" Jets hit paydirt with Todd Bowles/Mike Maccagnan tandem " ~ ~ ~

kelly · January 3, 2017

Why Todd Bowles may never get a chance to succeed with the Jets

11:03 AM ET

Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The Four Quarterbacks rode one last time on Monday, baggy day at One Jets Drive.

Ryan Fitzpatrick cleaned out his locker, stuffing his belongings (including a Star Wars popcorn maker) into a black garbage bag. Funny thing about the NFL: No matter how long you've played or how much money you've made, every player has the same designer travel bag on getaway day -- Hefty, not Gucci.

Geno Smith poked his head into the locker room for a hot second, then bolted as reporters approached. He moved pretty well for a guy with a surgically repaired ACL. Clearly, he had no interest in waxing nostalgic about his four years with the New York Jets or commenting on his future as a pending free agent.

Bryce Petty, too, was in and out quickly, heading into an offseason that will be devoted to rehabbing his soon-to-be-surgically-repaired left shoulder.Christian Hackenberg stood in front of his locker for several minutes, wearing a gray sweatshirt (not a red shirt) and answering questions about the future. He stayed away from making any definitive statements about his potential role next season, sticking to his bland talking points.

What a depressing scene.

Fitzpatrick and Smith blew their shots in New York, and they will be moving on. Petty and Hackenberg will be back in the spring, but they're greener than Woody Johnson's billfold.

Let's be real: The Jets' quarterback situation hasn't been this bleak since the end of the 2008 season, when Brett Favre retired (until he unretired with the Vikings) and the only player left was career backup Kellen Clemens.The current mess doesn't bode well for Todd Bowles, who could end up like his predecessor, Rex Ryan -- doomed by bad quarterback play. Even if Bowles checks every box on his "laundry list" of areas where he can improve as a coach, it won't matter if the quarterback position continues to perform below an acceptable level, as it did in 2016.

Forget about the issues in the locker room. Forget about the injuries. Forget about the underachieving defensive line. The main reason why the Jets never got going was because Fitzpatrick, one year removed from a career year, was a bust. They started 1-5 because Fitzpatrick threw 11 interceptions in those games, and that was that.So where do they go from here? Bowles wasn't providing any clues on Monday, saying, "I haven't even started looking for a franchise quarterback yet." (Advice: Start.) You don't have to be a football savant to know the Jets need to bring in a starting-caliber veteran for 2017, hoping Hackenberg can develop enough to be a factor in 2018. When they drafted him in the second round, they felt he had a higher upside than Petty. Now, who knows?

One Jets coach, quoted anonymously in an ESPN report over the weekend, said Hackenberg "couldn't hit the ocean" -- a not-so-subtle criticism of his accuracy.

"He just needs to play, he has to play," said Bowles, insisting the report doesn't reflect the organization's opinion of Hackenberg. "There's nothing wrong with Christian, he just needs to play."Thing is, the Jets didn't play him, not one down in the regular season. Instead of making Hackenberg the No. 2 quarterback for the final four games -- the Project Petty portion of the season -- they kept him at No. 3, behind Petty and Fitzpatrick. They brought him along at a glacial pace, keeping him out of harm's way because they felt he wasn't ready.

"Fitz had a great year last year, Geno was coming back strong as the No. 2, Bryce was making progress as the No. 3, so he was allowed to be a red-shirt," said Bowles, explaining the rationale for burying Hackenberg on the depth chart. "Next year, he has to show some progress and make the same jumps."

From what, fourth-string to third? To second? We know he won't be the opening-day starter. On Monday, Hackenberg didn't want to talk about his 2017 goals, staying neutral when asked if he wants to compete for the starting job in training camp.

"I know that I'm going come in as prepared as I can be," he said. "And if that opportunity is given to me, or however that's laid out, then I'm going to put everything I have into it."

The 2017 starter isn't in the building yet. General manager Mike Maccagnan needs to do his coach a solid, and come up with a starting quarterback, via free agency or a trade. The pickings are slim, so it'll take luck and money. He has to stop the vicious cycle that is undermining the franchise. Since 2012, the Jets lead the league with 97 interceptions. It's no surprise they haven't made the playoffs in that span.

If Bowles doesn't get a belated Christmas gift from his GM, he'll be looking for a job next year.

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66154/why-todd-bowles-may-never-get-a-chance-to-succeed-with-the-jets

JetFanWithNOPSL2017 · January 3, 2017

Not as bleak as the Jets media situation peopled by Dick Semen, Manish Mehta, Gary Myers, Brian Costello and Bob Glauber among others on the print side and even worse on the sports talk radio and TV side

ASH1962 · January 3, 2017

I suppose the QB is the reason he kicked a FG down 41-0. I suppose the QB is the reason that as a supposed defensive guru, his defense could not stop a leak. I suppose it is the QB who made the whole team quit last April when they saw a difficult schedule ahead.

Give me a break already

kelly · January 6, 2017

Todd Bowles coaching for job in 2017, no matter what Jets' owner says

1:55 PM ET

Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer

After blowing past reporters Sunday, Woody Johnson (and his advisors) came to the realization it probably wasn't a good optic, a billionaire owner running away from a season aptly described by Brandon Marshall as a dirty diaper. So Johnson met with reporters for 16 minutes Thursday at One Jets Drive, where he was Woody the Salesman.

He was selling continuity, trying to convince a justifiably angry New York Jets fan base that sticking with coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan is the right move for the long-term health of the organization. He was preaching patience, touching on all the scripted talking points: We're going to build through the draft, we have young players worth developing ... and so on.

The headline, of course, was Johnson's refusal to issue a playoff mandate for Bowles and Maccagnan in 2017. My takeaways:

You probably think Johnson has a lot of chutzpah, not demanding a postseason berth after six straight non-playoff seasons. What kind of message does that send to the fan base? Is he settling for mediocrity?In this case, I happen to agree with Johnson. There's no benefit to a playoffs-or-bust edict, except for maybe changing his image as a passive boss and knocking the Giants off the back pages for a day. Believe me, it doesn't work. Twenty years ago, Leon Hess declared, "I'm 80 years old, I want results now." With those marching orders, Rich Kotite proceeded to go 4-28.

