Idzik ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

The Jets get the Bucs' No. 13 pick in 2013, and a conditional fourth-rounder in '14,

for Darrelle Revis.

 

By Sunday morning, the Bucs and Jets had worked out the trade details for Darrelle Revis

-- Tampa Bay's first-round pick in this draft and likely a
third-rounder next year to New York. The Bucs had a contract done with
Revis -- six years, $96 million, none of it guaranteed. But there was no
deal yet. Revis had to pass the Tampa Bay physical, and if his
surgically repaired knee wasn't healing to the Bucs' liking, this deal
wasn't going to get done.

"If the physical doesn't go right, we're sending him home,'' coach Greg

Schiano told GM Mark Dominik Sunday morning. Both men agreed on that.

So two Bucs doctors, including head team orthopedist John Zvijac and

director of sports medicine Todd Toriscelli, pored over recent MRI
results on Revis' left knee, then met with and examined Revis. It went
well, a source said, with the doctors satisfied the knee was making good
progress. But there are no guarantees for corners coming back from ACL
surgeries, and Dominik and Schiano couldn't know unconditionally that
Revis' knee would recover to the level it was before he was injured last
Sept. 23. Dominik, Schiano and the medical staff met for about 30
minutes without Revis, and then the coach and GM went into a private
meeting. In that meeting, as Dominik told me Sunday night, "We decided
there was not enough risk to not do it. At the end of the day, you trust
your doctors to tell you as much as they can, but it's a decision
really that came down to me and Greg. We had to be comfortable with the
risk, and I can tell you we are.''

After Dominik and Schiano decided, they met with Revis. The way the

contract is structured -- $13 million per year, with $1.5 million in
annual roster bonuses and $1.5 million in annual offseason workout
bonuses -- the Bucs wanted Revis to know exactly what was expected in
this rehab process. They wanted him to rehab in Tampa, and they wanted
him to be a full-time offseason workout guy in Tampa.

"I'm all in,'' Revis told them. "I'm a Buccaneer.''

Said Dominik: "You could see how excited he was. The look in his eyes

was, 'Coach, I will not let you down.' ''

There were three elements to The Trade That Had To Happen. The contract

was a big one. The Bucs knew they were taking a huge leap of faith,
paying the 13th pick in this year's draft (Revis was the 14th overall
pick six years ago) plus a third-rounder if Revis is on the Tampa Bay
roster on the third day of the 2014 league year. (If Tampa Bay cuts
Revis after the season, the Bucs will owe New York their fourth-round
pick in 2014.) So Dominik told the agents for Revis he was willing to
put Revis in the stratosphere with the highest-paid defensive players
ever, but he wasn't going to give any guaranteed money in the deal.
Dominik was willing to walk away after a year if Revis was damaged goods
and not a great player anymore; but if he did, he wanted the penalty to
be two high draft choices, not the high picks plus an immense
guarantee. If Revis is a top corner, he'll get the money. If not,
Tampa's out two good picks and Revis gets to make another deal
elsewhere.

The compensation was next. The Jets at one point in the negotiations

wanted three picks for Revis -- first-, third-, and fifth-round picks. A
week ago, Dominik said he didn't think the deal would get done. But a
source with knowledge of the talks said Dominik dug in and drew the line
at two picks, and gave the Jets a deadline to get the deal done.
(SI.com could not determine what the deadline was, but it had to be some
time in the last few days.) Another source said Jets GM John Idzik knew
coach Rex Ryan didn't want to trade Revis, and was hoping against hope
owner Woody Johnson would reconsider his stance about paying Revis a
rich contract to keep him in New York. But that wasn't going to happen
... and Dominik knew he had a solid position. Because the Jets couldn't
franchise Revis after the last year of his deal this season, they had to
either trade him before the October deadline or get nothing for him but
a compensatory draft choice in the 2015 draft.

And the physical was third. Important, but third. Once Revis passed it to

Tampa's satisfaction, this was a done deal.

From the Jets' standpoint, if they weren't going to pay Revis, they had
to trade him. Simple reason: They couldn't risk Revis going to
arch-rival New England in free agency -- or anywhere without
compensation -- in 2014. And in that respect, Idzik did a good job in
getting the 13th, and, say, 75th picks for a player coming off knee
surgery who the team wasn't going to pay, and everyone knew it.

Still, it's a stark reminder that the Jets are rebuilding, and it'd be a

huge upset if that rebuilding job doesn't cost Rex Ryan his job. Ryan
knows that; everyone does. Ryan craves great cornerbacks more than great
quarterbacks, and listening to him trying to be a team guy and go along
with the trade Sunday night on a team conference call was awkward to
say the least. There's no way he'd have ever chosen trading Revis over
re-signing him. But of course, that wasn't his call.

I agree with what Ryan must be thinking, for what it's worth. I

understand the Jets could be going through a rebuilding slog. But Revis
is 27. All indications are his knee is progressing well, and he'll be
the same Revis. One right decision at quarterback in the next 12 months,
and the Jets could easily contend by 2015 -- when Revis would still
have four or five good years left. I just don't believe in trading great
players you work your football career to acquire and develop and
nurture. I'd have gone to Revis with a simple proposal: Prove by October
1 your knee is fine, and we'll show you the money, and you'll be our
franchise cornerstone, the greatest cornerback in the game in the
greatest city in the world. But that's me. Woody Johnson had other
ideas. And so, of course, did Idzik.

So Tampa Bay, which had the game's most generous secondary in 2012,

will have Revis and Eric Wright at cornerback, with ex-Niner Dashon Goldson

and Mark Barron at safety. As of today, the Bucs still need a nickel corner, and

they're not sure if Ronde Barber will return. But the secondary has been

upgraded in a very big way in a division with Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and

Cam Newton filling the air with footballs.

"Where Darrelle will be on the day we open camp is on the field,'' said
Dominik. "And where he'll be opening day is playing against the Jets.
That's what I believe."

Said Ryan: "You look at the big picture. I think this ends up, as in all good

trades, one that benefits both teams.''

If it is, the Jets will have to make as good a decision with the 13th

overall choice this year as they did with the 14th pick in 2007. You
don't find Darrelle Revises in every draft. If he's healthy, Tampa Bay
got a great deal.

> http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130422/darrelle-revis-peter-king-monday-morning-quarterback/index.html

[kelly]

The New York Jets brass held a conference call with the media Sunday

evening following the trade of star cornerback Darrelle Revis. The Jets

shipped one of their top players in franchise history to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

for a first-round pick this year and a conditional third- or fourth-round pick in 2014.

Most view trading Revis as a tremendous talent dump for the Jets.
Revis, when healthy, is a top-10 player in the NFL. New York will not
get that kind of elite player in return with the No. 13 overall pick on
Thursday.

However, New York general manager John Idzik, coach Rex Ryan and
owner Woody Johnson were all on board that this was the best decision
for the Jets. Idzik also made it clear that other factors were involved,
such as health and a looming contract extension in 2014 that made it
unlikely Revis would remain a Jet long term.

"It became abundantly clear to us that his value was such that we
wouldn’t get there," Idzik said of Revis, who in turn signed a six-year,
$96 million contract with Tampa Bay. "That just didn’t [match] with
what the Jets had in store."

The biggest concern for the Jets is this roster does not appear
competitive this year. New York, on paper, could be the worst team in
the AFC East and one of the bottom-feeder teams in the league this
season. The Jets have a lot of holes and a lot of questions that the
draft alone cannot fix. Now, the Jets dump their best player.

Owner Woody Johnson offered a message to Jets fans that the

team's goal is to win in 2013, despite these changes.

"There's never been a year when I haven't tried to win using
everything that I have to try to build a team that's capable of doing
that," Johnson explained. "This year is no different. ... We're
committed to putting a team on the field that's a winning team."

Ryan, who is known to be brash, was adamant that New York's defense
will remain one of the top units in the NFL. To Ryan's credit, the Jets
were the No. 2 pass defense last season, despite Revis missing 13 games.

"We’re going to play great defense here -- I don’t even think that’s
a question," Ryan said. “We’re a football team that has a No. 1 corner.
We’re fortunate to have Antonio Cromartie here. So there’s a lot of factors that go into every decision.”

Overall, the Jets made the right move to trade Revis. The
compensation was a little light for a player of his caliber, but Revis
was injured and Tampa Bay had leverage. But unlike Idzik, Johnson and
Ryan, I think the Jets are going to experience some major growing pains
in 2013 before this team gets better.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/57765/new-york-jets-brass-remains-optimistic-post-darrelle-revis

[kelly]

No other teams got into Revis hunt

 

Last week, when the Jets pressed “pause” on the Darrelle Revis trade talks, some

thought that another team or two could try to jump into the fray.

