Free Agent dept. ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

A few thoughts on the New York Jets' re-signing linebacker David Harris :

1. The Jets overpaid, but they were in a tough negotiating position. With no heir apparent on the roster and no attractive options in free agency, and with Rex Ryan lurking in his new lair up in Buffalo, new general manager Mike Maccagnan had to pay a premium wage -- a three-year deal for $21.5 million, including $15 million in guarantees, according to a league source. A year ago, D'Qwell Jackson -- a linebacker of similar ilk -- landed a four-year, $22 million contract ($11 million in guarantees) with the Indianapolis Colts. In other words, Harris made out pretty well.

2. New coach Todd Bowles can go to work on the Jets' defense knowing the brain center of the unit, Harris, will be there to lead the way. That has to be a tremendous comfort to Bowles, who can concentrate on upgrading the secondary. Harris, who called the defensive signals for Ryan, is smart, tough and durable. He rarely misses a play, let alone a game. But he's 31, so you wonder when the wear-and-tear factor will start to take a toll. He's already suspect in pass coverage.

3. The size of the contract indicates the Jets still believe Harris can be a three-down linebacker. That'll be interesting to watch because Bowles has a different approach than Ryan, who always kept at least two linebackers on the field, even on passing downs. In Arizona, Bowles replaced all but one of his linebackers with defensive backs in sub packages. In fact, he played more dime (six DBs) than any team in the league. If the Jets turn Harris into a first- and second-down linebacker, they paid way too much.

4. Harris always said he wants to retire with the Jets, and this deal should give him that chance. He's as humble as they come, and he wasn't looking to be wined and dined by teams in free agency. Unlike some players, he's not all about the money. The Jets, with more than $50 million in cap room, made sure he didn't get a chance to sample another team's green. They've allowed too many homegrown players get away in recent years. They didn't let it happen with Harris.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49624/re-signing-david-harris-a-costly-but-necessary-move-for-jets

[kelly]

Mike Maccagnan has been on the job for about a minute, and we already know this about him: He's not gun-shy.

And another thing : He wants to win now.

On Friday, the New York Jets' general manager pulled off a low-risk trade for a talented, yet volatile wide receiver -- Brandon Marshall. Sound familiar? Maccagnan's predecessor, John Idzik, made a similar deal last October for Percy Harvin, but it was a too-little, too-late move born of desperation.

Marshall is a less expensive, more talented version of Harvin, but he's also four years older. He'll be 31 in a couple of weeks, and it's certainly fair to wonder why a rebuilding team -- with a big question at quarterback, no less -- is willing to pay $7.7 million this year for a receiver on the wrong side of 30.

Why ?

Because Maccagnan apparently isn't content to ride out his honeymoon in the far-right lane. He's in the passing lane, trying to make up ground in the AFC East. It's why he re-signed linebacker David Harris, hardly a young pup at 31, for a whopping $15 million in guarantees. It's why he'll go into free agency Tuesday determined to pursue a certain almost-30 cornerback who has his own Island address.

 

[+] Enlarge

Billie Weiss/Getty ImagesIf the Patriots let Darrelle Revis hit the free-agent market, it certainly seems as if they'll have a fight on their hands with the Jets.

Yes, they're hot for Darrelle Revis, and we could see the most dramatic Jets-New England Patriots tug-of-war since the Curtis Martin saga in 1998 -- assuming Revis doesn't re-up with the champs before Tuesday. The smart money says he doesn't, forcing the Patriots to release him to avoid a prohibitive $20-million option. The border war is about to escalate once again.The Marshall trade took onions because we all know he can be everything from a diva (being kind) to a major headache, especially for his quarterbacks. On his worst days, he can make Santonio Holmes seem like a boy scout. In Chicago, Marshall clashed with Jay Cutler, criticizing him publicly toward the end of last season. That came after Cutler reportedly didn't bother to visit Marshall in the hospital after he suffered rib and lung injuries.

Nice chemistry, huh? A player with Marshall's talent doesn't get traded three times unless there are some serious issues above the shoulders. He's an immensely talented "me" guy, but the beauty of the trade is the Jets can cut bait after a year with no salary-cap ramifications. All it cost them was a fifth-round draft pick.Clearly, Maccagnan is leaning on new coach Todd Bowles, because Bowles is the Marshall expert at One Jets Drive. He and Marshall spent two seasons together with the Miami Dolphins, 2010 and 2011, so we have to assume Bowles knows the good, the bad and the ugly. Maybe he can find a way to keep him in line. Marshall also will have his former Dolphins' position coach, Karl Dorrell, so he'll be surrounded by familiar faces. That should help. The coach-player dynamic is the key to the entire trade.

"The true test will be when adversity strikes, considering the quarterback [situation]," said an AFC personnel executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity."He's a talented guy who has been traded to three teams and never finished a contract," the executive said of Marshall. "All that said, he's better than what the Jets had. But it's all the other stuff that will come with it and will test a new regime. The fact that the quarterback situation is unsettled, it'll be interesting to see how that plays out."

Ah, yes, the quarterback situation. Bad play at quarterback can ruin everything. The most aggressive GM in the league can't create a franchise quarterback out of thin air, so it looks like Maccagnan will be stuck with Geno Smith or a second-rate veteran from the free-agent market. Maybe he's banking on an improved supporting cast helping Smith grow as a player. The rising tide lifts all boats, as the saying goes, but not if one of the boats has a leak.For now, Marshall gives the Jets a legitimate No. 1 receiver. His numbers declined last season because of injuries, but he was the NFL's second-leading receiver in catches and yards from 2007 to 2013. Eric Decker, miscast last season as a No. 1, will feel more comfortable as No. 2 and will see less coverage. Harvin probably will be released, saving them $10.5 million on this year's cap.

The Jets' passing offense was 32nd last season, and they just added a five-time Pro Bowl receiver. They got older, but they got better. Unlike his predecessor, Maccagnan isn't conceding today for tomorrow.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49635/general-manager-mike-maccagnan-has-aggressive-plan-that-includes-darrelle-revis

[kelly]

The NFL's three-day free agency negotiating window begins Saturday, leading up to Tuesday's 4 p.m. kickoff of the free agency signing period.Over the next three days, the agents of pending free agents can discuss dollars with teams, but a deal can't officially go down until 4 p.m. Tuesday.

 

Essentially, free agency begins Saturday, even though contracts won't be signed until Tuesday. Which means the Jets can really start attacking their primary issue -- a glaring need for cornerbacks.

The Texans' Kareem Jackson is one corner the Jets likely will show interest in signing, according to a league source, who spoke to NJ Advance Media on a condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly on the situation.It would come as no great stunner if the Jets go hard after Jackson, or if they sign him, for that matter.They have about $50 million in salary cap room to work with. They desperately need an elite corner (plus maybe another complementary corner in free agency) so they can competently run head coach Todd Bowles' defense. And Jackson is considered one of the top cornerbacks available this year, along with Seattle's Byron Maxwell.

 

Of course, there's always the possibility that former Jets star cornerback Darrelle Revis will become a free agent for the second straight offseason, if the Patriots can't agree to contract terms with him.

The Jets haven't had talks with Revis's camp yet -- they can't, according to NFL rules -- but they're "very" interested in signing a lower-profile corner: ex-Eagle Cary Williams, who is visiting the Jets this weekend.But back to Jackson. The Jets' new general manager, Mike Maccagnan, knows Jackson well. Maccagnan was the Texans' college scouting director before the Jets hired him. Jackson was drafted 20th overall by the Texans in 2010. They're the only team he has played for. When the

 

Texans drafted Jackson, Maccagnan was their assistant college scouting director.Jackson made three interceptions last season, boosting his career total to 10. The Jets last season tied for last in the NFL with six picks, including four by their corners.Jackson, who is 5-10 and 188 pounds, has been a starter since he entered the NFL. This is where Pro Football Focus has ranked him, overall at his position and as a coverage corner, since he's been in the league :

 

• 2010: 98th overall, 97th in coverage
• 2011: 78th overall, 99th in coverage
• 2012: 12th overall, seventh in coverage
• 2013: 81st overall, 84th in coverage
• 2014: 11th overall, seventh in coverage

 

Jackson turns 27 next month. Considering how he struggled earlier in his career, and the way he rebounded from those struggles, he could be a good mentor for the Jets' third-year corner, Dee Milliner, the former No. 9 overall pick. Milliner, 23, struggled as a rookie, and then played just three games last season before tearing his Achilles tendon.

 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/03/nfl_free_agency_2015_jets_likely_to_be_interested.html

[kelly]

Brian Hoyer is leaning toward signing with the Houston Texans, but the free-agent quarterback also will field an offer from the New York Jets on Monday, sources have confirmed to ESPN.

The Texans still are expected to sign Hoyer, the former Cleveland Browns quarterback who is looking for an opportunity for a starting job.

 

[+] Enlarge

Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY SportsBrian Hoyer posted a winning career record (10-6) as a starter with the Browns.

 

Hoyer likely will have to compete for a starting job with either Houston or the Jets. The Texans brought back quarterback Ryan Mallett earlier Monday, agreeing to a two-year, $7 million deal with the quarterback, a source told ESPN. Mallett's deal includes $1.75 million in guaranteed money, according to a source.