Johnson wasn't giving Bowles and Maccagnan a free pass for 2017. Make no mistake, Bowles -- signed through 2018 -- will be coaching for his job. Traditionally, Johnson doesn't let his head coach reach the final year of his contract, so he'll either extend Bowles or cut bait after next season. Bowles must deliver progress, if not a playoff berth. If they finish 9-7, trending upward, it'll be a step in the right direction, especially if a young quarterback is in place.

If Bowles has another stinker, with locker room unrest and blowout losses, he'll be a goner. This isn't a lifetime appointment, no matter what Johnson said Thursday.In terms of the roster, Johnson tried to paint a rosy picture, saying, "I do think we have a young base of talent ... that gives us a lot of hope. If we continue that, it's going to get really good." This is where I disagree with him. Yes, they have a handful of promising young players, but there aren't enough of them and only one -- Leonard Williams -- is regarded by outside talent evaluators as a blue-chip talent.And they don't have a quarterback, which is kind of an important thing.

Former GM Mike Tannenbaum, enjoying a career renaissance with the Dolphins, left only a few scraps in the cupboard, thanks to bad drafts from 2008 to 2014. Maccagnan inherited a roster filled with holes. He went heavy on the Spackle last year (see: free-agent spending), but the imperfections have reappeared. This team needs help just about everywhere.

On Thursday, Maccagnan talked up the young talent, mentioning the young receivers, cornerback Juston Burris and tackle Brandon Shell. In my opinion, he was overselling. Their best rookie was undrafted wide receiver Robby Anderson, who outplayed first-round linebacker Darron Lee. The Jets are at least two good drafts away from being a contender. Presumably, Johnson understands that, which is why I commend him for taking the long view instead of handing out pink slips.

Thing is, Johnson's track record doesn't inspire confidence. The Jets have missed the playoffs 11 times in 17 seasons under Johnson, who has gone through five coaches and three general managers. His record is 132-140, the definition of mediocre. He's the common denominator, so the fans have a right to be skeptical when they hear him say of Bowles and Maccagnan, "They will get this done." Under Johnson's ownership, no one has gotten it done.

Johnson acknowledged he can do certain things better, but he didn't give any specifics."I'll be thinking about it all offseason," he said.

In London, perhaps.

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66248/todd-bowles-coaching-for-job-in-2017-no-matter-what-jets-owner-says

kelly · January 12, 2017

Inside View of What’s on Tap for GM Maccagnan

Posted 1 hour ago

Ethan GreenbergNewyorkjets.com Contributor

Season Is Just Beginning for the Jets’ Football Architect

Even though the 2016 season is over, general manager Mike Maccagnan’s season is just getting under way.

“When the season ends everyone tends to think things slow down, but from the personnel standpoint and the coaches to a degree, this is when everything really starts speeding up,” Maccagnan said. “In essence, it’s almost our halfway point. We spent the past four or five months dealing with the season and now the next four or five will be dealing with the offseason.”

The architect of the Green & White has a packed schedule over the next few months that features a lot of frequent flier miles and homework. The first item on the menu is a pair of collegiate showcases.“January is obviously involved with pro free agency meetings but also college all-star games," Maccagnan said. “February we have college draft meetings and continue to work the pro free agency process. We have the Indianapolis scouting combine, then we get to March where pro free agency starts, which is very busy at the beginning of the month.”

Maccagnan and his scouting personnel have done their due diligence in college all-star games in the past as 12 players on the Jets’ current roster played in either the East-West Shrine Game or the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

East-West Shrine Game: WR Robby Anderson, RT Brandon Shell, CB Juston Burris, S Ronald Martin
Reese’s Senior Bowl: DE Lawrence Thomas, WR Charone Peake, K Ross Martin, OLB Jordan Jenkins, WR Devin Smith, QB Bryce Petty, CB Nick Marshall, OLB Lorenzo Mauldin

The general manager continued to lay out his schedule, addressing what the month leading up to the draft entails from his perspective.

“When you finally get to April, even though you’re not traveling quite as much, you're literally in bunker mentality in terms of draft meetings and you’re spending long hours watching film, reviewing players," Maccagnan said. "Then you get to the draft and finally get a chance to make the picks. It’s a long four or five months basically when it’s all said and done.”

Here are some key dates on the horizon (all times ET). For a full list, click here.

Jan. 13-15: Tropical Bowl, Daytona Beach, FL.
Jan. 21: East-West Shrine Game, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL, 3:00 p.m. (NFL Network).
Jan. 28: Reese’s Senior Bowl, Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL, 2:30 p.m. (NFL Network).
Feb. 15: Teams can designate Franchise and Transition Players.
Feb. 28-March 6: NFL Draft Scouting Combine.
March 1: 4:00 p.m. ET deadline for teams to designate Franchise and Transition Players.
March 9: The 2017 league year, free agency and trading period begin at 4:00 p.m.
April 27-29: NFL Draft, Philadelphia, PA.

kelly · January 18, 2017

No ex-Jets left in playoffs, and there's a sobering reason for that

8:00 AM ET

Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer

Even though the New York Jets haven't made the playoffs since 2010, some of their former players have gone on to postseason success with other teams. A year ago, Jerricho Cotchery made a Super Bowl run with the Panthers. Two years ago, Darrelle Revis won a ring with the Patriots.

This year ?

There's no one, only ghosts.

You won't find a single ex-Jet remaining in the playoffs, at least not on a 53-man roster. Packers punter Jacob Schum was on the Jets' preseason roster in 2014 and 2015, but he never actually played in a regular-season game.

Is there an anti-Jets bias out there ? Not at all. There's an element of coincidence, but the main reason why there are no former Jets playing for a championship is the same reason why the 2016 Jets won only five games.

Poor drafting by the previous regimes.

Quite simply, there aren't many quality ex-Jets floating around the league. Only five former Jets, drafted from 2006 to 2016, were full-time starters in 2016: guard Matt Slauson (Chargers), safety Dwight Lowery (Chargers), wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (49ers), linebacker Demario Davis (Browns) and guard Vladimir Ducasse (Ravens). Not one of them played for a winning team. By comparison, the Dolphins had 10 former draft picks starting elsewhere.

If you ranked Jets-drafted players across the NFL based on the amount of their playing time in 2016, the list would look like this:

1. Slauson, 970 snaps.

2. Lowery, 961.

3. Revis, 889.

4. David Harris, 872.

If this isn't a stinging indictment of the Jets' drafting record, what is? All four players came from the 2007, 2008 and 2009 drafts, which is close to ancient history.