 

It didn’t happen.

In fact, it never happened.  Per a source with knowledge of the process, it was

always Tampa — and only Tampa.

That reality kept the Jets from getting more than a first-round pick

in 2013 and a fourth-round pick in 2014 (which will become a third-round

pick if he’s on the Tampa Bay offseason roster next year).  It also

kept Revis from getting anything more finite than a pay-as-you-go

contract that promises him annual compensation of $16 million, with

nothing guaranteed.

In the end, it was the best deal the Jets and Revis could get, because

it was the only deal they could get.

“If we had the luxury of time, if we had the luxury of Darrelle not

having been injured, not having gone through rehab, then I think things

would be a lot clearer both from our standpoint and in the case of

potential trade suitors,” G.M. John Idzik told reporters on Sunday.

He’s right.  Only one team was willing to give up a first-round pick

plus a 2014 selection for the hope that Revis will be back to his old

self after ACL replacement.  Only one team was willing to commit $16

million to him for 2013.  (Though it’s not actually guaranteed, there’s

no way he’ll be cut before Week One, when his $13 million base salary

becomes guaranteed as a practical matter by the labor deal.)

Perhaps most importantly, only one team was willing to do a deal that,

if Revis goes back to being Revis, will necessitate an adjustment or

risk his third career holdout.

The thinking was that the next contract for Revis would have to carry

enough guaranteed money to make him or his agents never complain again

about his compensation.  The Bucs instead have created a situation in

which it’s highly unlikely that both sides consistently will be content

with Revis earning total compensation that equates to $1 million per

game.

If he plays poorly, the Buccaneers eventually will have to explore

paying him less, or possibly moving on.  If he plays well, the Bucs will

have to brace for Revis wanting more.

Still, after blowing a first-round pick in 2008 on Aqib Talib and a

third-round pick in 2010 on Myron Lewis,

the Bucs will now gamble those same two picks on the chance that Revis

will get back to form.  If he does, and if he wants more money because

of that, it’ll be a very good problem for the Buccaneers to have.

 

> http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/21/no-other-teams-got-into-revis-hunt/

[kelly]

Jets most likely will get a third-round pick in 2014 for Revis

 

At a time when plenty of Jets fans are feeling gloomy about the trade that sent

cornerback Darrelle Revis to Tampa, there’s a tiny silver lining in the dark cloud

over Gotham.

 

Per a source with knowledge of the trade terms, the fourth-round pick

that the Bucs owe the Jets in 2014 upgrades to a third-round pick based

only on the player’s presence on the Tampa Bay offseason roster in

2014.

We don’t know the precise date on which the pick enhances, but it

falls at some point between the start of the 2014 waiver period and the

2014 draft.

As a practical matter, the specific date doesn’t matter.  It’s highly

unlikely that the Buccaneers will cut Revis after one year, especially

since his $13 million base salary for 2014 doesn’t vest until the first

week of the 2014 regular season.

So, barring a highly unlikely development, the Jets will get a

first-round pick in 2013 and a third-round pick in 2014 for Revis.

 

> http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/21/jets-most-likely-will-get-a-third-round-pick-in-2014-for-revis/

[kelly]

here we go...

 

~ ~  There is little chance that this year's NFL draft will match its
trade-heavy results of 2012, when six of the top seven picks were dealt,
including one of them twice.

 

This is despite the fact that the top four teams and a bunch of others

are trying like crazy to move around.

Luke Joeckel could end up in K.C. if the Chiefs hold on to No. 1.The
Kansas City Chiefs at No. 1, followed by the Jacksonville Jaguars,
Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles have all expressed an interest
in moving out of the top four spots. As of Saturday, none of them were
finding much interest. However, only one of the deals involving six of
the top seven picks last year (the Washington Redskins moving up to the
No. 2 spot) occurred before the first round officially started.

"Last year was special because it was the first time under the new
system for rookie contracts that teams could trade," said Atlanta
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, who is one of a handful of GMs
interested in moving up in the first round. "I think that opened things
up a lot. I also think there were some situations that just lined up
right that don't necessarily line up this year the same way."

That doesn't mean that there won't be significant action involving

first-round picks this week. Starting with Sunday's trade
of cornerback Darrelle Revis from the New York Jets to the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, there are projected to be five to eight trades that impact
the first round one way or another.

Here's a look at the moves expected to be done :

1. Branden Albert to Miami – This is only going to
happen if the price on Albert – particularly the $8 million-$9 million a
year it's believed he's seeking in a long-term deal – comes down
significantly. Albert is a franchise player, which comes with a
one-year, $9.8 million base. Kansas City would love to get a
second-round pick for him, clearing the way for the Chiefs to take Luke
Joeckel at No. 1 overall and then get another player rather than take
Joeckel and then lose Albert to free agency after the season. The
problem for the Chiefs is that this move is actually counterintuitive
for the Dolphins, who already let Jake Long leave for less than what
Albert is looking to make. While Long has a longer laundry list of
injuries (knee, elbow, biceps, back), Albert has also dealt with a back
problem. To overpay for Albert and give up a second-round pick
to get him would be pretty questionable for the Dolphins. Then again,
the idea of having Jonathan Martin at left tackle could force the
Dolphins to panic.

2. San Francisco will be busy – The 49ers are at No. 31
overall, have 13 draft picks, including two selections each in Rounds
2-5. It's believed by at least one GM that the Niners are interested in
moving up to the 13th or 14th overall pick. There is no way that the
49ers can keep more than five or six new draft picks with the way the
team is structured right now. Expect GM Trent Baalke to either trade up
or trade out for picks in the future. The talk around the league is that
the 49ers would like to get a defensive lineman who can eventually step
in for veteran Justin Smith. The team also needs a safety, No. 2 tight
end and could use an impact corner. All of that is possible.

3. Atlanta on the move – Dimitroff danced around the

idea of trading up from No. 30. If you look at the Falcons' roster and
the way the team played on defense in the playoffs, it's clear the team
needs an impact defender at cornerback after cutting Dunta Robinson and
losing Brent Grimes in free agency. The Falcons' pass rush has been
mediocre outside of John Abraham over the past three years. Abraham is
gone now and has been replaced by Osi Umenyiora, but the Falcons could
use another pass rusher, particularly a younger one. Ultimately, the
prospects that could be targeted by the Falcons are cornerbacks Desmond
Trufant or Xavier Rhodes, and defensive ends Bjoern Werner, Barkevious
Mingo and Tank Carradine.

4. Wide receiver chase –

Teams could move up for Keenan Allen. Wide
receivers are going to be popular starting at roughly No. 16, where St.
Louis is likely to take Tavon Austin or DeAndre Hopkins. Keenan Allen
and Cordarrelle Patterson are also looking like possible first-rounders
with St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Houston, New England, Minnesota and
Baltimore being teams that would be interested.

5. Moving around for a quarterback – Several teams are
trying to read the market for quarterbacks, starting with where top
prospect Geno Smith will end up. Smith could easily fall out of the top
10. Where his slide ends up from there will likely impact where
quarterbacks such as Matt Barkley, E.J. Manuel, Ryan Nassib and Mike
Glennon land. Several teams at the top of the second round, such as
Arizona, Buffalo and Oakland, could move up to the end of the first
round to grab a prospect.

 

> http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--falcons--niners-could-be-in-nfl-draft-trade-mix-214722345.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[BroadwayJoe12]

Now I'm not trying to start anything here, but is there some sort of statute that allows you to post here if, and only if you seclude yourself to one thread??  Is this like a prisoners outreach program for level 5 sex-offender type thing?  My curiosity has really gotten the better of me.

[kelly]

Now I'm not trying to start anything here, but is there some sort of statute that allows you to post here if, and only if you seclude yourself to one thread??  Is this like a prisoners outreach program for level 5 sex-offender type thing?  My curiosity has really gotten the better of me.

[jack48]

Me like Idzik.  Hope he can draft.  Thinking, if Darelle Revis did hold out next year, with a 16 million guarantee, he would be perceived, correctly, as the biggest asshat in NFL history.  He would certainly be the biggest asshat in his extended family.  Hell, he is making 5 mil a year above the franchise tag, isn't he? Having said all that, I give it a 50-50 chance that he does.

[Il Mostro]

Good stuff Kelly -- keep it coming.

[kelly]

Good stuff Kelly -- keep it coming.

 

thanx dad ! !

 

[kelly]

Why the Jets Had to Jettison Revis A Team in Tatters Accepts the Loss of Its Pricey Star

 

 

Darrelle Revis spent Monday holding a news conference, conducting

interviews, telling everyone with a microphone or a notepad that he

wished he could have stayed with the Jets.