If he chooses to sign with the Jets, Hoyer likely will contend with turnover-prone Geno Smith, who has been New York's primary starting quarterback in each of the last two seasons.

Hoyer, 29, won the starting job in Cleveland last season in a training camp competition with Johnny Manziel and got off to a fast start.

He brought the Browns back from a 27-3 halftime deficit to tie the season opener in Pittsburgh, before the Steelers won on a last-second field goal, and guided the biggest road comeback in NFL history in a 29-28 win over Tennessee.

Hoyer threw three interceptions in Atlanta in November but led a last-minute drive that won the game. At that point, the Browns were 7-4 and in the playoff chase.

But he was yanked the following week in Buffalo, and his season was never the same. Hoyer played tight the next week against the Colts and lost his job as the starter to Manziel the following week. Hoyer returned only when Manziel pulled a hamstring after six woeful quarters on the field.

For the season Hoyer threw for 3,326 yards with 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. His season rating was 76.5, which ranked 31st in the league. But Hoyer is the only of the 22 Browns starting quarterbacks since 1999 to have a winning record as a starter (10-6).

Hoyer spent three seasons as Tom Brady's backup and got his chance with the Browns in 2013. He led the team to wins over Cincinnati and Minnesota before tearing his ACL less than five minutes into a win over Buffalo.

 

> http://espn.go.com/newyork/nfl/story/_/id/12447998/brian-hoyer-signinghouston-texans-new-york-jets?ex_cid=espnapi_public

[kelly]

The NFL's three-day negotiating window, the precursor to free agency, opened at noon. A quick refresher on where things stand with the New York Jets' top unrestricted free agents :

David Harris, linebacker -- He won't hit the market. The Jets locked him up with a three-year, $21.5 million contract. Harris was priority No. 1.

Bilal Powell, running back -- The Jets want to re-sign him. They see him as a player whose best football is ahead of him.

Kenrick Ellis, nose tackle -- They're interested in bringing him back in a backup role, but the former third-round pick wants to explore the market to see if he can find more playing time.

Willie Colon, guard -- They haven't shut the door on Colon, but he's a backburner priority.

Dawan Landry, safety -- See Colon.

Michael Vick, quarterback -- There's no interest in re-signing Vick. It'll be one-and-done.

Kyle Wilson, cornerback -- The Jets have big plans to revamp the secondary, but they don't include Wilson as of now.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49659/checking-up-on-the-jets-top-free-agents
 

[kelly]

Commentary

Free-agency thrills can be fleeting Mailbag: Splashy signings may be exciting but often don't work out in long run

 

The weekend provided plenty of excitement heading into Tuesday's start of NFL free agency.

The Miami Dolphins have agreed to make Ndamukong Suh the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. The Green Bay Packers kept wide receiver Randall Cobb with a $10 million-a-year contract. The Houston Texans kept cornerback Kareem Jackson for $8.5 million a year. And that's just a sample of the agreements in place. Teams can't officially sign other teams' unrestricted free agents until Tuesday, but they have been permitted to hold negotiations since Saturday.

 

At least a dozen teams have more than $30 million of cap space, and more might hit that level by releasing additional players. With players as talented as Greg Hardy hitting the market and loads of big-name receivers available, it can be argued that the 2015 free-agency period will be the wildest since 2012, when Mario Williams was the top free agent and only a few teams had cap issues because a new collective bargaining agreement was signed in the summer of 2011.

Still, I wave the caution flag. Free agency brings immediate excitement, but the feeling often isn't long-lasting. Many of the players being released to clear cap space were unrestricted free-agent signings over the past three years.

Here is a scary stat: Only 15 signees from the unrestricted free-agency class of 2012 (143 signings) are still under contract with the teams that signed them. And that number could shrink. The Cowboys have to decide if they want to keep cornerback Brandon Carr at his $10 million-a-year salary. The Saints reportedly have been shopping linebacker Curtis Lofton and are trying to decide if they can afford to keep linebacker David Hawthorne and guard Ben Grubbs.

 

Part of the problem is what happens during the three or four days before the start of free agency. To keep players from leaving, teams have to step up and overpay to a certain degree on the eve of free agency. The Green Bay Packers did this over the past two years. To prevent cornerback Sam Shields from leaving last year, the Packers gave him $9.75 million a year. They gave Cobb $10 million a year when the top slot receiver market is at $9 million a year.

There is nothing wrong with a team paying above par to maintain continuity. But the ripple effect on the free-agent market causes problems. The Jackson contract, for example, probably helped push cornerback Byron Maxwell's new five-year deal with the Eagles to $10.5 million annually. But Maxwell could be subject to being cut after three or four years if he doesn't maintain a high level of play.

As you watch the signings this week, know that the teams may only be getting two or three years of service from the high-priced players. The Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have already started releasing some of their big signings from last year.

Simply stated, championships aren't built through free agency, because the players generally don't stay with their new teams long enough.

From the inbox

Q: You're a team in need of a QB, but you end up 6-10 or 7-9 each season because you have some talent. That means you're out of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. Why not weigh QBs higher on the draft board because of their importance? So just keep taking a QB in Rounds 3-6 year after year until you hit paydirt. Don't teams know after a year whether a rookie is going to pan out? So just cut bait and pick another QB. And why not pick QBs in multiple rounds? I mean, that fourth-round safety might turn out great, but you can pick up those depth guys in free agency. Pick another QB. If he's so-so, cut him and roll the dice for the next Kurt Warner or Tom Brady.

 

Vincent in Miami has watched Ryan Tannehill improve each year, but he is concerned about the changes at wide receiver. The Dolphins released Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson and are debating what to do with Mike Wallace. Jarvis Landry is the new Hartline, and I think they may keep Wallace for just one more year. The killer would be losing Charles Clay if the Buffalo Bills sign him to as a transition player and the Dolphins don't match. That would force the Dolphins to draft or sign a wide receiver and a tight end. ... Robert in Lubbock, Texas, says he's starting to feel good about the Jacksonville Jaguars. I agree. If they hit it in free agency and in the draft, they could be on the rise over the next two years. ... Brandon in Hot Springs, Arkansas, wonders where Andre Johnson will end up. I think Seattle, New England or Indianapolis would be the most logical landing places. ... Matt in Richmond, Virginia, didn't understand the mindset of the Cowboys even thinking they could get Adrian Peterson and let DeMarco Murray go. I agree. The danger is if Murray goes and Peterson stays in Minnesota. Matt suggests paying Murray four years at $32 million.

 

-- Coelho in New York, New York

A: The problem with such a strategy is that taking a third- or fourth-round choice away from other positions weakens the roster around the quarterback. Under the current CBA, draft choices in Rounds 1-4 are more valuable than ever. To survive and thrive, teams have to get two or three starters per year out of each draft. As you can see from the mailbag lead, getting those long-term starters out of free agency isn't going to fill out a starting 22. Once you get past the fourth round, the percentage of hitting on starters drops dramatically. The current strategy for teams without quarterbacks seems to be signing a backup-level signal-caller and hoping he can successfully operate a run-based offense.

Q: Do you think the minimum spending floor will affect future franchise tags? With some clubs needing to spend a lot of money to meet the floor, a lot of players will receive hefty pay raises. Could this increased spending eventually make a franchise tag prohibitive?

-- Chris in Silver Springs, Maryland

A: The minimum spend will have only a minor effect on franchise-tag prices. Yes, huge base salaries handed out by teams needing to reach the minimum spending will create huge cap numbers. But the franchise numbers now are calculated using a formula that takes the past five years of top salaries into account. That will prevent the franchise-tag prices from rising too quickly.

Q: I have a question about trading up in the draft. In sports like baseball and basketball, we hear about trades with "cash considerations" included. Is it illegal in the NFL for a team to essentially offer cash to "buy" another team's draft pick? For example, if the Eagles are set on moving up for Marcus Mariota, could they offer their first-round pick plus cash to jump in to the top five for him?

-- Matt in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

A: Cash considerations can't be included in trades. That's because you are talking about a hard salary cap. You can include draft choices or players, but that's all you can include.

Q: What are the salary-cap implications for a team that has a player retire with multiple years left on his contract? If the player has prorated money left on his contract, does it automatically come due on the current year as if the player was cut, or is it still prorated out for the life of the current contract?

-- Matthew in Norwalk, Ohio

A: It depends on when the team places the player on the retired list. If it happens before June 1, the entire remaining bonus will count on the current year's cap. If the retirement comes after June 1, one year's worth of prorating would count for the current year, and the rest would count the next year. For example, if $10 million of bonus and four years remained on a contract, the hit would be $2.5 million this year and $7.5 million next year. The team would have the ability to ask for repayment of the unused signing bonus proration. If the team gets the money back, it can go as a cap credit for the next season.

Q: I'm a longtime Raider fan. I've heard rumors that the owner is thinking about moving the team again. Do you think that this could happen, and if so, what city could attract the team away from Oakland?

Inside The Huddle with John Clayton

John Clayton breaks down the first weekend of free agency with Sal Paolantonio, Jeff Dickerson and Rich Cimini and speaks with Panthers TE Greg Olsen.