Some might say the Jets have done a poor job of retaining their best players, but that doesn't fly. They just haven't had many worth keeping. Since 2010, only three Jets draft picks on the current roster received a second contract from the team -- Muhammad Wilkerson, Bilal Powell and Brian Winters. It all comes back to scouting and drafting.

So there you have it: The Jets will be watching the conference championships this weekend and so will their former players. Misery loves company.

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66399/no-ex-jets-in-final-four-and-theres-a-sobering-reason-for-that

kelly · January 23, 2017

Jets GM goes from executive of the year to pivotal year

7:00 AM ET

Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer

One year ago, almost to the day, Mike Maccagnan was named NFL Executive of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America. He was lauded for the roster moves that helped transform the New York Jets into a 10-win team in his first season as general manager. It was a Gary Sanchez-like debut. Then ...

The sophomore slump.

The NFL is a fickle industry, and no one knows that better than Maccagnan, who went from Magic Mike to Mediocre Mike in the eyes of some fans. That's what happens when you sit in the big chair at the head of the table.

"This is what you sign up for," he said. "It doesn’t matter what market you’re in. It’s a position where you’re going to be constantly evaluated and scrutinized. I think from my standpoint it’s [about] always going forward. It’s trying to make sure you make the right decision as best as you can and learn from the ones that may not have worked out as well."

Let's focus on free agency because that will be here before you know it. If Maccagnan learned anything from his first two swims in the free-agency pool, it should be this:

Save the long-term deals for those coming off their rookie contracts. Translation : No big money for old guys.For the most part, Maccagnan avoided that in 2015 by signing James Carpenter, Marcus Gilchrist and Buster Skrine, all of whom hit free agency for the first time. Clearly, Gilchrist and Skrine haven't worked out as well as Carpenter, a terrific acquisition, but you'd rather be wrong on a player in his mid-20s than someone on the downside of his career. Maccagnan employed the same philosophy this week, signing pending free agent Brian Winters, 25, to a four-year extension.

The GM made two glaring exceptions -- one in 2015, one in 2016 -- and now the organization is paying the price because the contracts are hard to dump. We're referring, of course, to Darrelle Revis and Matt Forte.

Revis received a $39 million guarantee as a 30-year-old cornerback, with Forte landing $9 million at the same age, which is old for a running back. Revis slowed down last season and should be released, but he's still owed $6 million in guaranteed salary. Forte ran out of gas and underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, but he still has a $4 million guarantee coming to him. The way his contract is structured, it would cost more to send him packing ($6 million cap charge) than to have him on the team ($5 million).

If the Jets decide to keep Forte and Revis for financial reasons, it could have a domino effect. For instance: Would they pass on running backs Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook with the sixth pick in the draft if they feel they have too much money tied up in Forte and Bilal Powell? You get the point.

There will be some big names in free agency, but Maccagnan would be wise to stay away from the older players. Invest in youth, the players getting their first bite at the free-agent apple.

Potential targets that fall into that category are tackles Rick Wagner and Riley Reiff; cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore, A.J. Bouye, Logan Ryan and Trumaine Johnson; safety Tony Jefferson; and quarterback Mike Glennon.

These players will be in demand and land top-of-the-market contracts. Because of cap issues, the Jets may have room for only one or two big deals, so they have to be judicious with their money and take a long-term view.

The landscape has changed dramatically in only one year.

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66432/jets-gm-goes-from-executive-of-the-year-to-pivotal-year

kelly · February 1, 2017

"Can Jets coach Todd Bowles last past 2017? Breaking down his strengths and weaknesses"..

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/02/assessing_todd_bowles_after_two_years_as_jets_head.html#0

kelly · February 2, 2017

The New York Jets' coaching-staff makeover is almost complete.

Todd Bowles has filled five of the six vacancies, with the quarterbacks position the lone opening. That may take a few more days. It's an important hire because there are two still-developing quarterbacks on the roster, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg.

This represents the first significant staff turnover under Bowles, who made only one change last offseason -- special teams coordinator. After a 5-11 season, it was no more Mr. Nice Guy. He sent a loud message two days after the season, firing five assistants and announcing the retirement of offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.While looking for replacements, Bowles focused on finding good teachers. It's one of the most underrated aspects of coaching in any sport, and he evidently felt there was a void in that area. He wanted experienced teachers and technicians, and he appears to have accomplished that objective.

Let's review the changes :

Offensive coordinator: John Morton is the most important addition. He's also the wild card. Not only is Morton, 47, a first-time coordinator, he has spent his entire NFL career under offensive-minded head coaches, making it hard to quantify his contributions. A positive: He'll be surrounded by a veteran offensive staff, so he won't have to waste time coaching the coaches.

Running back: Stump Mitchell, 57, was a terrific hire. He played the position and has coached it for 15 years, including the last four with the Cardinals. He and Bowles spent two seasons together in Arizona, so it should be a seamless transition. He replaces Marcel Shipp, who was a first-time coach.

Defensive line: Bowles swapped out a veteran coach (Pepper Johnson) with another vet, Robert Nunn, who inherits the most talented unit on the team. His challenge will be managing the different personalities in the room and getting them to play up to their potential, something Johnson failed to do. Nunn, 51, is accustomed to being around big names, as he coached Giants' defensive line from 2010 to 2015 -- Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora.

Outside linebacker: Hall of Famer Kevin Greene will bring fire and passion to a young group with considerable upside. Every coaching staff needs a spark plug like Greene, who also is known for his ability to teach pass-rushing techniques. He replaces Mark Collins, who had limited experience at the position.

Defensive backs: Dennard Wilson is only 34, making him the young pup on the staff, but he was on Bowles' must-have list. The Jets were thrilled to get him from the Rams. His lack of experience is a concern -- only two seasons as a position coach -- but he's regarded as a bright, young teacher. He replaces Joe Danna, who presided over a secondary that seemed out of sync most of the season.

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66690/todd-bowles-rebuilds-jets-staff-with-emphasis-on-hiring-teachers

kelly · February 4, 2017

Sean Payton says Jets hired a Gruden grinder in John Morton

2:35 PM ET

Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer

New York Jets offensive coordinator John Morton got his start in the NFL under Jon Gruden, serving as a personnel assistant for the Oakland Raiders (1998 to 2001). Morton apparently adopted Gruden's famously maniacal work ethic.