His remarks combined pragmatic pride—he understands football is a

business—with a hint of hurt feelings.

"I'm human," he told reporters. "It feels like that team is giving up on you."

Why didn't the Jets re-sign him? After all, he's the best cornerback

in the NFL and arguably its top defensive player. His recovery from a

torn anterior cruciate ligament appears to be robust. At 27, he's

entering the meaty part of his already-great career. And with free

agency on the horizon following what would have been his seventh season

with the Jets, Revis had expressed a desire to remain with the team.

Yet a better question might be whether the Jets had any choice.

During a 1,018-word opening statement Sunday, on a conference call to

explain why he had traded Revis to Tampa Bay, Jets general manager John

Idzik turned a phrase that cut like a thunderbolt through his otherwise

cloudy monologue.

Retaining Revis, Idzik said, would have required "a deal of

historical proportions," and by reaching a six-year, $96 million

agreement with the Buccaneers, that is what Revis got. The franchise-tag

value for a cornerback (the average salary of the top five players at a

particular position) is $10.8 million. That means Revis's annual $16

million salary (which isn't guaranteed, mind you) is 48% more than the

franchise tender, and it makes him, along with Buffalo defensive

end/linebacker Mario Williams, the highest-paid defensive player in the

league.

Coming off of consecutive seasons in which the Jets missed the

playoffs, Idzik already had begun the unavoidable process of slashing

payroll to reshape the roster. Devoting so much salary-cap space to

Revis would have been unthinkable. If Revis could have been the

difference between the Jets' challenging for a championship and missing

the playoffs altogether, Idzik and owner Woody Johnson might have met

his demands.

But Idzik wouldn't be the Jets' GM if they were close to contending;

his predecessor, Mike Tannenbaum, left him this mess when he was fired

on Dec. 31. The team will likely struggle to be respectable next season,

and Revis's presence wouldn't have improved the Jets enough to justify

the cost. (Of course, it might have made Rex Ryan, whom Idzik inherited

as head coach, feel more secure about long-term employment.)

Yes, Revis is the NFL's best cornerback. There isn't a close second,

and the chances are slim that the Jets will select a player of the same

stature with one of two draft picks (including a first-rounder this

year) they received in this trade. But by drafting even a very good

player at a more meaningful position—a franchise quarterback, an elite

pass-rusher—the Jets in theory could get better more quickly than if

they'd kept Revis.

That context accounts for another interesting Idzik remark—that there

was a "substantial difference" between Revis's view of his value and

the Jets' view. Revis had twice previously held out, and according to a

person involved in financial negotiations over Revis's career with the

Jets, he and his agents argued that outlying deals signed by lesser

players should be the market standards for his contracts. In 2009, for

instance, no NFL team other than the Oakland Raiders (under mercurial

owner Al Davis) would have signed cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha to a

three-year deal that, in its final year, could have paid him more than

$16 million. No matter: Revis wanted the Jets to match or exceed what

the Raiders gave Asomugha. Last year, after the Bills—with one winning

season since 1999 and desperate to be relevant—signed Williams, the goal

posts moved again. This time, Revis wanted to earn as much or more than

Williams.

On Sunday, a franchise that thinks it is within reach of the Super

Bowl agreed to pay what Revis believes he is worth. Again and again

Monday, Revis said that he would have loved to remain a Jet for the rest

of his NFL career, and that rings true. Staying with the Jets mattered

to him. The money just mattered more..

 

> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323735604578438812007184052.html?mod=rss_newyork_main

[kelly]

John Idzik used to sit behind general manager John Schneider

in the Seattle Seahawks' draft room. He was Schneider's sounding

board, always ready with a well-reasoned opinion.

 

On Thursday, Idzik moves into the big chair for the first time in
his 20-year NFL career. Known previously as a salary-cap expert and
contract negotiator, the New York Jets' new general manager finally

gets to pick the players.

 

Idzik is somewhat of a wild card because he has no track record,
but people familiar with his thinking believe he will go into his first
draft with a long-term approach, refusing to deviate for the sake of a
splashy move.

 

"I think he'll try to acquire more picks and build through the
draft for a couple of years," Schneider said in a phone interview. "He's
very methodical. He's not interested in making moves that grab
attention. He believes wins grab attention."

 

Like it or not, Idzik will be one of the headline-makers on Day
1. With the ninth and 13th overall picks, the latter acquired in the Darrelle Revis
trade, he's one of the first-round power brokers. The controversial
trade, coupled with these picks, could define his GM tenure in New York.

Jets GM John Idzik will have many educated opinions in his ear at the NFL draft. But who will he listen to?

Idzik, on the job for three months, stepped into an unusual dynamic.
He's the only new guy in the front office, and he's surrounded by a
possible lame-duck coach and scouting staff that has been together for
several years. There could be conflicting agendas, especially with Rex
Ryan, who isn't concerned about the long term. He needs to win now.

 

Idzik's toughest job will be deciding who to trust. Opinions will be coming

from every direction.

 

Between scouts, cross-checkers, position coaches and
coordinators, there could be seven scouting reports on a single player.
He made it sound easy, claiming, "It's not going to be John's
philosophy, it's going to be our philosophy" -- but we all know that's
an over-simplification.

 

"Listening is easy. Who do I listen to? That's the biggest
challenge -- and I don't think there's a close second," a longtime GM,
speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.

 

This is particularly important for Idzik, who is hardly a grizzled talent evaluator.

 

Fans might not want to hear this, but Idzik said he's leaning on
Mike Tannenbaum's former lieutenants, senior personnel executive Terry
Bradway and longtime scout Jeff Bauer, who was promoted to director of
college scouting.

 

By the time Idzik was hired in late January, the scouting
department was well into its draft preparation. It sounds like he didn't
change too much.

 

"I think the thing that has been impressive with John is that he
has respected our process of the evaluation in the fall, the all-star
games, the cross checks, the February meeting, the combine and so
forth," Bradway said. "It's hard in midstream to change all of that."

The Tannenbaum-led drafts didn't hit too many home runs, as only 19

of 41 picks remain on the roster. So, obviously, Idzik will have to
evaluate the entire operation once the draft is over.

 

For now, Idzik is sticking to the "everybody-has-a-voice"
approach. Ryan used to have the loudest one, but his influence is
diminished. If he still had as much power as he did under Tannenbaum,
the Jets never would've traded Revis.

 

"In the end, you want your head coach feeling good about what you're

doing and the decisions you make," Idzik said.

 

It will be a delicate balance.

 

"It's tough. You have to be a facilitator, not an order taker,"
the anonymous GM said. "That's what Mike became -- an order taker. It's
easy to become in our league."

 

So how will Idzik draft? If he applies what he learned in Seattle, it'll be

a meat-and-potatoes philosophy.

 

In six drafts while he was with the Seahawks, the team used four
of six first-round selections on offensive and defensive linemen. The
others were a safety and a linebacker. They never picked a running back
before the fourth round, and they found their quarterback, Russell Wilson,

in the third.

 

"I don't know if he'll be a big risk taker in his first draft. That's just my

personal opinion," Schneider said.

 

The Seahawks have been ultra-aggressive this offseason, but they
have a playoff roster with a young, ascending quarterback. The Jets
aren't there yet, not even close. They're building the foundation; the
Seahawks are hanging the chandeliers.

Multiple league sources believe Idzik will use his two first-round

picks on a guard (talk about conservative) and a pass-rusher. Possible
targets are North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper, Alabama guard

Chance Warmack and LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo. A

cornerback could be in play, especially if Alabama's Dee Milliner

slips, which could happen.

 

The typical Jets move would be something bold, a knee-jerk
response to satisfy a fan base grumbling over the Revis trade. Idzik
could change the mood by picking West Virginia quarterback

Geno Smith -- or any quarterback, for that matter -- but that's

unlikely to happen despite the need.

 

Idzik isn't looking for a quick fix. In fact, he has sent out
word that he's looking to trade down, acquiring extra picks. This will
be a long, slow process to rebuild the Jets.

 

"He's very deliberate and unflappable, with strong opinions,"

Schneider said.

 

Idzik said Thursday will feel like game day. He'd better hope

it's not a game from last season.

 

> http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/9201425/2013-nfl-draft-week-go-long-way-wrong-way-john-idzik-new-york-jets

[kelly]

The Jets Will Draft Somebody Decent…Right ?

The Jets' primary reward for trading one of the best

players in franchise history is gaining a second top-15 draft pick for

the first time since 2000. If it works out at Thursday's NFL draft as

well as it did then, even the biggest fans of Darrelle Revis will have

little reason to complain.