-- Charles in Seattle

A: The Raiders may have another year or two in Oakland, but it is clearly a concern for Raiders fans. The team could end up in Los Angeles or St. Louis. According to a source, the Raiders and the San Diego Chargers could both have been in Los Angeles this season. But the deal would have been put together so quickly that the ripple effects might have been bad for the league. League owners who support Rams owner Stan Kroenke's efforts to build a stadium in the Los Angeles area wouldn't have liked such a move. With a Chargers-Raiders stadium not coming together this year, Kroenke has a great shot of getting his stadium started, which would open the chances of the Rams moving to Los Angeles next year. That buys time for the city of Oakland to figure something out to keep the Raiders. The NFL isn't going to have three teams in Los Angeles, so the league won't build a stadium for the Chargers and the Raiders in Los Angeles if the Rams already are moving there. Plus, owners would take care of the Chargers first and the Raiders next. If the Chargers can't get a deal in San Diego, I could see them moving to Los Angeles. If the Chargers and Rams are in Los Angeles, that would put the Raiders in a spot to maybe move to St. Louis if a new stadium is built there.

 

Q: Can you tell me why it seems the Texans are rebuilding every offseason? We lose our best players all the time. Doesn't that affect players wanting to come to Houston?

-- Thomas in Los Angeles

 

A: I don't look at the Texans as being in a constant state of rebuilding. The only area I question is at outside linebacker. Since letting Mario Williams hit free agency and go to Buffalo, the Texans have invested heavily by using good draft choices at outside linebacker and then letting them hit free agency. Connor Barwin went to Philadelphia. Brooks Reed could be the next to leave.

 

>   http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12446027/free-agency-excitement-short-lived-clayton-mailbag

 

[kelly]

New York Jets targeting Ryan Fitzpatrick

 

Will Monday's flurry of quarterback movement in Houston lead Ryan Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets ?

 

 

With the Texans planning to sign both Ryan Mallett and former Browns passer Brian Hoyer, Fitzpatrick looms as a strong candidate for release. If (and when) that happens, Fitzpatrick would emerge as a top target for Gang Green, according to NFL Media's Albert Breer.The Jets showed interest in signing Hoyer, but Breer was told that New York -- with plenty of money to spend -- is higher on Fitzpatrick.

 

Why ?

 

The Amish Rifle is bound to be less expensive than Hoyer and would land in Gotham with a built-in knowledge of play-caller Chan Gailey's offense. Fitzpatrick played under Gailey for three seasons with the Bills, doing enough to earn a six-year, $59 million contract extension in 2011 -- a pact the mediocre Fitzpatrick never came close to seeing through.

 

The Jets are down to slim pickings on the ghastly free-agent quarterback market after watching Josh McCown, Hoyer, Mallett and Matt Cassel go elsewhere. Fitzpatrick is no savior, but he would provide a safe veteran option to compete with the eternally hot-and-cold Geno Smith.

 

>   http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000477389/article/new-york-jets-targeting-ryan-fitzpatrick

[kelly]

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter was on “SportsCenter” on Monday morning to address the question on the mind of every Patriots fan: Will New England be able to retain Darrelle Revis  ?

 

If you were Darrelle Revis, what would you do?

•  
  71%
  Sign with the Patriots for less money.
•  
  29%
  Sign with the Jets for more money.

(Total votes: 3,756)

Here’s Schefter’s take :

“From the moment that deal got done with Devin McCourty, it was time for the Patriots to shift their focus to [Revis]. And now the question becomes, does he go back to New England, where they’re defending a Super Bowl title, on a lesser deal? Or does he go to the New York Jets, returning to the franchise that once drafted him, to what will be a richer deal?

“That is how it is shaping up. Those two teams, the Jets and the Patriots, vying for Darrelle Revis to see which team lands him.”Revis is technically not yet a free agent, as the Patriots have an option for his services for 2015 that they could exercise before free agency officially begins at 4 p.m. That option, however, is considered a placeholder due to the $25 million cap charge on the deal.

The Patriots will need to make a move one way or another -- Exercise the option? Cut Revis? Strike a new deal with him? -- before the market opens Tuesday afternoon.

Stay tuned.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4778869/schefter-shaping-up-to-be-patriots-vs-jets-for-revis

[FTL Jet Fan]

We will wait on Revis and he will stay with NE and we will end up with a third tier CB , again.

[kelly]

For the second straight year, the New York Jets looked to the Seattle Seahawks to address an offensive-line need. They're expected to sign free-agent left guard James Carpenter, a league source confirmed Tuesday.

Barring a last-minute snag, Carpenter will sign a four-year contract and will reunite with right tackle Breno Giacomini, who left the Seahawks last year for a four-year, $17 million deal.

Teams can't sign unrestricted free agents until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

The Jets went into free agency determined to upgrade at guard. They turned to Carpenter after failed attempts to sign Mike Iupati and Orlando Franklin, who are expected to sign with the Arizona Cardinals and San Diego Chargers, respectively.

Carpenter is expected to play left guard, meaning Oday Aboushi and Brian Winters -- both of whom played the position last season -- will likely compete at right guard. It probably means the end for right guard Willie Colon (a free agent), who started the last 32 games.

Carpenter (6-foot-5, 320 pounds) was a first-round draft choice out of Alabama in 2011 by the Seahawks. He started 13 regular-season games at left guard (missing three games with ankle injury) and all three playoffs games last season.

It was the most games he has played in a single season in his career, which has been plagued by knee problems, including ACL surgery in 2012. Carpenter lost 20 pounds before the start of training camp last season, showing up in the best shape of this career.

Carpenter, who turns 26 on March 22, is viewed as a punishing run blocker who sometimes struggles in pass protection.

 

> http://espn.go.com/newyork/nfl/story/_/id/12454498/james-carpenter-sign-new-york-jets?ex_cid=espnapi_public

[kelly]

The New York Jets secured one of their free-agent priorities Tuesday, agreeing to terms with running back Bilal Powell, according to a league source.

Terms of the contract weren't immediately available.

The Jets have been linked to other free-agent backs, including C.J. Spiller and Shane Vereen, but their goal was to retain the under-utilized Powell.

In truth, they don't have significant interest in Spiller, but they have inquired about Vereen, sources said. The Jets have a solid one-two combination with Chris Ivory and Powell, but they lack a breakaway threat.

Powell, 26, a fourth-round pick in 2011, was the player most affected by Chris Johnson's arrival last season. He became an afterthought as Johnson and Chris Ivory shared the bulk of the ball carrying for the Jets' fourth-ranked rushing offense.

Johnson is gone now, as the Jets declined to pick up his option for 2015. As a result, new general manager Mike Maccagnan made Powell a priority as they approached the free agency signing period.

Used occasionally as a third-down back, Powell finished with only 33 rushes for 141 yards and one touchdown last season. He also caught 11 passes for 92 yards.

It was a step back for Powell, who was a significant contributor in 2013. Sharing time with Ivory, he ran for a career-high 697 yards, but it wasn't enough to convince the Jets' brass he was worthy of a major role.

Powell's coaches have always liked his game because he's a fundamentally sound player. He's very good in pass protection and he's one of only nine backs (minimum: 200 carries) who hasn't lost a fumble over the last two seasons.

 

> http://espn.go.com/newyork/nfl/story/_/id/12454611/new-york-jets-agree-re-sign-rb-bilal-powell

[kelly]

Percy Harvin's brief stay with the New York Jets has come to an end.NFL Media's Albert Breer reported, per a team source, that the Jets plan to release the talented wide receiver today, just days after acquiring Brandon Marshall in a trade with the Chicago Bears. Harvin is free to sign with any team.

The Jets acquired Harvin from the Seahawks last October in a move designed to spark a sagging offense, and in Seattle's case, to rid the locker room of a perceived problem child. Former Jets general manager John Idzik memorably called the trade a "potential coup" for New York.

 

It didn't quite work out that way, as Harvin -- working in a subpar offense plagued by poor quarterback play -- failed to make a significant impact across eight games. The Jets were not locked into any guaranteed money to Harvin beyond the 2014 season, and were faced with a decision to pay Harvin $10.5 million in 2015, release him, or make an attempt to restructure his contract.

 

In the end, they chose to trade for Marshall, a safer and more cost-effective option for the franchise.

By releasing Harvin, the Seahawks officially own the Jets' sixth-round pick in this year's draft. The Jets would have had to surrender their fourth-round pick to Seattle if Harvin was on the roster on March 19.

Harvin is still just 26 and possesses rare playmaking ability. There should be a healthy market for his services, despite the fact that he'll be with his fourth team in seven seasons by Week 1.

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000477285/article/new-york-jets-to-release-wideout-percy-harvin

[kelly]

For all the NFL's recent personnel dramatics, from the stunning dismantling of the Philadelphia Eagles to Ndamukong Suh's decision to move to Miami to the ongoing soap opera starring Adrian Peterson, the most important takeaway has been a clear expression of the depressing state of the quarterback position.While Suh was preparing to accept a $114 million contract from the Dolphins, the Cleveland Browns were cleaning up after a bidding war for -- yes -- Josh McCown's services. After they acquired running back LeSean McCoy, whose new contract will pay him $16 million in 2015, the Buffalo Bills actually gave up a draft choice to secure Matt Cassel. With free agent Brian Hoyer reportedly close to signing with the Houston Texans, soon Jake Locker (!) will be the most attractive name available on the market.