In his coaching days, Gruden was known for setting his alarm at 3:17 a.m. every day. Morton followed similar sleep patterns the last two seasons with the New Orleans Saints, according to coach Sean Payton."I tell you, you're going to get this 4 a.m., 5 a.m., midnight-type grinder," Payton said of his former receivers coach, who was hired five days ago by the Jets.

Call him a chip off the 'ol Chuckie.

Payton, who appeared Friday on ESPN New York radio's "Hahn & Humpty" show from Super Bowl LI, said Morton routinely took advantage of the Saints' "sleep room," as he called it. Payton said they have an air-conditioned room with 10 beds, allowing workaholic coaches to sleep at the team's facility.

"Johnny was one of those guys who would be in there," Payton said. "He'll have his little CPAP machine going, keeping everyone else awake."Turning serious, Payton said of Morton, "He's a tremendous football coach. I think it's a great hire. I hate losing him."

Payton said Morton has "some strong beliefs. He's a great communicator, a great teacher." As we mentioned the day he was hired, Morton likely will run a version of the West Coast offense. Two of his coaching mentors, Gruden and Jim Harbaugh, employed a West Coast system.

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66734/sean-payton-says-jets-hired-a-gruden-grinder-in-john-morton

Fantasy Island · February 4, 2017

When will McCagnan cut Revis?

kelly · February 6, 2017

Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer

Welcome to the offseason.

With Super Bowl LI in the books, the NFL spotlight turns to next season. Officially, the league year doesn't begin until March 9 (the start of free agency), but there will be a lot of activity over the next four weeks, especially for the New York Jets.

Prepare for bloodshed.

The Jets are $7 million over the projected $168 million salary cap, according to overthecap.com. They could get a small break, as commissioner Roger Goodell indicated last week the cap could exceed $170 million.

Either way, the Jets are in bad shape and will have to dump salary.

They can clear $17 million in a New York minute by releasing Ryan Clady ($10 million savings), Breno Giacomini ($4.5 million) and Erin Henderson ($2.6 million).

To me, the most intriguing decision involves Darrelle Revis, one of the best players in franchise history.

The Jets figured they'd get at least three good years out of Revis when they signed him to a five-year, $70 million contract in 2015, but they saw a dramatic decline last season, putting his status in doubt. His return hinges on renegotiating his contract because the current cap charge ($15.3 million) is prohibitive.

The clock is ticking because a $2 million roster bonus is due March 11. If Revis, 31, doesn't agree to a pay cut by then, he'll be released. The Jets don't want to pay the bonus because it would essentially put them on the hook for his $13 million salary.While some may feel it's time to cut bait, the Jets may see things differently. If they can get Revis to slash his total compensation to, say, $6 million, it might make economic sense to keep him as a No. 2 corner or a safety. Remember: He has a $6 million guarantee coming to him no matter what. If you're going to write the check anyway, you might as well have the player -- or so they may believe.

A $6 million salary isn't outrageous for a starting cornerback. It would rank 27th at the position for 2017, according to ESPN salary data. The Jets almost certainly will add another major piece at cornerback, either a draft pick or a free agent, but they'd need two pieces if they dump Revis.Coach Todd Bowles will have significant input. If he believes Revis has slipped below a starting-caliber player, it'll probably mean the end of Revis 2.0. They'd clear $9.3 million from the cap by releasing him.

They face a similar decision with center Nick Mangold, another player destined for the Ring of Honor. It's tough because these bubble players -- throw David Harris into the mix -- have been foundation players for so long. But, as Bill Belichick proves every year in New England, there's no room for sentimentality in the NFL. Belichick is cold and ruthless when it comes to roster building, and general manager Mike Maccagnan needs to be the same way. You'd rather jettison a player a year too early than a year too late.Everybody loves Mangold, 33, but he's coming off a serious foot injury and due to make $9.1 million in the final year of his contract -- all of which comes off the books if he's released. He's one of the smartest players they've ever had, and he'd be an asset during the transition to a new offense, but the cap number is simply too high. They can negotiate a pay cut or hand the position to Wesley Johnson, who got great experience last season. Johnson is undersized, but that could be mitigated in the new West Coast offense, which probably will feature a zone running scheme.

Unlike Revis, Mangold doesn't have a looming bonus deadline, reducing the sense of urgency. It's the same for Brandon Marshall, who is due to make $7.5 million. Like Mangold, his cap charge disappears if he's cut. His status likely hinges on Eric Decker's recovery from two surgeries and the organization's belief in the young receivers, namely Quincy Enunwa and Robby Anderson. Marshall, who turns 33 next month, is a win-now player, but the Jets aren't a win-now team. It wouldn't be a surprise if they give him permission to shop for a trade.

At 33, Harris falls into the same age group as the others. From a financial standpoint, he'd be an easy cut because he's in the final year of his contract and they'd save his full salary ($6.5 million) by cutting him. But he still has value because he runs the defense and he remains a serviceable starter, although a reduced role seems possible. The sense is that Harris will stick.

If they parted ways with all their fading stars, the Jets would clear close to $50 million in cap space. But they'd have a lot of holes to fill.

Welcome to the offseason.

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66783/on-the-jets-bubble-big-names-big-salaries-including-darrelle-revis

joewilly12 · February 6, 2017

CLEAN HOUSE and RESTRUCTURE EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

This team is in bad shape in all aspects its time for some immediate change.

Another Super Bowl Sunday passes and we are in misery because someone else's team won again.

kelly · February 13, 2017

ets' anticipated roster purge could start with Ryan Clady

7:00 AM ET

Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer

The New York Jets' first key personnel decision for 2017 will be made this week, and it involves left tackle Ryan Clady.Clady, who finished the season on injured reserve (rotator cuff surgery), is due a $1 million roster bonus by Wednesday as part of the two-year, $17 million contract he signed last April at the time of his trade from the Denver Broncos. In addition to the bonus, the former Pro Bowl selection has a non-guaranteed salary of $10 million.

With a total cap charge of $10.5 million, Clady's contract is prohibitive for the cap-strapped Jets, who probably will release him by Wednesday to start what figures to be a tumultuous offseason.