 

In 2000, the Jets landed a pair of

defensive linemen—John Abraham (12th) and Shaun Ellis (13th)—who have

gone on to combine for 327 starts and six Pro Bowl appearances. This

year, new general manager John Idzik will seek similar results with the

ninth and 13th picks.

Idzik, incidentally, was a member of the Seattle Seahawks' front

office in 2010 when Seattle selected a pair of 2012 Pro

Bowlers—offensive tackle Russell Okung (sixth) and safety Earl Thomas

(14th).

But high draft picks guarantee nothing. The 2008 Kansas City Chiefs,

1992 Indianapolis Colts and 1991 Atlanta Falcons and New England

Patriots all failed to find even one impact player.

Despite the loss of Revis, the Jet offense requires more attention

than the defense. Top quarterback prospect Geno Smith is rumored to be

sliding into the Jets' range. The Jets even may be able to reunite him

with ex-West Virginia teammate Tavon Austin, the draft's most prized

playmaker despite being 5 feet 8.

—Michael Salfino

Double Take

The teams since 1990 that have had multiple top-15 overall picks (with their combined starts and Pro Bowls):

Team Picks Starts Pro Bowls Jets, 2013 9th, 13th ? ?

SEA, 2010

  6-Russell Okung*, 14-Earl Thomas* 85 3

KC, 2008

  5-Glenn Dorsey*, 15-Branden Albert* 136 0

Jets, 2000

  12-Shaun Ellis, 13-John Abraham* 327 6

BAL, 2000

  5-Jamal Lewis, 10-Travis Taylor 216 1

WSH, 2000

  2-LaVar Arrington, 3-Chris Samuels 213 9

SEA, 1997

  3-Shawn Springs, 6-Walter Jones 335 10

IND, 1994

  2-Marshall Faulk, 5-Trev Alberts 163 7

IND, 1992

  1-Steve Emtman, 2-Quentin Coryatt 96 0

MIA, 1992

  7-Troy Vincent, 12-Marco Coleman 386 6

DAL, 1991 1-Russell Maryland, 12-Alvin Harper 207 1

ATL, 1991 3-Bruce Pickens, 13-Mike Pritchard 102 0

NE, 1991 11-Pat Harlow, 14-Leonard Russell 165 0

> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323735604578440783683723590.html?mod=rss_newyork_main

 

[NCJETSFAN]

jut remember the last time we had 2 picke we had a grea football man in charge Bill Parcells . Im just worriedthat we have rex woody idzik bradway all the room all with different agendas so im worried ! they really need to hit big on both theses picks  f to start this rebuild.

[kelly]

jut remember the last time we had 2 picke we had a grea football man in charge Bill Parcells . Im just worriedthat we have rex woody idzik bradway all the room all with different agendas so im worried ! they really need to hit big on both theses picks  f to start this rebuild.

you were saying...

 

[kelly]

New GM John Idzik has begun to remake the Jets' scouting department. Two longtime area scouts, Joe Bommarito and Michael Davis, won't be back with the team, as their contracts weren't renewed, a league source confirmed Wednesday night.

"Pay attention," the source said, "I'm sure there will be more changes."

Bommarito (West Coast scout) and Davis (Mid-Atlantic), both of whom are well-regarded in the scouting community, were informed after the draft of the changes. They spent 12 and 16 years with the Jets, respectively.

Davis was the assistant director of college scouting. He was the area scout for QB Geno Smith. The day after Smith was picked in the second round, Davis was brought out by the Jets to meet the media, fielding questions about Smith.

A new GM usually brings in his own people, so the changes didn't come as a surprise.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/22962/source-idzik-begins-post-draft-shake-up

[kelly]

1. The Idzik Five: The Jets can bill it as a five-way
quarterback competition now, but it's impossible to have a five-man
battle in training camp. A four-way also would be difficult. Even a
three-man fight would be pushing the envelope. Remember, two-a-day
practices are history, so reps are at a premium. When they're in
Cortland this summer, the Jets can't lose sight of the most important
objectives. In addition to picking a starting quarterback, they have to
learn and get comfortable with a new offense and -- this may sound
overly simplistic -- get their starters ready for Week 1. They can't let
the quarterback situation preoccupy them and become counterproductive
for the team.

It seems like new GM John Idzik will follow the Seahawks' model from
last preseason. The breakdown of the actual game reps shows it was
basically a two-man race: Russell Wilson 138 snaps, Matt Flynn 99,

Josh Portis 31 and Tarvaris Jackson eight, according to ESPN Stats &

Information. The Seahawks didn't have to learn a new system on the

fly, a huge benefit.

In the Jets' version, rookie Geno Smith
will play the role of Wilson; he'll get every chance to show he can
play. Sanchez bears similarities to both Flynn (big contracts) and
Jackson (incumbents on thin ice). He has to get a decent number of reps
because he could be the starter or he could be trade bait. David Garrard
is the wild card. He could be the fallback option if Smith isn't ready
and Sanchez is shipped out, meaning he, too, will need quality reps. As
for Greg McElroy and Matt Simms,
one of them figures to be left behind when the team leaves for Cortland
in late July. I wonder if Rex Ryan has any juggling experience.

P.S.: Before the final pre-season game, the Seahawks traded Jackson
to the Bills. Will the same happen to Sanchez? A fascinating summer
awaits.

1.a. Slow hand: One thing we've already learned about Idzik: He

doesn't rush into big decisions. He let the Darrelle Revis soap opera

play out for three months before pulling the trigger (in the end, a

good move) and he held on to Tim Tebow
until he exhausted all efforts, however futile, to trade him. You can
bet he'll take his sweet time to sort out the quarterback situation.

2. Warming to Geno: Smith is getting beat up for a
lot of things, but there's one criticism that makes no sense -- this
notion that he's a poor cold-weather quarterback. In college, he was 4-1
when the game-time temperature was under 41 degrees. The lone defeat
came last December against Syracuse in the snowy Pinstripe Bowl at
Yankee Stadium. He was lousy, no question about it, but it was his only
bad game in the cold. His stats in the five cold games read like this:
90-for-126 (71 percent), 1,215 yards, 10 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
If that's bad, the Jets would sign up for bad in a New York minute.

3. All hands on deck: Bills coach Doug Marrone, in an interview last

week, provided some insight into why they preferred EJ Manuel
over every quarterback in the draft. He said their research showed that
quarterbacks with big hands tend to perform better in cold-weather
cities. Of the five highest-drafted quarterbacks, Manuel has the biggest
hands -- 10 3/8 inches from thumb to pinky. The smallest? That would be
Smith (9 1/4 inches), which may explain why he had 32 fumbles in 39
career starts. In the aforementioned cold-weather games, Smith was
charged with seven fumbles, losing three.

4. Xs and Os and Zzzz: The Smith texting story
calls to mind a story that has become almost legendary at One Jets
Drive. One time, a player on a pre-draft visit actually fell asleep
while waiting outside the office of former GM Mike Tannenbaum. I'd love
to reveal the identity of the player, but I promised I wouldn't. I'll
just say this: The Jets didn't draft him; another AFC East team picked
him in the first round. Conversely, there's the story of WR Stephen Hill,

who visited the Jets last year in a business suit. Now that's the way you

impress on a job interview.

5. Poor Tim: Tim Tebow could make history, but not
the kind of history he covets. He could become only the second
quarterback never to start another game after winning in the playoffs.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, via the Denver Post, the only
quarterback in that club is Bob Lee. He started two playoff games for
the Vikings in 1977, replacing the injured Fran Tarkenton, and that was
all she wrote.

6. Chip off the old Pete: If you haven't figured it
out by now, Idzik's mantra is "competition." Being around Pete Carroll
for three years in Seattle probably rubbed off on him. That's Carroll's
deal -- competition -- dating to his days at USC. In fact, Carroll used
to have "Competition Tuesday" at USC, an intense practice in which
players battled for starting jobs. He also designed "ComPete" T-shirts.
Can anybody come up with an Idzik slogan? A couple of thoughts: "Let's
Get Id On." Or maybe: "Let's 'Zik 'Em." Hey, there's a reason why I'm
not in advertising.

7. No line (additions) on the horizon: This point was overlooked in

the quarterback hysteria from last weekend, but by picking DT

Sheldon Richardson, OL Brian Winters
and two other offensive linemen, Idzik basically secured the offensive
and defensive lines for the foreseeable future -- assuming the
selections pan out. When you add them to the likes of D'Brickashaw Ferguson,

Nick Mangold and Muhammad Wilkerson, the Jets should be solid in the trenches,

a big step toward achieving sustainable success.

7.a. New York, New York, New York: There's a lot of local flavor on the O-Line.