The NFL's quarterback shortage is no secret, but this year's scramble originates from morbid fear. Teams are fighting over backup-quality starters because the 2015 draft class is one of the weakest in recent memory. No one -- save the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who own the No. 1 overall pick -- wants to enter the draft hoping to elevate its quarterback depth chart, much less find a starter.I contacted ESPN's Steve Muench, who spends the year scouting college prospects for Scouts Inc., to get a better understanding of this class. To be clear, the drop-off is steep after Florida State's Jameis Winston and Oregon's Marcus Mariota. No one else has a grade higher than the fourth round. "This is a bad, bad class," Muench said.

QB Shortage

Since 2000, eight quarterbacks have started at least 20 NFL games after being drafted in the fourth round or lower -- but none since 2005.

QB Yr. Drafted Starts Ryan Fitzpatrick 2005 89 Kyle Orton 2005 82 Matt Cassel 2005 71 Derek Anderson 2005 45 Seneca Wallace 2003 22 David Garrard 2002 76 Tom Brady 2000 207 Marc Bulger 2000 95 Source: ESPN Stats & Information

 

Because the position is so overvalued, of course, we can expect some of those fourth-round talents to rise into the second and third rounds. In recent history, that's the cutoff for finding a decent NFL quarterback in the draft.As the chart shows, it has been 10 years since a quarterback drafted in the fourth round or lower has gone on to start as many as 20 games. The middle class of quarterbacks -- your Andy Daltons, Colin Kaepernicks, Mike Glennons and others -- are now going to be off the board no later than the third round, and probably before.So who will push into that group? (Full disclosure: We collaborated on a similar exercise last year.) Muench suggested three prospects for this year, with a big qualifier: None measure up even to the incomparable Jimmy Garoppolo -- the 2014 sleeper whom the New England Patriots drafted with the No. 62 overall pick. Here they are, ranked by their Scouts Inc. grades, with Muench's extended thoughts:

Garrett Grayson
School: Colorado State
Muench: "He's got a good build at 6-foot-2 and 213 pounds, and he's got bigger hands (10 inches), which really helps him get a good grip and spin the ball. When you watch his tape, you see good pocket mobility, more than enough arm strength with some streak throwing. But when he's in rhythm, he's accurate. He's got to work on how he handles pressure and be better at diagnosing pre-snap reads, but in the end he gets the job done a lot of the time. You look at his game last year against Boston College, and he throws two interceptions in the first quarter of the game. He comes back in the second half, makes better decisions, gets in a rhythm, and throws a touchdown to win it in the end. That's Garrett Grayson in a nutshell."

Bryce Petty
School: Baylor
Muench: "He's a hot name for obvious reasons. He had those stats at Baylor, especially throwing for 510 yards against TCU. He's a leader in the locker room. From everything we've heard, you're going to be hard-pressed to find a guy you want in your locker room more than him, and that's really important for a guy coming out. You either have that or you don't. Most people know the other sides. He has to adjust to a pro-style offense after what he played in at Baylor, the way he reads the field. His decision making has to speed up, and he has to develop the footwork dropping from under center. So we see him as more of a project than some people might realize. He has great intangibles, is a great leader with slightly above-average arm strength, but I'm not sure he can drive the ball in certain situations. He's a good athlete, but not a great one. He'll have big issues getting his footwork down, and he has a lot to learn about playing in the NFL."

Brett Hundley
School: UCLA
Muench: "He's a fascinating prospect. He's not quite Logan Thomas, who was the workout star last year with outrageous height-weight-speed, but he's that guy this year. He's got that 36-inch vertical, those 10 1/2-inch hands, the 4.6 speed. From a physical standpoint, he's everything you would want. And he can be very accurate when the first read is there. The concern with him is if you take away that first read, as NFL defenses do, how good is he going to be? How effective is he going to be checking down and finding the next guy? For whatever reason, he kind of regressed at the end of the season. His last two games, he struggled, and then he didn't go to the Senior Bowl. He ended his career about as poorly as you can heading into the draft evaluation season. But he did throw well at the combine. We've all seen teams reach for a guy like this. Maybe they learned from the Jake Lockers or the EJ Manuels, but he'll be intriguing to teams in the same way."

The next grouping, based on Scouts Inc.'s evaluations, includes Oregon State's Sean Mannion, East Carolina's Shane Carden, and Southeast Louisiana State's Bryan Bennett. It wouldn't be a surprise to see one of them move close to the fourth-round barrier as well. But the NFL has already spoken, in its own way. There is little expectation that a rookie not named Winston or Mariota will impact the league in 2015.

 

 >   http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/163303/inside-slant-why-nfl-teams-are-fighting-for-josh-mccown-matt-cassel-and-brian-hoyer

[kmnj]

We will wait on Revis and he will stay with NE and we will end up with a third tier CB , again.

then guys will say it is all part of the new gm plan-heard that last year-also heard no way revis stays with the pats for more than the one year rental which helped them win a ring

[kelly]

A few thoughts on the New York Jets reaching a contract extension with running back Bilal Powell  :
 

1. Powell was the Forgotten Man last season, but the new regime didn't forget about him as free agency approached. He was one of Mike Maccagnan's priorities, which might surprise some people because Powell had such a small role last season. That wasn't his fault, though. After signing Chris Johnson, the former coaching staff felt compelled to use a Johnson-Chris Ivory tandem even though Johnson never really provided any electricity. As a result, Powell had only 44 "touches." But he's a dependable back and only 26 years old, so why not bring him back?

2. No word on the contract details, but based on the sluggish market for running backs, Powell's deal figures to be about $1.6 million to $2 million per year. He received strong interest from the Buffalo Bills, who have some familiar faces -- Rex Ryan and Powell's former position coach, Anthony Lynn.

3. So far, the Jets have made two moves on offense with regard to the skill positions -- re-upping with Powell and trading for wide receiver Brandon Marshall. OK, fine, but you can't help but wonder, where's the speed on offense? The Jets don't have a true game-breaker. They have some nice parts -- Marshall, Powell, Eric Decker, Ivory, Jeremy Kerley, etc. -- but there's no home-run threat. C.J. Spiller? Nah, I don't expect the Jets to pursue him. Truth is, they are not interested. There is some interest in Shane Vereen, but he likely will get more money elsewhere. Maybe Maccagnan is waiting for the draft to address the speed issue.

4. Powell isn't a flashy player, but he definitely registers on the radar of opponents. Example: When the Bills found out Powell was sick and couldn't play in their meeting last November, they tweaked their game plan and decided to use more blitzes, knowing the Jets would suffer without Powell's ability to pass protect. It worked. Just ask Michael Vick, who was flattened by the Bills' pass rush.

5. Powell represents a rarity for the Jets, who haven't done a very good job in recent years of keeping their own players. Since the 2009 draft, they have given second contracts to only three players -- Powell, Kerley and Mark Sanchez.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49725/re-signing-powell-a-nice-move-but-wheres-the-speed-on-offense

[kelly]

1. Is Mike Maccagnan a genius? Let's not go that far, but has a rookie general manager ever had an opening day like this? Maccagnan doled out $115 million in free-agent contracts for three starters, including a monster deal for Darrelle Revis. Maccagnan identified cornerback and guard as his primary needs, and he wound up finalizing deals for two corners (Revis and Buster Skrine) and guard James Carpenter. In a span of four days, starting with the Brandon Marshall trade, Maccagnan made the Jets relevant again, washing away the stench from 2014.

[+] Enlarge

 

2. Does Revis make the Jets a Super Bowl contender? In a word, no. In case you haven't noticed, they still have a quarterback issue and there's no one on the market that can change that. Stealing Revis from the New England Patriots weakens the champs, but it doesn't change the balance of power in the AFC East. The Patriots have Tom Brady and the Jets don't. But Revis takes the defense to a different level; he's the shutdown corner that allows Todd Bowles to run his blitz-happy defense. And don't be surprised if they sign another corner, perhaps Antonio Cromartie.

3. Were there any quarterback developments on Day 1? Well, it appears as if they've lost Brian Hoyer to the Houston Texans, which wouldn't be such a bad thing. To make room for Hoyer, the Texans probably would cut Ryan Fitzpatrick, a Chan Gailey favorite from their days in Buffalo. Fitzpatrick has been on the Jets' radar since January, and they're expected to show interest. He's not a cure-all, but he could give Geno Smith a run for the starting job. Keep an eye on the Philadelphia situation. I have a hard time believing Chip Kelly is committed to the newly acquired Sam Bradford, a player who has piqued the Jets' interest. Maybe Kelly uses Bradford as a bargaining chip to trade up for Marcus Mariota. Just saying.

4. Why settle for Carpenter? Before finalizing a deal with former Seattle Seahawk, Maccagnan was deep into negotiations with the top two guards on the market, Mike Iupati and Orlando Franklin. The Jets offered to make Iupati the highest-paid guard in the league, but he took less money from the Arizona Cardinals because he wanted to stay close to his home in the West. He still did nicely -- five years, $40 million. It was the same situation with Franklin. He took less from the San Diego Chargers (five years, $35 million) because he wanted to reunite with his former Denver Broncos coordinator, coach Mike McCoy. Obviously, Maccagnan wasn't sitting on his hands during the Revis negotiations, as had been suggested.
In this market, Carpenter was considered a second-tier guard. The Jets didn't break the bank (four years, about $20 million), but you get what you pay for. Said one AFC personnel executive: "He has ability and physical talent, but he's not a great finisher. He has tools, but there are some buts. I don't know that his tools and ability always match his production." Look for him to start at left guard.