Clady can avoid a pink slip by re-negotiating his contract. You might be asking, "Why should the Jets bother?" After all, Clady will be 31 in September and he's injury prone, having missed 37 of the last 64 games. He didn't play particularly well last season, although his supporters will note he was basically a one-armed tackle for a few games as he attempted to play through the torn rotator cuff.But in a situation like this, the team has to look at the market and ask, "Is there a replacement out there?"

In this case, he'd be tough to replace because the left-tackle market stinks.

In free agency, the top left tackle is the Cincinnati Bengals' Andrew Whitworth -- and he's 35 years old. In the draft, there are no studs worth the sixth pick. In his latest top 32, Todd McShay's highest-rated tackle is Ryan Ramczyk of Wisconsin -- and he's 15th on the list.

Now you can see why the Jets are interested in retaining Clady ... for the right price. You have to believe $6 million, what he earned last year, would do the trick.In theory, the Jets could pay the $1 million roster bonus with the idea of trying to get him to accept a pay cut at a later date, but they'd lose most of their leverage. Clady could say no and walk away with his $1 million -- money for nothing.

It wouldn't be unprecedented. In 2013, the Jets paid a $1 million bonus to Darrelle Revis in early March and wound up trading him. He was allowed to keep Woody Johnson's money. In Clady's case, he'd be taking on risk because the left tackle jobs could be filled by then. He wouldn't be in a great bargaining position.

The Jets can always cut Clady to avoid paying the bonus, then try to re-sign him after he's had a chance to test his value on the market. This option is a real possibility.

If the Jets keep Clady, they still need a backup plan because of his durability issues. It would be wise to re-sign Ben Ijalana, a pending free agent.

Ijalana, who replaced the injured Clady after eight games, has starting experience at left and right tackle, and he's only 27. Those guys are hard to find, and Ijalana will command interest if the Jets let him get to market. He's a must-keep, especially if they cut Clady.

The smart plan: Keep Clady at a lower cap number, sign Ijalana, let him compete with Brandon Shell at right tackle and draft a left tackle in the second or third round, an heir apparent to Clady. That would protect the team's short- and long-term interests.

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66882/jets-anticipated-roster-purge-could-start-with-lt-ryan-clady

Tinstar · February 14, 2017

Gruden on Morton

http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Gruden-Morton-Will-Bring-a-Lot-to-the-Jets/4b18b28b-f42b-46ec-bad7-fec548ba4d45

varjet · February 14, 2017

I hope they try and sign Ijalana. I can see the OL rotating among a group of mediocre players. Ijalana can play a role for medium money.

I get the sense that the approach agents take with the Jets is to try and squeeze them when they are down, rather than offer something fair.

For Clady, I give him $5mm plus $750K for every game over 8 he starts and finishes.

Same deal for Ijalana, except $3mm for a base.

In both cases I think the additional cap hit gets rolled to the following year.

joewilly12 · February 14, 2017

kelly · February 14, 2017

Bill BarnwellESPN Staff Writer

Many NFL teams script their first 15 (or more) plays before a game starts to focus on getting a few fundamental concepts right. Whether they want to attack a particular defensive player or scheme, exploit a perceived weakness or simply drill down the elements they think are most critical to winning on offense, they pay particularly close attention to the plays they'll start with on Sunday as they wrap up the week.

Likewise, organizations need to pay attention to the first few critical things they'll do during the 2017 offseason, because those decisions might end up defining their season to come. Some teams have a lot to do before the new league year begins March 9, whereas others won't have to make critical calls until the first day of the NFL draft on April 27.

In this series for ESPN over the next two weeks, I'll be running through the first five things that should be on the minds of each team's brass as they prepare for the 2017 offseason. Here's the AFC East, with four teams who have quarterback decisions to make this spring.

New York Jets

nyj.png?w=110&h=110&transparent=true 1. Clean house. There's a lot of culling to do in this locker room. The most obvious release is OT Ryan Clady, whose departure will free up $10 million. That will come in handy, given that the Jets are currently $6.7 million over the cap.

After that? It all depends on how much of a spring cleaning the Jets want to perform. There are rumors the Jets might move on from either Brandon Marshall (whose release would generate $7.5 million in cap space) or Eric Decker ($5.8 million). OT Breno Giacomini ($4.5 million) could be on the chopping block, although the Jets will likely prefer to reduce center Nick Mangold's $9 million cap hold with a contract extension. LB David Harris ($6.5 million) could be gone. Safety Marcus Gilchrist ($5.4 million) ruptured his patella in December and probably won't be ready to play in Week 1.

If you're gonna clean house, though ...

2. Cut CB Darrelle Revis if he doesn't accept a pay cut. The five-year, $70 million deal the Jets gave Revis already looks like a mistake after Revis declined dramatically in the second season of his return trip to the Meadowlands. The good news, I suppose, is that there's no more guaranteed money left on Revis' deal after this year: The Jets owe $6 million in guaranteed base salary this year as part of a $15.3 million cap hit, but they can cut Revis without owing any dead money after this season.The Jets have talked about moving Revis to safety, but what good is that? Even if Revis plays well at safety, they aren't likely to contend this year and aren't going to want to pay a 32-year-old Revis $10.9 million to line up at safety next season. They're better off evaluating younger talent to see if they can find a long-term option at safety and saving $9 million by moving on from Revis. If they can get him to take a pay cut down to $8 million or so, keeping Revis would be more defensible, but the Jets have little use for him in their current situation.

3. Trade Sheldon Richardson. The disgruntled Richardson is wildly talented, but he has been an off-field problem for the Jets and was moved out of position to line up at outside linebacker last season. The Jets are moving forward with Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams at defensive end, which leaves Richardson on the outside looking in as he enters the fifth and final year of his rookie deal.On talent alone, Richardson is worth a first-round pick. Teams will know that the Jets want to move Richardson, though, before they lose him in free agency. They'll also be aware of his issues off the field, and there could be some hesitance from teams such as Cleveland in handing out a long-term deal to a player they haven't had in their building. There will be a market for Richardson, but it's more likely to be a second-round pick.