Ferguson is a product of Freeport High School on Long Island, rookie Oday Aboushi

from Xaverian High in Brooklyn and Willie Colon
from Cardinal Hayes in the Bronx. Colon grew up in the Melrose projects
on 156th Street in the South Bronx, and he still has family there.
Aboushi now lives in Staten Island.

8. 'Q' is for question mark: The decision to move Quinton Coples
to outside linebacker is a head scratcher. At 280 pounds, he'd be the
biggest linebacker in the league, raising questions about his ability to
play in space and drop into coverage. The only linebackers close in
weight are the Chiefs' Tamba Hali (275 pounds) and the Ravens'

Courtney Upshaw (272). Ryan may see visions of Adalius Thomas
in Coples. Thomas, who played for Ryan in Baltimore, was an athletic,
270-pound defensive end in college. He moved to outside linebacker and
enjoyed a long, productive career. Coples is a fine athlete for an
interior lineman, but you wonder if he has the quick-twitch speed to
thrive on the edge.

9. Bargain hunting: So far, Idzik has added eight veteran free agents

-- Garrard, RB Chris Ivory, RB Mike Goodson, S Dawan Landry, LB

Antwan Barnes, G Willie Colon, DT Antonio Garay and G Stephen Peterman.
Combined cost in up-front bonuses: $5.2 million. It reminds me of Bill
Parcells' approach in 1997, when he added a bunch of "hold-the-fort"
guys, as he called them. Of the Idzik additions, only two can be
considered players on the ascent -- Ivory and Goodson. That's why they
received the biggest signing bonuses -- $2.25 million and $1 million,
respectively.

10. Totally random thought: Smith will be the first "Geno" or "Eugene" to

play quarterback in NFL history, according to ProFootballReference.com.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/23024/sunday-notes-the-jets-party-of-five

[kelly]

Jets join Karlos Dansby sweepstakes

 

Interest in free-agent linebacker Karlos Dansby is heating up.
It turns out the Buffalo Bills are not the only AFC East team pursuing the former Miami Dolphins' starter. According to Dansby, the New York Jets are also a team interested in his services.Dansby, in an interview with Arizona sports radio station 620 this week, mentioned the Jets, Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans as three new teams in the Dansby sweepstakes. The Bills, Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals were three previously-mentioned teams who met with Dansby.

Reportedly, Dansby is looking for a multi-year commitment, and that
is probably what's keeping him from signing with a new team. Salary-cap
space is not plentiful this time of the year. But if Dansby continues to
have this many teams interested, that increases his chances of getting a
multi-year contract.

Dansby, who led the Dolphins with 134 tackles last season, would be a
good fit with the Jets or Bills. Both AFC East teams look to rebuild
their linebacking corps this upcoming season.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/58770/jets-joins-karlos-dansby-sweepstakes

[kelly]

David Harris on defense : Jets “destroyed it to rebuild it”

    

       

Jets linebacker David Harris knew there would be change.

But the degree of change to the Jets defense was still alarming to

him, and walking into a meeting room and not recognizing many

people was an eye-opener.

“It was expected when you have a six-win season and a new

general manager,” Harris said, via Brian Costello of the New

York Post. “Pretty much they destroyed it to rebuild it.”

The Jets cut linebacker Bart Scott, defensive tackle Sione Pouha,

safety Eric Smith and outside linebacker Calvin Pace (later re-signing him).

They held the door open for defensive tackle Mike DeVito and safeties

Yeremiah Bell and LaRon Landry to sign with other teams in the early

days of free agency, while they’ve made no effort to retain outside

linebacker Bryan Thomas.

There was also that other guy they traded, Darrelle Revis — you know,

the best cornerback in the NFL.

“It was weird the first day, to be honest,” Harris said. “You’re so

used to seeing certain guys in the same room with you. One thing I’ve

learned about the NFL is just like the real world, the more you stay

around the more your friends start disappearing. It’s no different.”

Of all the moves, losing Revis was the toughest for him to take. They

were drafted together in 2007 and roomed together in training camp.

“That was hard to see,” he said. “He came in the same year as I did.

We built a real good relationship with each other. That’s just one of

the nasty sides of pro football. It’s a business like everything else.”

Of course, of all the moves, the Revis one was perhaps the only one

other GMs might not have made in the same situation. The Jets were

getting old together, and spending on aging players, role guys and

safeties is hard when the cap is tight and there are so many other

problems on the other side of the ball.

Coupled with head coach Rex Ryan taking more control

of the defense again, it’s going to be a year of change for the Jets.

But probably one they needed, to make themselves more stable for the

long-term.

 

> http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/13/david-harris-on-defense-jets-destroyed-it-to-rebuild-it/

   

 

[kelly]

Cribbs arrives in Detroit, has four total suitors

   

        

Free-agent Browns receiver Josh Cribbs eventually will be

former Browns receiver Josh Cribbs.

His potential next destination has been limited to four suitors,

barring an unexpected development.  Per a source with knowledge of the

situation, Cribbs, an eight-year veteran, will sign with the Raiders,

Giants, Jets, or Lions.

Cribbs visited the Raiders, Giants, and    Jets    last week.  He has

arrived on Monday in Detroit.

A potent return specialist, Cribbs has never fully blossomed as a

receiver.  The former college quarterback at Kent State has, from time

to time, contributed via the Wildcat formation.

 

> http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/13/cribbs-arrives-in-detroit-has-four-total-suitors/

[kelly]

The Jets patched some holes in free agency and they drafted as many as
four players who could contribute immediately, but they still have
several holes on the roster. Here's an analysis of the top three :

1. SAFETY -- They lost LaRon Landry (Colts) and Yeremiah Bell (Cardinals)

in free agency, filling one spot with Dawan Landry. The top in-house candidate

for the other starting job is Josh Bush, but that would be a leap of faith. He

played only 17 defensive snaps last season as a rookie. Fellow second-year

safety Antonio Allen
(72 snaps) also is in the mix, but Bush would be a better complement to
Landry -- a "box" safety -- because he's better in pass coverage. The
coaches may want to evaluate OTAs, which begin next week, before making a
decision. In the end, it wouldn't be a surprise if Eric Smith is re-signed.

Free-agent options: Charles Woodson, Quintin Mikell, Abe Elam (ex-Jet).

2. TIGHT END -- The Jets should've tried harder to re-sign Dustin Keller

(Dolphins). Now they're left with a No. 2 (Jeff Cumberland), an H-back

(Konrad Reuland) and a project (Hayden Smith). Seventh-round pick

Tommy Bohanon,
listed as a fullback, has some H-back skills and could fit into the
picture. The bottom line is, the current cast of tight ends has a
combined total of only 44 career catches. They also don't have an
accomplished blocker in the group. This is a serious concern because the
free-agent market is virtually barren.

Free-agent options: Dallas Clark, Kellen Winslow, Chris Cooley, David Thomas.

3. WIDE RECEIVER -- With Santonio Holmes, Stephen Hill and Jeremy Kerley
filling the top three spots, the Jets need a No. 4/No. 5 receiver with
the ability to step into a prominent role, if necessary. Let's face it,
Holmes is a question mark, coming off foot surgery. He's expected to be
ready by opening day, but if there's a setback along the way, they need
veteran insurance. They can't afford a repeat of last season. They
still have Clyde Gates, but he's hardly a grizzled vet. The team is

showing interest in ex-Brown Josh Cribbs, but he'd help more on

special teams than at receiver. Free-agent options: Braylon Edwards,

Ramses Barden, Brandon Lloyd, Steve Breaston.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/23317/analyzing-the-top-three-positional-needs

[kelly]

The Jets will conduct the second of 10 OTA practices Wednesday morning.
This one is significant because the media will be allowed to watch. Some
storylines we'll be following :

Mark vs. Geno : These OTA practices -- and next
month's minicamp, for that matter -- are the preliminary heats in the
quarterback competition. The serious stuff starts in training camp and,
of course, the preseason games. But we here in New York love a good
quarterback controversy, so you can bet we'll be following closely as

Mark Sanchez and rookie Geno Smith
begin what should be a three-month battle for the No. 1 job. Based on
his experience, Sanchez should take the early lead over Smith. Granted,
it's a new system for both players, but Sanchez has practiced for four
years against a Rex Ryan-coached defense -- a big edge. The key for
Smith is to avoid mental errors and show daily improvement.

The new Q : This will be our first look at Quinton Coples
as an outside linebacker. It's hard to get a feel for linebackers in
non-contact practices, but it'll be interesting to see how the 280-pound
Coples handles the responsibilities of the position -- moving in space,
dropping into coverage, etc. The Jets are convinced he can make the
transition, but this is a tall order. We're talking about a former
interior lineman playing in a two-point stance, moving forward, backward
and side-to-side. It should be fascination to see this unfold over the
next few months, assuming it lasts that long.