5. Will Buster be a bust? Maccagnan might take some criticism for the Skrine signing, probably because he's not a big name, but the Jets like him because they believe he can be a No. 2 or No. 3 corner. They paid him like a No. 2 (four years, $25 million), but there's always the chance he could slide inside and play the nickel, replacing Kyle Wilson. Skrine has extensive experience inside and outside, so there's versatility. Only 5-foot-9, he's probably better suited to the slot. He has his flaws (15 penalties), but they feel he can he coached up. He's a hard worker, always looking to get better -- nice intangibles."He's smaller, but he's fast and quick," an AFC scout said. "Despite his size, he's got PBUs (pass break-ups). He has short-area quickness and change of direction, but his size will limit him down the field against bigger, stronger bodies."

6. Will anyone pay attention to the Bilal Powell signing? Probably not, thanks to Revis. The Jets locked up one of their free-agent priorities, but it was only a one-year, $2 million contract -- rather curious. Word has it that former Jets coach Rex Ryan wanted him badly in Buffalo, but that Bills' ownership didn't want to cut the popular Fred Jackson to make room for Powell. At any rate, it's a solid, short-term move for the Jets, who now face the prospect of having both backs -- Powell and Chris Ivory -- as unrestricted free agents in 2016.

7. Is there a chance Percy Harvin could return? Maccagnan left open the possibility of re-signing him, but that's highly unlikely. If they were to re-sign him before the second day of the draft, they'd owe the Seahawks a fourth-round pick, not a sixth rounder. Plus, Harvin already is on a visit to the Bills, setting up a possible reunion with Ryan.

8. What can we expect for Day 2? They're still looking to bolster the secondary. Safety Marcus Gilchrist is visiting, and Cromartie remains on the radar. If Fitzpatrick gets cut, the Jets could move quickly on the quarterback front.

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49769/day-1-of-new-york-jets-free-agency-darrelle-revis-island-and-fantasy-football-island

[kelly]

-- Surprise, surprise, Woody Johnson made a monumental mistake the past offseason, when he allowed Darrelle Revis to sign with the New England Patriots. This is assuming, of course, that then-New York Jets general manager John Idzik relayed to the owner the message the team received from Revis' agents, once it was clear Tampa Bay would cut the cornerback just one season into his six-year, $96 million deal.Revis had a wish list of four teams ranked in this order: 1. Jets; 2. Patriots; 3. Giants; 4. Broncos. A new Tampa Bay administration didn't want to pay Revis, despite the fact that the old administration had rehabbed his surgically repaired knee back to form, and the Buccaneers would have taken a late-round draft choice for the player -- something, anything -- to save face after they gave the Jets the first-round pick that would be Sheldon Richardson in the original trade.

 

 

 

 

Revis' agents told Rex Ryan and one other senior Jets official of their client's desire to return to New York, and Idzik and Johnson could have looked Red Auerbach and Bill Belichick smart in making that deal. Or they could have waited for Tampa Bay to release Revis and signed him for the same $12 million (give or take a nickel) the Patriots paid him to help Belichick and Tom Brady win their 12th AFC East title and fourth Super Bowl ring since Johnson purchased the team in 2000.

But they are the Jets, after all, and the Jets do what the Jets do. They never called Revis or his reps to make the reunion happen. Revis would end up meeting with Belichick and Patriots owner Bob Kraft in Palm Beach and joking with them about lining up at wide receiver in their two games against the Jets. Soon enough, Brady would rave about Revis' intelligence and instinct in practice, about how he treated every rep with postseason intensity.

Long after the Jets finished 4-12 and got everyone fired, Belichick found Revis near the Super Bowl victory stand in Glendale, Ariz.

"This is why you're here," Belichick shouted at him.

That was a lot for Revis to walk away from, and this is where Woody Johnson, of all people, came in to save the day. Johnson has made more than his fair share of mistakes in recent years -- Idzik's hiring foremost among the -- but after Revis signed with New England and helped them win it all, there was nothing the Jets owner could do to right that wrong.

Except what he did Tuesday night. Johnson fully guaranteed Revis $39 million over the first three years of a five-year, $70 million contract, which happens to be $39 million more than the owner would have had to guarantee the corner if Idzik threw Tampa Bay that late draft pick last year.

The contract with the Buccaneers didn't contain any guaranteed cash, and Johnson could have gone year-to-year on it. Of greater consequence, Johnson would have kept Revis away from the Belichicks and Bradys last season, and that might have been enough to separate the Belichicks and Bradys from Ring No. 4.

That was then, and Tuesday night was most definitely Tuesday night. Johnson could have backed away from Revis and a pair of agents with whom he always hated negotiating, Neil Schwartz and Jon Feinsod. He could have called it a day after selling his beaten-down fan base on Brandon Marshall, on the possibility of drafting Marcus Mariota and on the possibility that Todd Bowles can make a go of it on defense with the likes of Buster Skrine.

 

Slaven Vlasic/Getty ImagesWoody Johnson has overseen some hard times of late, but he acted like a winner by paying top dollar to bring Darrelle Revis back to the Jets.

 

Johnson instead acted like a winning owner, with one of the biggest upsets of the new NFL year.

"I want to thank the Pats and Pats Nation for an unbelievable year," Revis tweeted. "NEW YORK I'm coming home."

Revis never wanted to leave New York in the first place. He planned to buy a place in Manhattan, and he hoped to go down as half the one-uniform lifer with the Jets that Derek Jeter was with the Yanks.

Johnson and Idzik had other ideas. They paid big money to the wrong people, dealt an injured Revis to Tampa Bay and brought Dimitri Patterson in last year, after the Patriots signed a healthy Revis, still in his prime and still able to cut the football field in half.

"Woody wants to be George Steinbrenner, and he's really more like the Wilpons," one league source close to the situation said when it became obvious Revis was no longer in the Jets' plans. "But at least the Wilpons stepped up for David Wright."

The Patriots were the ones who stepped up for Revis in offering what was really a one-year, $12 million deal. Kraft added the $20 million second year to put the annual average at $16 million, if only as a favor to the Glazers in Tampa Bay, the ones who believed the corner was a credible $16 million player.

None of that much matters anymore. Johnson saw his old coach, Ryan, land LeSean McCoy in Buffalo, and he saw his old GM, Mike Tannenbaum, land Ndamukong Suh in Miami. The Jets owner knew that as much as Revis loved New York, he loved money a little more. So Johnson fully guaranteed the free agent $16 million in Year 1, $17 million in Year 2 and $6 million of a $15 million salary in Year 3 to airlift Revis out of Foxborough. Johnson threw in a couple $11 million non-guaranteed wages in Years 4 and 5 for the hell of it.

Everyone knew Revis would go to the highest bidder, especially after he won his championship ring. His uncle and close adviser, Sean Gilbert, a former NFL player and current candidate for executive director of the players' union, needed to make a big score here as he approaches the upcoming election. Gilbert and Revis' agents can now say their man will earn no less than $123 million in his career -- $154 million if he plays through the life of this Jets contract. That's quarterback money.

Darrelle Revis isn't a quarterback. He just makes them miserable for a living.

"Darrelle is a great player," Johnson said the day he fired Idzik, before adding he'd "love Darrelle to come back."

The owner was only giving an honest answer to a direct question and didn't seem to be violating the spirit of the league's tampering rules. But even though that quote had nothing to do with Revis' decision to sign with the Jets, Belichick didn't get to be Belichick by letting these things slide.

Either way, Woody Johnson deserves credit for throwing his wallet at a terrible mistake. The owner couldn't take away the title Revis helped the Patriots win, so he did the next best thing.

He took away Revis, the rare superstar who wanted to be a lifelong Jet.

 

> http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/12458740/woody-johnson-rights-wrong-bringing-back-darrelle-revis

[kelly]

-- The first day of free agency wasn't a good one for the New England Patriots, not when you lose a player such as cornerback Darrelle Revis to the rival New York Jets.

From a bottom-line perspective, it can be summed up this way: On March 10, 2015, the Jets got better and the Patriots got worse.

That stings.
 

There will be the standard passionate reactions that result when a landmark shift like this is made. Some will call Patriots ownership cheap. Others will rail on Revis for taking the richest deal that doesn't seem to give him the best chance to win. Some will question Bill Belichick's focus on value. Others might hail the Jets for bringing Revis home.

Chances are you won't have to search far for all of that, and more. Take your pick.

Although it won't move the needle as much as any of the aforementioned topics, I'm not going down any of those paths at this time.

Here's why:

I don't blame Revis. He came to New England on a discount ($12 million in 2014), did everything the team asked of him and more, and then decided to cash in after playing a big role in helping the franchise earn a Super Bowl ring. Just as Belichick often says he makes decisions in the best interests of the football team, Revis is doing the same for himself. He has earned that right and is a darn smart businessman in that respect; Robert Kraft-like, if you will.

As for the Patriots, this comes back to their core beliefs on the best way to build a complete team. They obviously felt matching the contract the Jets gave Revis (five years, $70 million, including $39 million fully guaranteed) compromised them in that area. Many will passionately disagree. At the same time, the track record -- nine conference championships, six Super Bowls appearances and four Super Bowl titles -- speaks for itself. Championships aren't won on March 10, and while the Patriots took a step back Tuesday, they're among the best in the business at adjusting over time. This will be a big challenge for them.

