing less and less time because Ellis' upside is ridiculously high. Even with his extension, I'm sure the coaching staff is secretly rooting for Ellis to make Pouha an after thought. Ellis is a beast but he's far from trustworthy. Can he be a member of society without beating people up? Can he not get deported? these are not rhetorical questions. Don't get me wrong, I like Ellis. I just think it's a good problem to have Pouha and Ellis fighting for reps. Or both of em on the field for goalline. Getting rid of Pouha doesn't make the Jets better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GATA Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Ellis is a beast but he's far from trustworthy. Can he be a member of society without beating people up? Can he not get deported? these are not rhetorical questions. Don't get me wrong, I like Ellis. I just think it's a good problem to have Pouha and Ellis fighting for reps. Or both of em on the field for goalline. Getting rid of Pouha doesn't make the Jets better. Same here... Plus, I love Pouha he brings a certain level of leadership & respect into the locker room Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Mostro Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 NT is such a tough position. Between injuries and the need for a good rotation, having a #1 and#1A is almost a prerequisite. Eillis and Po'uha fit that perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JiFtheOracle Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Ellis is a beast but he's far from trustworthy. Can he be a member of society without beating people up? Can he not get deported? these are not rhetorical questions. Don't get me wrong, I like Ellis. I just think it's a good problem to have Pouha and Ellis fighting for reps. Or both of em on the field for goalline. Getting rid of Pouha doesn't make the Jets better. Of course its a good problem and I never said the Jets are better off without Pouha. They are better off if Ellis outright wins the job and Pouha isnt relied on as heavily at 33 years old. I do think at full strength, the Jets could show some crazy fronts with Pouha, DeVito, Ellis, Mo Wilk and Coples. They could give OL's fits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 I do think at full strength, the Jets could show some crazy fronts with Pouha, DeVito, Ellis, Mo Wilk and Coples. They could give OL's fits. Could??? Will. That's the word you were looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOJOTOWNSELL Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 ellis isnt ready yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Jet Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 If Po'uha's able to go then he needs to start. He's been playing at an elite level the last few seasons, maybe been the most underrated player in football in that time. I wouldn't be as quick to rely on Ellis as some are. If he develops into the beast we suspect he might then great, but in the mean time I want to see Po'uha on the field until I see a reason to feel otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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