The post-Revis defense : Darrelle Revis is gone, happy that

he found his bucks with the Bucs. Also gone are Bart Scott,

LaRon Landry, Yeremiah Bell, Mike DeVito and Sione Po'uha.
That formidable Jets defense, so impressive in 2009 and 2019, is a
memory. They could have at least six new starters, including four
players with limited or no NFL experience -- LB DeMario Davis,

NT Kenrick Ellis, rookie DE Sheldon Richardson and the winner

of the safety battle between Josh Bush, Antonio Allen and

Jaiquawn Jarrett. It's not like starting over, but it's close.

Fortunately for the Jets, they have a stalwart on each level of

the D -- CB Antonio Cromartie, LB David Harris and DE

Muhammad Wilkerson. That will help with on-field

communication. First-round CB Dee Milliner (shoulder)

still is rehabbing.

On guard : Unlike last summer, when the Jets created a faux

competition between Matt Slauson and Vladimir Ducasse at left

guard, there are legitimate battles at both guard spots. Old vets

Willie Colon (still limited by a knee scope) and Stephen Peterman

are the favorites, but they'll be pushed by third-round pick Brian Winters
and, yes, Ducasse. Change doesn't come too often to the Jets' offensive
line. In fact, the last time they began a season with two new starters
was 2008, when Alan Faneca and Damien Woody. That was so long

ago that some guy named Favre was the quarterback.

All hands on deck : New offensive coordinator Marty
Mornhinweg likes to throw the ball. The question is, does

he have enough
people to catch it? WR Santonio Holmes (foot) is out, so

this will be a good opportunity for others to get reps. The

MIP (most important player) is sec0nd-year WR Stephen Hill,

who needs to take a giant step. Slot man Jeremy Kerley
is solid, but they need more production out of the tight ends (hello,
anyone home?) and the backs. The key addition in the backfield is

Chris Ivory, but he's a banger, not a pass catcher. Mike Goodson
is supposed to be that guy, but he's dealing with his legal problems.
Right now, the offense could be as limited as it was last season.

 

>   http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/23423/w2w4-first-open-ota-practice

[kelly]

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/photos-and-videos/videos/Exclusive-Town-Hall-John-Idzik--Rex-Ryan/0dc050cd-f5c4-44ee-aa3c-64fb9a823fa6

[kelly]

1. Another cup of Joe: I realize some people might be
Namath-ed out after the last few days, but I'd like to share some
leftovers from our conversation the other day. Joe Namath has very
strong opinions (gee, what a shock) on Rex Ryan. He doesn't care for
Ryan's player-friendly approach, which he believes contributed to the
team's two-year slide.

"I’ve always said I've never seen that kind of coaching style beforein my life,"

Namath said. "The first two seasons, you win. Hey, OK. Inthe meantime, those

teams were inherited to some extent. The psyche of

the team got in a place where they’re spending more time thinking about
what they've done rather than what they're doing and what they're going
to do.

"Coaches, they all want to feel like they're loved. Nice. Nice.
Nice. Don Shula was hated by some of his players. Coach [bear] Bryant
was hated by some of his players. Bill Belichick, Tom Landry, Chuck
Noll. Come on, you can't be Mr. Nice Guy as a head coach. You have too
many players that have to be disciplined. Trying to be everybody's buddy
at one time, I don't what that coach is. I think that's one of the
situations Rex created, being a really friendly guy. He's got
everybody's back. Yeah, he's got everybody's back until you get rid of
them. Excuse me, this is a business."

Namath also suggested the recent coaching defections on Ryan's staff
are a poor reflection of Ryan, saying: "When your coaches are leaving
you, it's not a good endorsement of the head guy. This goes back to
[bill] Callahan and [brian] Schottenheimer. They weren't getting the
offensive input in the draft they would've liked and they saw the
writing on the wall, so to speak. Our defensive coordinator for the last
four years [Mike Pettine], where's he? New job, OK, but I don't know if
it's moving up. When it comes to coaching, if you're not happy, you
move around. You leave to improve your chances of becoming a head coach
or it's jumping ship because you don't like how the captain has been
handling it."

Tell us how you really feel, Joe.


2. Keeping up with the Joneses: I'm not sure if
this is a good thing or a bad thing, but the Jets' actual draft was
eerily similar to the player ratings on the Cowboys' draft board, which
was exposed during a TV interview and pieced together by a web site
called Blogging the Boys.

CB Dee Milliner was rated fourth on the Cowboys' board; he was picked

ninth overall. DT Sheldon Richardson was 16th on their board; he was

picked 13th. QB Geno Smith received a second-round grade and was

37th on the board; he was chosen in the second round, 39th overall. OT

Oday Aboushi got a fifth-round grade and was 112th on the Cowboys' board;

he went in the fifth round at 141st overall.

The only discrepancy involved G Brian Winters,
who received a low fourth-round grade from Dallas (89th on its board).
Obviously, the Jets liked him more than that, taking him near the top of
the third round (No. 72 overall). If you're a Jets fan, are you feeling
good, knowing that your draft aligned with Jerry Jones' view? I didn't
think so.

3. Farewell to Yarnell: Steve Yarnell, the Jets' VP
of security, announced his retirement after 16 years with the team. He
started in 1997, hired by Bill Parcells, who coached him at West Point
back in the day. Before the Jets, he worked with the FBI as a special
agent on criminal and terrorism matters. He could write one heck of a
memoir if he ever decided to dish on his job experiences. Fans probably
don't know Yarnell, but he was the stern-faced guy on the Jets'
sideline, the man who always escorted the head coach to midfield for the
postgame handshake. That alone could be a chapter in the book.

I interviewed Yarnell only once, three years ago, for a story on Laveranues Coles.
If it weren't for Yarnell, the Jets wouldn't have drafted Coles, who
was deemed a risk because of off-the-field issues in college. He dug
into Coles' background, gave him a thumb's-up and stood his ground in a
legendary draft-room showdown with Parcells in 2000. Yarnell told
Parcells he'd stake his reputation on Coles, who turned out just fine.
When I spoke to Yarnell, who became friendly with Coles over the years,
he got emotional when he mentioned Coles' 2005 admission that he was
molested as a child by his stepfather. Yarnell choked up for a few
seconds, expressing his admiration for Coles' courage. It was a quick
glimpse into the man behind the poker face. And that was the last time
we talked.

4. Give Me the Damn Bieber: This Keyshawn Johnson-Justin
Bieber spat is kind of amusing. The last time Keyshawn got this fired
up about one of his neighbors was 1997, when he trashed teammate

Wayne Chrebet in his book, "Just Give Me the Damn Ball." Their lockers

were side-by-side, which made for some interesting situations.

5. Pace setter: LB Calvin Pace
believes the Jets' offseason overhaul on defense will become the norm
in the league. "I think this is the way the NFL is going to become now,"
he said. "You don't see a lot of guys playing 10 years. I don't think
the young guys see that. I think it's going to get younger and younger
to the point where you're going to look at a guy playing five years, and
he's a vet. I think that's the way of the business." Everything, of
course, is dictated by the salary cap, which has remained relatively
flat -- but this was the deal the players agreed to.

For the record, the Jets cut two starters (both over 30), lost four starters

in free agency (two over 30) and traded one.Former Jets head coach

Eric Mangini is taking a job as the 49ers senior

offensive consultant.

 

6. Mangenius to San Francisco:

 

I'm not surprised by Eric Mangini's decision to take a job with the
49ers as their senior offensive consultant. Coaching is in his blood.
This isn't coaching, per se, but it gets him back into a competitive
environment. He's always been a defensive coach, but his expertise on
that side of the ball will allow him to help the offense. The 49ers make
sense. GM Trent Baalke was a Jets scout in the late 1990s when Mangini
was a low-level assistant with the team.

7. Holmgren on Mornhinweg: I couldn't fit this
anecdote in a feature story on Jets OC Marty Mornhinweg, but Mike
Holmgren tells a funny story about his former protégé. A few days before
the Packers faced the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, Holmgren got so
disgusted with his team in practice that he took the play cards -- used
by the scout team -- and threw them in the air. "These are junk," he
screamed.

Holmgren told me he did it for effect, but Mornhinweg, who stayed up
all night designing the cards, didn't know that. After practice,
Mornhinweg emerged from the shower with the cards and, buck naked, gave
Holmgren and another coach a mini-lecture on how hard he worked to
prepare them. He was Holmgren's QBs coach for the Packers. Recalled
Holmgren: "He was so passionate. We did all we could to keep from
laughing."