So here's the final takeaway :

For one year, the Patriots gave Revis what he needed -- his first ring, a larger stage to showcase his skills after essentially disappearing the year before in Tampa, and a chance to strike it rich on the open market the next year for likely one final time in his career. In turn, Revis gave the Patriots what they needed -- top-flight cornerback play, a great teammate, a class act and someone whom club president Jonathan Kraft said went beyond what even the team anticipated.

When it came to football for one year, it was a dream-like match. But once it came down to business, Revis and the Patriots in a negotiation were two like-minded forces colliding from opposite ends of the spectrum.

In the end, I keep coming back to the thought that Revis is essentially the player's version of the Patriots -- intelligent, ruthless and often cut-throat at the negotiating table.

We often praise that approach when it works in favor of the team.

It isn't often that the team has it turned on itself, which is what Revis did to the Patriots.

>   http://espn.go.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4778989/clash-of-two-powerful-forces-in-tale-of-darrelle-revis-and-the-patriots

 

[kelly]

New York Jets clear leader to sign Antonio Cromartie

The New York Jets are dominating a corner of the market.

 

A day after landing cornerback Darrelle Revis, Gang Green is poised to reunite the cornerback with running mate Antonio Cromartie.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the Jets are the clear leader for Cromartie's services and he is expected to sign in New York.

Not surprisingly, Revis was the primary recruiter to bring Cro back to the Big Apple, per Rapoport.

In reality, the only recruiter that was necessary is made of paper and dyed green. Cromartie has openly discussed his desire to return to the Jets since the season ended.

Cromartie and Revis formed a deadly, physical corner duo under Rex Ryan from 2010-2012. Cro's size, speed and ability to shift positions are a perfect mesh with Revis' physical trail-corner attributes.

Add in the signing of Buster Skrine, who can seamlessly kick inside as a slot corner, and the Jets could go from having a dearth at corner to an embarrassment of riches.

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000478028/article/new-york-jets-clear-leader-to-sign-antonio-cromartie

 

[Jethead]

New York Jets clear leader to sign Antonio Cromartie

The New York Jets are dominating a corner of the market.

 

A day after landing cornerback Darrelle Revis, Gang Green is poised to reunite the cornerback with running mate Antonio Cromartie.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the Jets are the clear leader for Cromartie's services and he is expected to sign in New York.

Not surprisingly, Revis was the primary recruiter to bring Cro back to the Big Apple, per Rapoport.

In reality, the only recruiter that was necessary is made of paper and dyed green. Cromartie has openly discussed his desire to return to the Jets since the season ended.

Cromartie and Revis formed a deadly, physical corner duo under Rex Ryan from 2010-2012. Cro's size, speed and ability to shift positions are a perfect mesh with Revis' physical trail-corner attributes.

Add in the signing of Buster Skrine, who can seamlessly kick inside as a slot corner, and the Jets could go from having a dearth at corner to an embarrassment of riches.

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000478028/article/new-york-jets-clear-leader-to-sign-antonio-cromartie

The new guy is making Tanny look like Idziot.

[kelly]

What Mike Pettine has said about Buster Skrine is accurate, and also the feeling among many inside the team facility.

They wanted Skrine back.
 

But the free agency process became another reminder of the Cleveland Browns' reality -- the franchise is counting on Justin Gilbert. They have to see this project through, despite his wildly erratic rookie year and what Pettine calls a “very personal” issue for the cornerback.

Drafting Gilbert No. 8 overall meant the Browns weren’t going to keep up with Skrine’s rising market, which involved about a dozen teams by the end of the weekend.

Skrine is set to sign a four-year, $25-million deal with the New York Jets for around $13 million guaranteed. If the Jets sign Darrelle Revis, Skrine is in a beautiful situation in New York as a standout No. 2 corner.

Joe Haden no longer has the luxury of a steady running mate on the outside unless Gilbert maximizes his enormous potential.

If Gilbert wasn’t on the roster, Skrine might still be in Cleveland.

Skrine will be missed. He broke up 49 passes in four seasons, with four interceptions in 2014. Yes, he makes mistakes. He ranked second in the NFL with 15 penalties last season. But he can offset some of those mistakes with resiliency and elite speed. Coaches raved about him.

Skrine held off Gilbert from starting all season. If promising fourth-round pick Pierre Desir does the same in 2015, then the Browns have a real problem with Gilbert.

It’s all on him now. The Browns let Skrine walk because they made their bed at corner.

No wonder Joe Haden is working out with Gilbert in South Florida. Clearly he must know he’s got as much riding on Gilbert as the Browns do. He can’t do everything. He’ll need Gilbert to play well.

Ray Farmer will need him to play well, too.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/cleveland-browns/post/_/id/12260/cleveland-browns-let-buster-skrine-walk-banking-on-justin-gilbert-now?ex_cid=espnapi_public

[kelly]

On Wednesday, cornerback Buster Skrine signed a four-year, $25 million contract with the New York Jets. It includes $13 million in guarantees, including a $2 million roster bonus due on the fifth day of the league year.

A breakdown :
 

Signing bonus: $3 million

2015: $1.5 million base (guaranteed), plus a $2 million roster bonus. Cap charge -- $4.25 million

2016: $6.5 million base (guaranteed). Cap charge -- $7.25 million

2017: $6.0 million. Cap charge -- $6.75 million

2018: $6.0 million. Cap charge -- $6.75 million

Analysis : Skrine should be one happy dude. Before putting pen to paper, his total career earnings were $2.2 million. He eclipsed that with the signing bonus alone. In terms of average per year ($6.25 million), he ranks 17th among cornerbacks, according to ESPN data. His total guarantee puts him at 16th in the league at his position. In other words, he's getting paid like a No. 1 corner even though he could be a No. 2 or, quite possibly, a No. 3, depending on whether they sign another in addition to him and Darrelle Revis. Obviously, Skrine is virtually uncuttable in the first two years because of the guarantees.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49824/breaking-down-buster-skrines-contract

[kelly]

Shortly after signing his five-year, $70 million contract, Darrelle Revis told reporters Wednesday night he was planning to call his old sidekick, Antonio Cromartie. It was to be a recruiting call."I'm going to get in contact with him very soon and try to convince him to come back and join our Batman and Robin tandem that we had a couple of years ago," Revis said.

The two cornerbacks played together from 2010 to 2012 with the New York Jets. Now Cromartie is a free agent, negotiating with the Jets. He's also drawing interest from his previous team, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Dallas Cowboys. But Cromartie hasn't been shy about expressing his desire to return to New York.

The Jets also having discussions with free-agent safety Marcus Gilchrist, who spent Wednesday meeting with team officials. The Jets' hope is to sign another safety and cornerback, adding them to Revis and corner Buster Skrine in a revamped secondary.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49820/darrelle-revis-trying-to-convince-antonio-cromartie-to-return

[kelly]

Continuing a makeover of the secondary, the New York Jets reached an agreement Thursday night with free-agent safety Marcus Gilchrist on a four-year contract, a league source confirmed.

 

Gilchrist, formerly of the San Diego Chargers, spent Wednesday and Thursday meeting with Jets officials.

In a span of 72 hours, the Jets have added four new starting-caliber players to the secondary. Aside from Gilchrist, they also have brought in cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine, who probably will be the nickel back.Gilchrist is expected to start alongside Calvin Pryor, last year's first-round pick.

 

The Jets' secondary was weakened in recent years by big-name defections -- Revis being traded in 2013 and Cromartie becoming a cap casualty in 2014. As a result, the pass defense was horrible last season, as the Jets allowed an AFC-high 31 touchdown passes.

 

For a second straight year, Gilchrist started all 16 games in 2014, finishing second on the team in tackles with 76 and playing in a total of 929 snaps, second defensively to Eric Weddle (961). Gilchrist also notched two forced fumbles, a sack and an interception that sealed San Diego's win over the St. Louis Rams on Nov. 23.Selected in the second round of the 2011 draft by the Chargers out of Clemson, Gilchrist emerged as a full-time starter in 2013 at safety, playing in the defensive backfield next to Weddle.

 

Gilchrist, 26, was drafted as a cornerback, but switched primarily to safety in 2012. He started 16 games in 2013, playing 951 snaps and finishing third on the team in tackles with 77. Gilchrist also finished the regular season with two interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and five pass breakups in 2013.

 

> http://espn.go.com/newyork/nfl/story/_/id/12472850/new-york-jets-continue-secondary-makeover-agreeing-safety-marcus-gilchrist?ex_cid=espnapi_public

[kelly]

Takeaways on former San Diego Chargers safety Marcus Gilchrist, who agreed to a four-year contract Thursday night with the New York Jets  :

1. Behold, the Jets' new secondary. Gilchrist becomes the fourth new starting-caliber player, joining cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine. For coach Todd Bowles, a former safety, this has been like a prolonged Christmas morning. The Jets added four experienced players -- all under the age of 31 (as of now) -- to a secondary that was woefully undermanned last season. To say this has been stunning would be an understatement.