4. Resist the urge to do something significant at quarterback. The Jets have no obvious solution under center, with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith leaving, Bryce Petty struggling and Christian Hackenberg all but disavowed by the organization just one year after being selected in the second round. They're probably not going to be allowed to trade for Garoppolo unless they make some absurd offer, and Romo doesn't really make sense. It also would seem foolish to commit to Deshaun Watson or Mitch Trubisky with their first-round pick out of desperation, although such a selection would be more plausible in the second round.The Jets probably want to go for a placeholder or someone with moderate upside without committing serious money. The quarterback who stands out there is Mike Glennon, who is an unrestricted free agent and posted an 84.6 passer rating on 630 pass attempts over four seasons with the Buccaneers. Glennon does take too many sacks, but QBR accounts for that and has him at a 58.0 mark, in between Alex Smith and Teddy Bridgewater from 2013 to 2016.

Glennon will cost more than a backup, but the Jets probably won't have to guarantee him a ton of money given the clear path the North Carolina State product would have to a long-term starting gig. If the Jets gave Glennon $8 million for 2017 and tacked on a couple of extra unguaranteed years in the $12-15 million range that they could use if Glennon works out, it could be a logical short-term solution with some hope of it sticking in the years to come.

5. Solve the tight end problem. No NFL team has less to work with and did less with their tight ends than the Jets a year ago. New York's tight ends caught 18 passes in 2016, which sounds awful until you consider that the position group mustered only eight combined catches in 2015. Chan Gailey's offense didn't lend itself to tight end usage, and the Jets wasted a second-round pick on the since-departed Jace Amaro, but they can't sit around and just punt the position for years.Solving doesn't mean paying top dollar for Bennett, but the Jets can piece together a moderate platoon without spending too much. Luke Willson has flashed as a second tight end in Seattle and could hold some upside in a larger role. Rhett Ellison is an above-average blocking tight end who should be better in 2017 as he gets further away from tearing his patella in January 2016. It's also a great draft for tight ends, with four prospects in Scouts Inc.'s top 50. Whoever ends up at quarterback for Gang Green is going to need some help. A safety valve (or pair of valves) at tight end could go a long way.

rest of above article :

> http://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/18667758/making-every-nfl-team-biggest-free-agent-decision-2017-free-agency-offseason#AFC E

kelly · February 14, 2017

Gruden: Morton Will Bring a Lot to the Jets

Posted 17 hours ago

120725-on-the-inside-with-eric-allen-hea Eric AllenSr. Reporter/Director, Internet ProgrammingEmail @eallenjets On the Inside

Former Raiders HC Says New Jets OC Will Be a Stickler for the Details

New Jets offensive coordinator John Morton’s reputation precedes him. He is a relentless worker who sometimes doesn’t make it out of the facility.

“He’d be the first guy off the bus on the Gruden Grinder bus stop tour,” said ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden. “He is a guy who would beat you to work every day and he would stay later than you would stay. I don’t think there’s any other reason than John Morton that Sean Payton made up these sleep rooms. He had to have a room for Johnny Morton to get a wink.”Morton spent the past two seasons under Payton in New Orleans, mentoring a talented young receiver group. But he got his NFL coaching start with the Raiders from 1998-99, serving as Gruden’s WR coach. He also was Gruden’s offensive quality control coach in 2000 before he moved back to the Raiders wideouts in 2001.

“He and David Shaw, who now is the head coach at Stanford, were up and coming guys. All he did was study protections, route combinations, coverage beaters and individual drills to help his receivers get better,” said Gruden of Morton. “He helped me tremendously, self-scouting the opponents, coming up with new formations to run the same play from. Creative mind, he took advantage of some great people that were not only on the Raiders staff but in New Orleans, San Francisco. He’s prepared himself well.”In addition to the four seasons under Gruden, Morton compiled three seasons alongside Payton in New Orleans and five seasons with Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh in both the NFL and in college. A member of the USC staff from 2007-11, Morton was Pete Carroll’s offensive coordinator in 2009.

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“Veteran players will appreciate him because he’s old school. If he wants the outside foot back on the outside edge of the numbers and he wants a three-step slant and he wants you to cross space at a friendly 45 degree angle, then that’s what you better do,” Gruden said. “And if he wants a double-move release, you better get it done. What you see on film is what you coach. That’s kind of the world he comes from — effort, details, fundamentals, discipline. I think he’s going to be a stickler for that and I don’t think he’s always going to be a nice guy if things aren’t going toward that direction. He is going to be a stickler for the details, he’s a disciplined guy and real pro players appreciate that.”

Just two weeks with the Jets, Morton is now heading up an offensive staff that has a mix of holdovers and newcomers. Gruden praises Morton’s presence and believes he will get everyone headed in the same direction.“Get everybody get on the same page, prepare properly and then present the game plan to the players and blow their socks off,” he said of Morton’s first steps. “Get them excited about the offense you’re putting in. But he’s got to get his staff on the same page number one and he’s got to get ready for these OTAs which are right around the corner. I have great confidence that he’ll be good with people, he’ll be great with his staff. And if they can get on the same page and get excited about their offensive direction, that will transfer to the players quite well.”

While Gruden says there are still questions to be solved about the Jets offensive personnel, he is confident Morton will adjust and do a quality job as he takes the offensive reins.“John Morton is going to be able to adapt his offense to the personnel that he has. He might not have a Pro Bowl quarterback. He might not have a Pro Bowl receiver,” he said. “I don’t know what the personnel is going to be, but he’ll be able to adapt based on what he has whether than means they’re going to be an I-formation team or a no-back team, that will be announced once Todd Bowles and the Jets figure out who is going to make this roster.”

> http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Gruden-Morton-Will-Bring-a-Lot-to-the-Jets/4b18b28b-f42b-46ec-bad7-fec548ba4d45

kelly · February 16, 2017

This is from the Captain Obvious school of journalism:

The NFL's franchise-tag window opened Wednesday, and, no, the New York Jets didn't tag anybody, nor will they. Truth be told, there's a good chance they won't utilize the tag until 2020, when Leonard Williams will be eligible for free agency, assuming his fifth-year option is exercised by the team.

The good news : The Jets don't have to worry about the acrimony that usually accompanies contract negotiations with a "franchise" player.The bad news: Except for Williams, the current roster doesn't include any player worthy of the tag. This reinforces what we already know, that general manager Mike Maccagnan needs to draft some impact players, pronto.