8. The Kid is All Right: Bills coach Doug Marrone said first-round

QB EJ Manuel has performed better so far than any rookie he's ever

coached. He was around two good ones as a Saints assistant coach,

G Jahri Evans (2006) and T Carl Nicks (2008). If Ryan made that

comment about Geno Smith, it would be back-page news.

9. Tebow Time: So now Tim Tebow's
father has chimed in, telling NFL.com, "You are old enough to believe
not all you hear" -- a convoluted way of dismissing ESPN The Magazine
for reporting that someone in the QB's inner circle suggested that Tebow
thinks his career is likely over.

Here's a novel idea: Why doesn't Tebow speak for himself ?

10. June swoon: Remember when June 1 on the NFL calendar meant a

slew of cap casualties? Those days are gone. Can't say I miss them.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/23619/sunday-notes-namath-takes-on-rex

[kelly]

~ ~ New York Jets

Williamson’s grade : B-minus

Quotable : “Many criticize the Jets and what seems
like a circus-like environment around this organization, but I think
this front office has done a solid job this offseason. The Jets did lose
a lot, but many of these players needed to go.”

Analysis : I thought this grade was high for the
Jets, but I understand Williamson's thinking. New York was in such a bad
spot when new general manager John Idzik arrived that you almost have
to grade on a curve. Idzik immediately got younger and under the salary
cap. He made a shrewd decision to trade star cornerback Darrelle Revis,

but that was the right decision. Idzik also made a couple of gaffes with the

signing of quarterback David Garrard, who couldn’t make it through the spring,

and tailback Mike Goodson, who already has off-the-field issues. The Jets

are in full rebuilding mode and it will be a while before this team is a contender

again.

 

rest of above article :

> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59774/afc-east-offseason-grades

[kelly]

The Jets announced former Arizona Cardinals general manager Rod Graves has been named the new senior director of
football administration.Graves, a longtimefriend of Jets general manager John Idzik, hired Idzik as the Cardinals' senior director of football operations in 2004.

 

The Jets also promoted former West Coast scouting supervisor Matt Bazirgan to assistant director of pro personnel, named former Jets cornerbackAaron Glenn, David Boller, David Hinson and Christopher Prescott as area scouts, and tabbed Rick Courtright as an NFS college scout.

 

> http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130611/SPORTS90/306110312/-1/rss02

[kelly]

Honeymoon won’t last for new Jets GM Idzik

                   

Jets general manager John Idzik emerged from his hole yesterday and saw his

shadow — there must be six weeks until training camp.

 

Idzik has proven to be more elusive than anyone on his roster as he has

avoided reporters for weeks despite one of his running backs getting

arrested on gun and drug charges and one of his quarterbacks retiring

two months after he signed him.

As his team wrapped up minicamp

yesterday, Idzik met the media. If you were expecting answers, though,

you came to the wrong place.

Idzik ducked and dodged most of the questions thrown his way.

 

        

            

TALKING GREEN: General manager John Idzik (left) talks with

coach Rex Ryan at the Jets’ practice facility in Florham Park,

N.J., yesterday.

  And here’s the thing for Idzik: He can get away with it for now

Hired just five months ago, he still has a honeymoon period with Jets

fans, many of whom celebrate his non-answers after viewing the

organization as too chatty with the media in the last few years.

But that honeymoon won’t last forever. All Idzik has to do is look toward

Queens this week at the Jets’ former roommates at Shea Stadium — the

Mets. Sandy Alderson is in year three of a rebuilding project and Mets

fans have finally run out of patience.

Idzik is in the early

stages of his own rebuild, facing similar challenges to Alderson. He

also inherited a team that miscalculated on some big contracts that

handcuffed it from spending in other areas. He was faced with trading

away Darrelle Revis because the team could not afford him like Alderson

had to with Carlos Beltran.

But Jets fans won’t be as patient Mets fans. If Idzik is still rebuilding in

2015, he will be run out of town.

There

is a myth that you can’t rebuild in New York, that fans won’t allow it.

But it’s not true. Fans here are smart enough to see when an

organization loses its way and needs to reboot. The Knicks are the

latest example of a team that pulled this off. Donnie Walsh cleaned up

Isiah Thomas’ mess and the Knicks have returned from the wilderness, but

he had it turned around by Year 3.

Idzik has a similar window to

fix the Jets. No one is going to judge Idzik harshly on the results in

2013. Everyone knows he did not inherit the dynasty Steelers. He took

over a 6-10 team with salary cap issues and he tore down the roster.

During this spring, the Jets offense has looked as bad, if not worse,

than last year’s group. When asked if he believes the team is currently

better than the one he took over, Idzik dodged the question, likely

knowing that he is taking one step back in hopes of taking two forward.

“We’re

just going to take it a meeting at a time, a practice at a time, a day

at a time, a week at a time and keep pushing it forward and getting

better,” Idzik said. “I believe that’s happened this offseason. I think

our fans have seen that this offseason in some of the moves we’ve made.”

Two

of those moves have come under fire with David Garrard retiring last

month after his knee acted up and Mike Goodson getting arrested on drug

and weapons charges. Idzik said the Jets did their homework and said all

signings are “calculated chances.”

It does not look good for

Idzik, though, that two of his first signings ended up coming along with

headaches. But that will be forgotten in time. Idzik’s true test comes

after this year. The Jets should have a ton of cap space next year after

getting rid of Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes, the two worst

contracts on the team’s books. That should allow Idzik some room to work

and shape a better roster.

Idzik can’t afford to get this wrong.

GMs don’t get second chances. Idzik’s record is 0-0 with the Jets right

now. Jets fans know 2013 is going to be tough and most seem prepared to

accept that. But they accept it with the promise that 2014 and 2015 will

be better. If Jets fans are still hearing about rebuilding then, it

will be enough to make them miss Mike Tannenbaum.

 

> http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/honeymoon_won_last_for_idzik_du99LAI0VAgTMMDAO8IHZP?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Jets

[flgreen]

Only a matter of time before Jets fans turn on Idzik.  Right now he and Smith are almost sacred.  Kind of like the Sanchize, Trader Mike, Mangenius, and Rex is God were.

 

Within 3 years the fans will be calling him Idiotzik.  Deserved or not.  Like the scorpion, it's just our nature

[Stonehands]

Only a matter of time before Jets fans turn on Idzik.  Right now he and Smith are almost sacred.  Kind of like the Sanchize, Trader Mike, Mangenius, and Rex is God were.

 

Within 3 years the fans will be calling him Idiotzik.  Deserved or not.  Like the scorpion, it's just our nature

 

I think the name will be Iz-dick.

[Integrity28]

I think the name will be Iz-dick.

 

I coined that within a couple days of him being hired, LOL. 

[kelly]

The hiring of former Cardinals GM Rod Graves as the senior director of
football administration didn't garner big headlines -- it occurred the
same day as Tim Tebow to the Patriots -- but this was an important decision

by GM John Idzik.

Because Idzik's expertise is on the business side (salary cap,
contracts, etc.), Graves becomes the Jets' highest-ranking official with
a personnel background. Idzik has a comfort level with Graves; he
worked under him with the Cardinals from 2001 to 2004.


 

Former Cardinals GM Rod Graves will be the senior director of football administration for the Jets.

"It’s
exciting," Idzik said. "I've know Rod since actually [my] teenage
years. We were ball boys together back in the old Philadelphia Eagle
days. We've known each other for a long, long time. ... I've known him
side-by-side and in personnel circles, and of course in our time
together in Arizona. I'm grateful to have him on board."

How does Graves rate as a talent evaluator? He headed the Cards'
football operation for nine years, but it's hard to get a clear picture
of his impact because the two head coaches under him, Dennis Green and
Ken Whisenhunt, had significant say in personnel decisions, especially
Green. Graves often deferred to his coaches, focusing his efforts on
contract negotiations and the big picture. In that respect, he's a lot
like Idzik.

Under Graves' leadership, the Cards enjoyed a dramatic rise (the
2008 NFC Championship) and suffered a three-year tailspin (2010 to
2012), resulting in his ouster. The inability to replace QB Kurt Warner

was the main problem. They failed with six different quarterbacks,

including Kevin Kolb,
a $21 million bust. The offensive-minded Whisenhunt was largely
responsible for the QB blunders, but Graves was involved in the
decisions. That raises questions, especially on a team like the Jets,
who may be in the market after the season.



In terms of the draft, the Graves-led Cards picked only four players

that went on to multiple Pro Bowls, including WR Larry Fitzgerald and CB Patrick Peterson.
They had a monster draft in 2004 and a couple of other decent drafts,
but that's about it. Graves never was considered a draft guru. To
repeat, he leaned heavily on those around him. A look back at the
Graves-era drafts:

2012: WR Michael Floyd (first round) has a chance to be pretty good. OT Bobby Massie (fourth) was a turnstile as a full-time starter on a poor offensive line.