2. Gilchrist's most attractive quality is his versatility. He was drafted as a cornerback (a second-round pick in 2011), so you know he has coverage skills. That explains why the Chargers moved him to the slot in nickel situations. A breakdown of his snaps last season, via ESPN Stats & Information: Slot (401 snaps), strong safety (306) and free safety (201). He played more than 900 defensive snaps, rarely coming off the field. Bowles likes to use a lot of single-high safety looks, so it'll be interesting to see if Gilchrist has the range to play the "center field" role. Chances are, he'll be paired with Calvin Pryor as interchangeable safeties.

3. Gilchrist, 26, is a sure tackler, a hard worker and smart on his feet -- he doesn't make many mental errors, which is critical for a safety. The question is, why hasn't he made more big plays? His career numbers are modest: Five interceptions, 16 pass break-ups and three sacks. The turnover-starved Jets need a ballhawk in the worst way. They need someone to play in space, allowing Pryor to stay in the box. We'll see if Gilchrist can be that guy. He allowed five touchdown passes and committed seven penalties (second-highest among safeties), according to Pro Football Focus data.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49818/jets-complete-stunning-makeover-of-secondary-with-gilchrist-addition

[kelly]

to review...

 

 

~ ~  Free-agency review : Jets

 

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Most significant signing: New Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan doled out more than $160 million to sign five new players, not counting the Brandon Marshall and Ryan Fitzpatrick trades, but the No. 1 prize is Darrelle Revis. It cost a fortune -- the Jets spent about 40 percent of their available cap space to bring back Revis -- but he becomes the centerpiece in a rebuilt secondary. The Jets, who allowed an AFC-high 31 touchdown passes last season, have a true No. 1 corner with elite press-man skills. This will allow new head coach Todd Bowles to play his blitz-heavy defense without having to worry about getting torched on the back end. It was a rare win against the New England Patriots, and it weakens the Super Bowl champs.

Troy Taormina/USA TODAY SportsQuarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will be reunited with former coach Chan Gailey with his trade from the Texans to the Jets.

Most significant loss: The most significant casualty of the offseason has been talented wide receiver Percy Harvin, who was released in the wake of the Marshall acquisition. The Jets recognized his value as a situational receiver and kickoff returner, but they didn't see him as a premier, every-down receiver -- and he was due to get paid like one ($10.5 million). Even though he's four years older than Harvin, Marshall upgrades the position and the swap saves New York close to $3 million on this year's cap. The team hasn't lost any key free agents. The Jets have done a good job of keeping their own, starting with linebacker David Harris, whom they extended with a three-year contract.

 

Biggest surprise: The Jets' interest in Fitzpatrick wasn't a secret, but instead of waiting for him to be released by the Texans, they gave up a conditional seventh-round pick (2016) -- and that surprised some people around the league. This spells potential trouble for Geno Smith, who has exhausted his supply of mulligans. This will be a legitimate quarterback competition, not a repeat of last summer's Smith-Michael Vick charade. Fitzpatrick's background in new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey's offense (three years together with the Bills) gives him an early edge over Smith, who has to play catch-up. Fitzpatrick isn't the long-term answer, but he could be a bridge quarterback until Smith elevates his game or something better comes along. Did someone say Marcus Mariota ?

 

What's next : The heavy lifting in free agency is over, but the Jets still hope to re-sign defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson to a contract extension. New York would be nuts to let him play out the final year of his contract. In terms of positional needs, the Jets are still looking to bolster their depth at running back, offensive tackle and defensive line. There's an overall lack of team speed on offense, but that will be an emphasis in the draft. They also need a young edge rusher, but that, too, could be addressed in the draft.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49917/free-agency-review-jets

 

[kelly]

NFL Nation TV talks winners and losers in free agency

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Join us today at 1 p.m. ET, 10 a.m. PT for NFL Nation TV’s Spreecast 48 as we look at the winners and losers of free agency after the first week of the new league year.

Host Paul Gutierrez (San Francisco 49ers reporter) and co-hosts Coley Harvey (Cincinnati Bengals reporter) and Mike Wells (Indianapolis Colts reporter) will be joined by six other NFL Nation reporters throughout the expanded show.

Terry Blount (Seattle Seahawks reporter), Phil Sheridan (Philadelphia Eagles reporter) and Rich Cimini (New York Jets reporter) will commune with Wells to tell why their respective teams are winners thus far.

Meanwhile, Todd Archer (Dallas Cowboys reporter), Pat McManamon (Cleveland Browns reporter) and Bill Williamson (Oakland Raiders reporter) will commiserate with Gutierrez on their respective teams being labled losers in free agency.

Viewers are encouraged to log in and ask the panelists questions as well as contribute in the chat feature.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/san-francisco-49ers/post/_/id/12739/nfl-nation-tv-talks-winners-and-losers-in-free-agency

 

[kelly]

Tim Tebow isn't the only from-the-wilderness quarterback staging a tryout with an NFL team.

 

 

 

Josh Freeman recently worked out with the New York Jets, according to Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman, who was told that the quarterback performed well.

Per the report, several additional teams are taking a hard look at the 27-year-old passer, who vanished off the scene last year following a disastrous stint with the Vikings in 2013.

Freeman's NFL career rests on rocky soil, but the former first-round pick offers good size -- he's 6-foot-6, 240 pounds -- with plus athleticism. It's just everything else that's been the problem. Freeman was signed last April by the Giants only to be released six weeks later. His commitment to the game has been questioned.

Freeman threw 27 touchdowns to just 17 picks for Tampa Bay in 2012, but that feels like eons ago. He was cut by the Bucs in 2013, only to reappear with the Vikings weeks later for one hyper-messy prime-time start -- his last in the NFL. Freeman desperately needs strong coaching if he's to turn his career around.

With Chan Gailey running New York's offense, the Jets have the right kind of tutor for a young passer. They already have a young project in Geno Smith, though, and might have another if Oregon's Marcus Mariota falls to Gang Green in the draft.

We're at the point in the offseason when coaching staffs are willing to sift through the rubble for diamonds in the rough and potential reclamation projects. Anyone who can make Freeman into a winner deserves a shiny blue ribbon.

 

> http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000479302/article/josh-freeman-reportedly-works-out-for-new-york-jets

[kelly]

Free agency is a week old, which means it's time for everyone to judge every move that's getting made, never mind there won't be any actual football that counts for another six months.Bill Barnwell of Grantland needed a mere two days to weigh in with a verdict on the worst free agent contracts out there (so far), with inside linebacker David Harris' new deal to remain with the Jets making Barnwell's list.

 

You can read all of Barnwell's analysis over yonder, but I'm pulling out these two paragraphs just  because   :

At 31, you would expect him to be on the downside of his career, but it still seemed logical for the post-Kiko Alonso Bills to target Harris as a [Rex] Ryan acolyte in free agency.

The Jets ensured that wouldn't happen by massively overpaying to keep Harris in town. Harris' three-year deal pays out $15 million in guaranteed money over the next two seasons, a deal that stands out as an outlier among similar players. Harris comes away with

the fourth-largest guarantee for an inside linebacker

, and no veteran with a contract as big as Harris' has a larger percentage of his money guaranteed. And this comes for a guy who was declining!

 

On the surface, this isn't an unreasonable opinion. Harris is on the decline. But Barnwell also overlooks a few factors :

 

1. The Jets wanted Harris back. Badly. General manager Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles came right out and said as much at the combine last month. Barnwell himself noted that Rex Ryan's Bills would be in play, especially after the Bills shipped Alonso to the Eagles. The Jets did what they could to hang on to Harris before the Bills would even get a chance to make an offer.

 

2. This deal sends a message. Harris is one of the most respected veterans in the locker room. In eight prior seasons, he rarely came off the field. He knows the system, knows the surroundings. Remember, Harris and the Jets reached an agreement just before the start of free agency. After all the negativity generated by previous GM John Idzik's tight-fistedness, this was a way to let the roster's young players know productivity and leadership would be rewarded. This was true even though Harris had just played the duration of a lucrative contract.

 

3. This deal doesn't break the Jets. The Jets had to spend in 2015 and '16: The league's cash spending rules required it. And the salary cap went up 7.7 percent from where it was 2014. Salaries, in turn, are going to rise, too—which is why it's a bit disingenuous to say simply that Harris has the fourth-highest guarantee for an inside linebacker. In another year or two, that likely won't be true.

 

4. The fine print isn't that bad. On its face, $21.5 million for three years with $15 million guaranteed looks like a lot. But forget those first two figures; as with most any NFL contract, especially for a player over 30, the guaranteed money is all that matters. And Harris' $15 million in guarantees is entirely front-loaded into the first two years of that deal. If he continues to show his age and the Jets have to release him (or "part ways" in the current kinder, gentler NFL parlance), they can do that after next season and owe Harris nothing.

 

5. This deal fits a pattern. The details on Antonio Cromartie's and Marcus Gilchrist's contracts haven't yet been made available, but the guarantees in the Jets' other major free agent deals—Darrelle Revis, Buster Skrine, James Carpenter—are pretty well tied to 2015 and '16, when, as noted above, the Jets had to spend: Skrine's and Carpenter's guarantees run out after 2016, and the last $6 million of Revis's guarantee stretches only as far as 2017, when Revis will be 32. Why is this important? Because the Jets still have to get an extension done for Muhammad Wilkerson and (eventually) Sheldon Richardson. But by front-loading all of the deals they've cut this spring, the Jets still have plenty of flexibility to hand out those extensions with large signing bonuses that can be pro-rated to spread out the cap hit. Harris' deal, in particular, does nothing to affect that.