You might be wondering about Sheldon Richardson, who is entering his option year. He's eligible to become a free agent in 2018, but it's hard to imagine the Jets using the franchise tag. It wouldn't make financial sense, especially with his off-the-field troubles.The projected tag amounts this year are $13.5 million for a defensive tackle and $17 million for a defensive end. I'm not sure how Richardson would be classified, but it's too much money either way -- and the price will go up in 2018. This is one of the reasons why they probably will try to trade him in the coming weeks. If they don't get something now, they will lose him for nothing in 2018.

The Jets have 10 players poised to become unrestricted free agents, none of whom is a Pro Bowl player. Guard Brian Winters would've been a coveted free agent, but he signed a four-year, $29 million extension last month.A year ago, the Jets leveraged the tag into a long-term contract with Muhammad Wilkerson, who signed only minutes before the deadline on July 15 for five years, $86 million. They didn't get their money's worth in 2016, as he labored through a 4.5-sack season. He should be better in 2017 after a full offseason to rest his surgically repaired ankle.

So, basically, the Jets' use of the franchise tag is akin to a presidential election -- once every four years.

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66959/jets-have-2020-vision-when-it-comes-to-franchise-tag

FTL Jet Fan · February 16, 2017

I appreciate Kelly's contribution to this board and to the old JI. I have a gut feeling she is somehow related to Rich Cimini or is Rich?. Forgive my paranoia. No disrespect Kelly.

kelly · February 16, 2017

13 minutes ago, FTL Jet Fan said:

I appreciate Kelly's contribution to this board and to the old JI. I have a gut feeling she is somehow related to Rich Cimini or is Rich?. Forgive my paranoia. No disrespect Kelly.

:rolleyes:

FTL Jet Fan · February 16, 2017

Nice to see you have a sense of humor. Thanks for your posts.

kelly · February 16, 2017

30 minutes ago, FTL Jet Fan said:

Nice to see you have a sense of humor. Thanks for your posts.

you're welcome !..

cheers ~ ~

:beer:

kelly · February 22, 2017

Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The Jets aren't exactly loaded with talent. A quick glance over the roster and you see a need for a quarterback, running back, receiver, tight end, offensive line help, outside linebacker, cornerback and safety. Heck, depending on what the Jets do with Nick Folk, they could use a kicker, too.

Just one issue: It's hard to fill all those holes in free agency (the Jets have under $2 million in available space) and the draft (only six picks).But if the Jets trade a few of their own, they could potentially get back some much-needed cap space and draft pick compensation.

Are there any players they should begin shopping? Let's take a look.

new-york-jets-host-miami-dolphins-in-nfl

Receiver Brandon Marshall

The Jets gave up a fifth round pick for Marshall two years ago. After he caught 109 passes for 1,502 yards and 14 scores in his first year, the deal seemed pretty one-sided.But in 2016, Marshall struggled. He caught just 59 passes for 788 yards and three scores. He clashed with teammate Sheldon Richardson, which left a "dark cloud" over the Jets, according to cornerback Darrelle Revis. His leadership techniques were called into question by receiver Quincy Enunwa.

The Jets can cut Marshall and free $7.5 million, or trade him, free the same money, and get some pick back in return. It's unlikely another team gives up more than a fifth or sixth rounder, but something is better than nothing.

John Munson

jets-host-bills-final-game-of-2016-seaso

Defensive end Sheldon Richardson

From a talent perspective, Richardson is up there among the best in the league. Few defensive ends possess his athletic ability. He's equally effective against the run and the pass.But Richardson had only 1.5 sacks last year. He clashed with teammate Brandon Marshall. He's a two-strike player one misstep away from a lengthy suspension.

Combine all those things, and while Richardson may be the most talented tradable asset on the Jets, it's unlikely any team gives up much for him.A conditional fourth? Fifth? The Jets best bet may be keeping him and letting him walk next year. They could get better return compensation with a compensatory pick.

Andrew Mills

new-england-patriots-at-new-york-jets-in

Safety Calvin Pryor

Pryor had a tremendous 2015. Not so much in 2016. Depending on how the Jets attack free agency and the draft, he could be made expendable.

Pryor's still young (24) and on his rookie deal. If the Jets want to move him, they'll have buyers.

the-new-york-jets-host-the-new-york-gian

Receiver Eric Decker

It seems likely the Jets move either Decker or Marshall. Marshall is the favorite, but Decker shouldn't be ruled out.Because of Decker's contract, past production and ability to fit into any offense, he likely has greater trade value. He also still has a few years left. He'll turn 30 next month.

For a team looking for a top-notch No. 2 option, Decker's the perfect fit. Maybe the Giants or Patriots? If a team comes calling, the Jets should answer.

Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson

The Jets have tried to make it work with Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams all playing at the same time. It just hasn't. One of the three will be moved ... just not Williams. He's arguably the Jets' best player.

So that leaves Richardson or Wilkerson. We talked about Richardson already. His off-field issues and drop in on-field production could make him a tough sell. But Wilkerson? He could be a bit easier.

new-york-jets-v-new-england-patriots-1a7

Receiver Devin Smith

The Jets have a nice group of young receivers. Quincy Enunwa is a budding star, and Robby Anderson has tons of potential. Both Charone Peake and Jalin Marshall flashed last year.

As a result, Devin Smith has fallen out of favor.

The 2015 second-round pick couldn't get on the field much last year, and the few times he did, he made little impact. In four games, he caught one of three targets for 20 yards.Maybe a change of scenery will do Smith good? He certainly has the talent to succeed at the NFL level.

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/02/do_jets_have_any_trade_bait_heading_into_nfl_draft.html#incart_river_index

Dcat · February 22, 2017

You need to remove the word "pay" from this thread title.

"Dirt" by itself is far more appropriate.

kelly · February 25, 2017

Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer

The New York Jets were awarded a third-round compensatory pick in the upcoming draft, the NFL announced Friday. That's important for two reasons, including the obvious: They need all the help they can get.

The other reason: For the first time, teams are allowed to trade compensatory picks. It means that third-round pick (107 overall) is currency. With an extra bargaining chip at his disposal, general manager Mike Maccagnan can use the choice to trade for a player (a quarterback, anyone?) or use it to move up in the draft.

The 107th pick alone isn't enough to get the Jets from sixth to fifth in the first round, based on the draft value chart used by many teams, but it could get them from 39th (second round) to 32nd (bottom of the first).

If the Jets packaged their two third-round picks to move up in the first round, they'd probably be able to jump up to fourth. The point is, compensatory picks have added value this year, and the Jets should have more flexibility than usual.