2011: Peterson (first) is one of the top young defensive players in the game and could eventually surpass Darrelle Revis as the top corner. Otherwise, this was an underwhelming draft. They missed on RB Ryan Williams (second).

2010: LB Daryl Washington (second), a star on the rise, is the best of the bunch. First-round DT Dan Williams is pulling a Gholston -- no sacks in three seasons.

2009: Picking 31st after the Super Bowl season, the Cards whiffed the entire draft. First-round RB Beanie Wells already is a goner.

2008: They hit with the first two picks, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (first) and DE Calais Campbell
(second), although DRC's career has faded with the Eagles. Campbell was
one of the top picks of the Graves era. The rest of the draft ... ugh.

2007: Another stinker. OT Levi Brown, picked fifth overall, hasn't come close to meeting expectations. The other four picks are gone.

2006: QB Matt Leinart was selected 10th overall. Need we say more?

2005: S Antrel Rolle is the sole survivor from this draft, a cast of characters that made no impact in the league.

2004: They built a terrific foundation with this draft, landing four big-time players -- Fitzgerald (first), LB Karlos Dansby (second), DT Darnell Dockett (third) and DE Antonio Smith (fifth), who has thrived with the Texans. Unfortunately for the Cards, they never came close to duplicating this haul.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/23980/examining-the-graves-factor

[kelly]

Tanner Purdum signed a two-year contract with the Jets in March. He's been the team's' steady long snapper since 2010.Under new GM John Idzik, the Jets took an NBC approach in the offseason -- no big contracts.They made little or no effort to re-sign any of their own big-ticket free agents. In fact, Tanner Purdum -- the long snapper, for crying out loud -- was the only veteran to receive a multiyear contract to re-sign. What does that tell you?

The Jets spent modestly in free agency, doling out several one-year deals. Even the multi-year deals were relatively small, allowing them to flexibility to cut players after one year with no serious cap ramifications. By 2014, their salary-cap house should be in order. The only difficult-to-cut contracts in '14 will be C Nick Mangold and LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, neither of whom should be in jeopardy, anyway.

A breakdown of how they spent this offseason :

FREE AGENTS RE-SIGNED

POS PLAYER CONTRACT RT Austin Howard 1 year/$2.03 million TE Jeff Cumberland 1 year/$1.32 million LS Tanner Purdum 2 years/$1.49 million LB Calvin Pace 1 year/$1.05 million PK Nick Folk 1 year/$780,000 FB Lex Hilliard 1 year/$780,000 LB Josh Mauga 1 year/$630,000

Total amount of contracts: $8.08 million
Total amount of guaranteed money: $310,000

TRADES

POS PLAYER CONTRACT RB Chris Ivory 3 years/$6.0 million

Total amount of contracts: $6.0 million
Total amount of guaranteed money: $2.25 million

FREE AGENTS SIGNED

POS PLAYER CONTRACT RB Mike Goodson 3 years/$6.9 million LB Antwan Barnes 3 years/$4.05 million S Dawan Landry 2 years/$3.0 million G Willie Colon 1 year/$1.16 million QB David Garrard 1 year/$1.1 million (retired) G Stephen Peterman 1 year/$905,000 DT Antonio Garay 1 year/$905,000 TE Kellen Winslow 1 year/$840,000 WR Ben Obonamu 1 year/$715,000

Total amount of contracts: $19.58 million
Total amount of guaranteed money: $2.94 million

DRAFT PICKS

POS PLAYER   CB Dee Milliner (1a) 4 years/$12.66 million* DT Sheldon Richardson (1b) 4 years/$10.05 million* QB Geno Smith (2) 4 years/$5.02 million* G Brian Winters (3) 4 years/$2.90 million OT Oday Aboushi (5) 4 years/$2.36 million G William Campbell (6) 4 years/$2.27 million FB Tommy Bohanon (7) 4 years/$2.22 million     *Unsigned. Projected contract

Total amount of contracts: $37.48 million
Total amount of guaranteed money: $26.21 million

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/23995/how-the-jets-spent-their-money-2

[kelly]

~ ~ Offense: Playmakers, anybody ?
While all eyes will be on the quarterback competition this summer, there’s also a startling dearth of talent at the skill positions for the Jets, especially with questions surrounding Santonio Holmes’ foot. The Jets lack a dynamic tight end and are short on proven receivers. No matter who wins the quarterback competition, he won’t have much in the way of reliable playmakers to give the football. New running back Chris Ivory is the most exciting player on this offense and is likely to be prominently featured.

Defense : Milliner ready ?
The Jets will be well-coached on defense, as Rex Ryan is one of the best at maximizing his talents. Although the defense held up in the secondary without Darrelle Revis, the pressure will be on rookie cornerback Dee Milliner to make the group even better than it was toward the back end of 2012. He was widely considered the top cornerback in the draft, but now he has the task of trying to make Jets fans (partially) forget that Revis is a Buc.

Wild card : Coples’ transition
Ryan can generate pressure through his defensive schemes, but the Jets have lacked a pure edge rusher in recent seasons. One vehicle to solve that issue is transitioning Quinton Coples from a down lineman to a stand-up linebacker role, a position that could fit with his skill set. Though Coples flashed as a rookie in 2012, it’s about consistency for the former first-rounder. At 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, he has the frame to be dominant. The Jets will need him to provide a pass-rush spark in his second NFL season.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/61205/eight-in-the-box-afc-east-camp-issues

[kelly]

UPDATE: First-round pick Sheldon Richardson is expected to be in training camp Thursday, a source confirmed Wednesday night, meaning he's on the verge of finalizing a contract. It will be a four-year deal for $10.05 million, fully guaranteed.


The Jets face the prospect of opening training camp Thursday without their two first-round picks, CB Dee Milliner (No. 9 overall) and DT Sheldon Richardson (No. 13), both of whom were unsigned as of Wednesday night.

Negotiations are ongoing and the Jets are hoping to wrap up deals by Thursday. They certainly want to finalize them by Friday, when they practice for the first time.
 

Jets' 10 Biggest Camp Issues

What are the biggest issues facing the Jets at training camp? We ranked
the top 10.  Top 10  Blog »

In theory, rookie negotiations should be streamlined under the current CBA, which has a wage scale, but the issue of offset language is holding up deals in the first round. As of Wednesday night, Milliner and Richardson were among six picks in the top 14 without contracts. The Jets' policy is to include offsets; the players don't want offsets.

Basically, an offset allows the team to save some money -- otherwise guaranteed -- in the unlikely event they cut the player before the fourth year. It shouldn't be a major issue, and it would be a surprise if Milliner and Richardson miss any significant time in camp.

D-LINE DEPTH: The Jets added an experienced player to the defensive line, signing journeyman Leger Douzable, a source confirmed. Douzable, 27, has played for six different teams, including the Giants. He has 38 career tackles and one sack.

GENO BUCKS: The numbers of Geno Smith's four-year contract -- $5.019 million, including $3.068 million in guarantees. A $2.03 million signing bonus is included in the guarantee. Smith was seeking guarantees in the third year (shades of second-round QBs Colin Kaepernick and Andy Dalton in 2011), but he didn't get any. GM John Idzik refused to budge on that. As a compromise, they included nearly $700,000 in workout bonuses in the third and fourth years. The money isn't guaranteed, but he can get some cash before the season, assuming he participates in the offseason program.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/24405/both-no-1-picks-still-unsigned

[kelly]

GM John Idzik told people close to him he wasn't going to bend on the issue of offset language in Dee Milliner's contract -- or any rookie contract, for that matter. And he didn't. Milliner's four-year, $12.66 million contract, fully guaranteed, includes the offset.

Basically, the offset prevents Milliner from "double dipping." If he gets cut by the Jets during the contract, which is unlikely, the salary he receives from his new team is subtracted from the salary he was due to make -- and that difference is the Jets' responsibility. In the grand scheme of things, it's not a huge financial issue, but the Jets have maintained an organization policy to include offsets for rookies. They didn't include an offset in Mark Sanchez's 2012 contract extension, and they got burned.

Details on Milliner's deal, per ESPN Insider Adam Schefter:

Signing bonus: $7.588 million, divided into three payouts -- $5 million on Aug. 15, $2.338 million on Oct. 15 and $250,000 in March, 2014.

Base salaries: Minimum rookie salaries.

Roster bonus: He receives $485,505 in 2014; $971,010 in 2015; $1,456,424 in 2016.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/24620/details-on-milliner-contract