 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/03/is_david_harriss_new_jets_contract_really_one_of_2.html

[kelly]

The Jets have lined up another meeting with a free agent defensive lineman who could fit as a backup.A league source confirmed late Tuesday night that Lawrence Guy, who spent last season with the Chargers and Ravens, is scheduled to visit Florham Park on Thursday. News of Guy's visit was first reported by Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.The 6-foot-4, 318-pound Guy has been with the Colts, Redskins, Chargers, and Ravens since behind drafted in the seventh round of the 2011 draft by the Packers. After the Chargers cut him three weeks into the 2014 season, Guy played 215 snaps (per Pro Football Focus) in 11 games as a 3-4 defensive end for the Ravens, making one start. Wilson of the Sun described Guy as "a solid rotational player," and he'd have to be a rotational player for the Jets, who already have Muhammad Wilkerson's and Sheldon Richardson's names written in ink as starters at D-end.

 

The Jets already let a pair of backup defensive lineman, end Leger Douzable and nose tackle Kenrick Ellis, hit free agency. Neither has come to terms with any team, though Ellis does have a visit lined up with the Giants that was to begin Tuesday night and extend into Wednesday. The Jets also tendered starting nose tackle Damon Harrison, a restricted free agent who has yet to sign. And they hosted 32-year-old former Giants defensive lineman Chris Canty for a visit two weeks ago, but another league source said the two sides were unable to come to terms.

 

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

[kelly]

The Jets are visiting with unrestricted free agents Jamari Lattimore and James Brewer at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center today.

 

Lattimore (6'2", 232), originally a free agent out of Middle Tennessee State, has been an inside linebacker and special teams player with Green Bay the previous four seasons. He's played in 49 games as a Packer (nine starts, all the past two seasons) with two sacks, an interception and 66 tackles on defense — including a 12-tackle game against Cleveland in 2013 — and 19 kick coverage tackles.

 

Brewer (6'6", 323), a guard out of Indiana, was a fourth-round selection (117th overall) of the Giants in the 2011 draft. He's played in 26 games with the Giants with eight starts (six at LG, one at RG, one at tackle), all in 2013.

 

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-9/Jets-Entertaining-2-Unrestricted-FA-Visitors/679a216d-6e63-40ac-87f8-ec958db27f15

[kelly]

The New York Jets brought back Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie to New Jersey. Is Osi Umenyiora next ?

 

The popular former New York Giants' pass-rusher visited with Jets officials Wednesday in Florham Park, it was confirmed. The Jets, looking for defensive-line depth, have met with a handful of over-30 free agents over the last couple of weeks.

 

Umenyiora, 33, played the last two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. Used as a situational rusher (326 snaps), he recorded a career-low 2.5 sacks in 2014.He has 85 career sacks, most of which came with the Giants (2003 to 2012).

 

The Jets have two former Atlanta assistants on their coaching staff, outside linebackers coach Mark Collins and secondary coach Joe Danna.

 

>  http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/50002/jets-meet-with-former-giant-de-osi-umenyiora

 

[kelly]

The New York Jets and Darrelle Revis could be heading to the bargaining table again in two years.

 

Details of Revis' five-year, $70 million contract emerged Wednesday, showing a $2 million roster bonus due on the second day of the league year in 2017 -- March 2017.If the Jets feel Revis no longer is playing at an elite level -- he'll be 32 in 2017 -- they could try to renegotiate the contract before paying the roster bonus. And we all know renegotiations between Revis and the Jets can be ... uh, interesting.

 

Right now, the All-Pro cornerback is due to make a $13 million base salary in 2017, $6 million of which is fully guaranteed -- the amount of the cap hit they'd absorb for releasing him. A $15 million payout (counting the roster bonus) is a huge number for any player, let alone a 32-year-old corner.So we'll see. There could be more Revis drama in a couple of years. In the meantime, he'll collect $33 million (fully guaranteed) in 2015 and 2016.

 

The massive contract also includes a $1 million option bonus in 2018 and 2019. In each case, the option must be exercised on or before the last day of the previous league year. On the NFL calendar, those dates fall in March 2018 and March 2019.

 

Bottom line: Revis is a Jet for at least two years. After that, they have to make a yearly decision on him.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49994/a-couple-of-wrinkles-in-darrelle-revis-huge-contract

[kelly]

You knew the Jets were going to be significant players in free agency this offseason.

They had the cap space, about $50 million, to do it. Plus, they have to spend a bunch of cash over the next two years to comply with NFL rules. But did you think they would spend this big?

We are just past a week into the free agency signing period, which began last Tuesday. The Jets were down to $19.66 million in salary cap space as of late last week, according to overthecap.com's estimate. About $7 million will be chopped off that number now that cornerback Antonio Cromartie's contract is on the books. And safety Marcus Gilchrist still isn't on the books yet.

But even without the Cromartie and Gilchrist contracts officially counting in the numbers, the Jets rank among the NFL's biggest spenders in the 2015 free agency period. Their new general manager, Mike Maccagnan, did say they would "be very active" in free agency.

 

Here is where spotrac.com has the Jets on its three free agency money lists :

 

SPENDING

1. Jaguars: $172,500,000
2. Jets: $170,780,000
3. Dolphins: $134,875,000
4. Eagles: $117,250,000
5. Titans: $103,950,000

 

GUARANTEED MONEY

1. Jets: $89,765,000
2. Jaguars: $78,750,000
3. Dolphins: $75,455,000
4. Eagles: $53,500,000
5. Raiders: $41,850,000

 

2015 CAP HITS

1. Jaguars: $40,900,000
2. Raiders: $27,050,000
3. Colts: $26,925,000
4. Jets: $24,837,500
5. Eagles: $18,950,000

 

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

[kelly]

While Cleveland burns, Dwayne Bowe fiddles.

Or something like that.

Bowe, one of the top free agents left in a paper-thin market for wide receivers, has yet to sign a contract after visiting the Browns last weekend.

The Browns may have him in their sights, but they signed the other two players who visited last weekend -- Randy Starks and Tramon Williams -- and Bowe remains on the market.

It’s usually not a good sign when a guy visits and days go by without a contract, but time will tell. While the Browns waited on Bowe, Cecil Shorts signed with Houston.

It may be Bowe or bust for the Browns regarding free agency and wideouts. A list of the available receivers shows a meager group of 30-somethings and guys who lack significant impact. The Jets have even brought in Denarius Moore for a visit; he had 12 catches last season in Oakland. It probably says something that Bowe and Michael Crabtree are the best of the lot; both are leaving their teams without much regret from those organizations.

The Browns are picking from a group that includes guys like Nate Washington, Hakeem Nicks, Donnie Avery and Lance Moore. The team must decide what it will pay a free agent, whether anyone remaining is worth the effort or whether they simply look to the draft (DeVante Parker … DeVante Parker … DeVante Parker … )

Here’s a look at 10 still-available receivers :

 

1. Bowe -- Probably the best of the group, though not a pure No. 1. Bowe would be an upgrade for the Browns, and looks better and better compared to the others on the list.

 

2. Michael Crabtree -- He’s only 28 and has drawn little interest. He drops a fair amount of passes, and has not proven he has regained his 2012 form (1,105 yards) after tearing his Achilles tendon in 2013. Crabtree’s biggest receiving game last season was 82 yards, and he ended the season with eight catches for 65 yards in the final three games. The fact he ranks second on the list speaks volumes.

 

3. Denarius Moore -- The Jets are bringing him in for a visit after he had 12 catches last season. Twelve. He also missed five games with knee and ankle injuries suffered after he fell down some steps. Moore has 142 catches in 37 career starts, but he is still just 26 and has speed. Which is something.

 

4. Greg Jennings, Vikings -- A pro’s pro who had 127 receptions in Minnesota the past two seasons. But at 31, Jennings is four years removed from his last 1,000-yard season.

 

5. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Steelers -- Next season will be his fourth team in four years. The former first-round pick in Oakland had three receptions last season.

 

6. Miles Austin, Browns -- The Browns won’t sign him because they signed a younger version of Austin in Brian Hartline. But he’s as good as anyone else on the list after Bowe.

 

7. Jarrett Boykin, Packers -- Seemed headed to be one of long-tenured Packers receivers after he topped 100 yards in a start against the Browns in 2013 and after he had 40 catches for 681 yards that season. But he plummeted in 2014, fell behind Davante Adams, and Green Bay didn't think twice about not re-signing him.

 

8. Andre Holmes, Raiders -- This restricted free agent was supposed to be on the Browns' radar, but he’s drawn zero interest -- even with a low tender. At this point, he appears headed back to the Raiders.

 

9. Hakeem Nicks, Colts -- A name veteran who has not been able to come back from a knee injury in 2013. Like Crabtree, Jennings, Austin and Bowe, Nicks is a veteran name who is drawing little interest on the free-agent market. The difference with Nicks is he's still just 27.

 

10. Greg Little, Bengals -- A reunion is highly unlikely. However, including his name allows this phrase to resurface: Somebody has to pay.

 

It’s not a pretty list, and it may be why the Browns are telling themselves Bowe or bust.But given the names on the list, the Browns might be best served doubling down on a receiver in the draft.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/164640/as-for-free-agent-wrs-it-might-be-dwayne-bowe-or-bust