Right now, they have seven selections, including one pick in the first, second, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, plus two in the third. They don't have a fourth-rounder because they traded it during last year's draft for Brandon Shell.

A total of 32 compensatory picks were awarded to 16 teams, including nine picks in the third round. The NFL uses a complicated formula to determine the picks, based on free-agent losses and gains. The league uses salary, playing time and postseason honors as the criteria.

The Jets lost three unrestricted free agents that were factored into a formula (Demario Davis, Damon Harrison and Chris Ivory) and gained two (Steve McLendon and Matt Forte). Harrison was the big loss; he's the reason why they landed the extra third-rounder.

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67113/jets-receive-third-round-compensatory-pick-increase-draft-flexibility

kelly · February 27, 2017

A look at what's happening around the New York Jets :

1. New challenge for MacBowles : After two months of media silence, general manager Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles will address reporters Wednesday at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, as they do every year. Thus, this is a good time to set up one of the underlying storylines of the offseason: how the Maccagnan-Bowles partnership will be affected by the team's plunge into rebuilding mode.

Even though owner Woody Johnson said there's no playoff mandate for his top football men, let's be real: Bowles is toast if the Jets produce another 5-11 stinker. In all likelihood, he needs to demonstrate legitimate progress -- say, 8-8 or better -- to keep his job, and you wonder if he'll have enough horses to get it done after the roster tear-down is complete. The latest casualty: former Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold, who was released Saturday.

Could Bowles end up being the sacrificial lamb? He has only two years left on his contract, and coaches usually get re-upped or sacked before their lame-duck year.

The fault in Johnson's power structure is that it creates a situation in which Maccagnan and Bowles could have conflicting agendas. They don't report to each other, they each report directly to Johnson. Typically, GMs have more job security than coaches. Maccagnan might have the luxury of thinking long-term, while Bowles probably needs to win now.This could manifest itself in free agency, but it could really show up on draft day. What if Maccagnan wants to take a quarterback with the sixth pick? Do you think Bowles wants to draft a quarterback for the next coach? No way. He wants someone who can help him win games now.

This will be a very interesting offseason.

2. Hit Man survives: The Jets already have created $29.2 million in cap room by parting ways with Mangold, Nick Folk, Breno Giacomini, Ryan Clady and Erin Henderson -- and more cuts are coming. There has been speculation about David Harris, due to make a non-guaranteed $6.5 million in the final year of his contract, but he's in no immediate danger of being released.

Even though his days as a three-down player could be over, Harris, 33, is the "glue" to the defense, as Bowles calls him. He doesn't fit the "younger/faster" trend, but every defense needs a sage quarterback who can run the show. With so many young linebackers on the team, Harris' experience is an asset. Plus, he's still a solid in-the-box linebacker.The linebacking corps should be called "The Old Man and the Three" -- Harris, plus kids Darron Lee, Jordan Jenkins and Lorenzo Mauldin. Lee will take over the leadership role some day, but he's not ready yet.

3. Mangold's legacy: His ouster didn't come as a surprise, but it's still jarring when an all-timer gets fired. This is a cold business. Mangold played the game at a high level for 11 seasons, continuing the franchise's strong tradition at center. From the Super Bowl season (1968) to now, they've had only eight centers, including five mainstays: John Schmitt, Joe Fields, Jim Sweeney, Kevin Mawae and Mangold.

Too bad they can't pick quarterbacks the way they pick centers.

4. The last of the '10ers: With Mangold gone, only two players remain from Rex Ryan's 2010 team, which reached the AFC Championship Game: Harris and Darrelle Revis. Long snapper Tanner Purdum is a free agent. By the time free agency starts, Harris could be the last man standing.

5. Don't rule out Geno: Everyone assumes Geno Smith will leave via free agency and the Jets will import a veteran quarterback, but what if Smith is the veteran quarterback? I don't think the Jets have given up on Smith, but here's the problem: He's less than four months removed from major knee surgery and may not be ready until September or October.

Smith fueled speculation about a possible return, firing off this random/cryptic tweet:

After four turbulent seasons, I think it's best Smith and the Jets go their separate ways. He's a classic example of a player who needs a change of scenery. But what if the Jets want a low-cost quarterback with starting experience and decide Smith is the best guy for the job? They probably could get him on a one-year, prove-it contract. The financial risk would be minimal.This is a chance for the franchise to start fresh at quarterback, and re-signing a lightning rod wouldn't be a great sell. There's also the question of scheme fit. He threw 34 interceptions in Marty Mornhinweg's West Coast system (2013-2014), and there's a good chance new coordinator John Morton will install a similar scheme.

6. Darrelle willing to deal: Interacting with fans on Instagram, Revis all but confirmed he's willing to take a pay cut to stay with the Jets, saying he doesn't deserve to be one of the 10 highest-paid cornerbacks. That's stating the obvious, but it still amounted to a noteworthy comment, considering his career-long obsession with the bottom line.

So if Revis Inc. is willing to drop out of the top 10, how much of a pay cut are we talking about? Significant.

7. Keep an eye on the right: To me, one of the most interesting positions this offseason is right tackle.

Ostensibly, the position is vacant now that Giacomini is gone. How the Jets replace him could provide a glimpse into the team's overall approach to 2017. Under this regime, they've been reluctant to play inexperienced players. Ordinarily, Maccagnan's M.O. would be to sign another veteran, but maybe this time he opts for Brandon Shell, who started the final three games. That's how the good teams do it. You draft a guy, develop him and plug him in.

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67153/jets-youth-movement-could-put-todd-bowles-in-difficult-position

kelly · February 27, 2017

A closer look at the positions the New York Jets could target at the NFL combine in Indianapolis :

Positions of need: The Jets finished 5-11 for a reason; they have one of the most talent-deficient rosters in the NFL. They need a left tackle, a lockdown cornerback for their man-to-man scheme, an edge rusher, a pass-catching tight end and a ball-hawking safety. Quarterback is a perennial need for the Jets -- how big a need will be determined by what happens in free agency. Chances are they will sign a 2017 starter, with Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty remaining as backups. This would reduce the temptation to reach for a quarterback in the draft unless they have a strong conviction about a player.

Four players the Jets should focus on at the combine:

Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State: His rushing and receiving skills make him an ideal fit in a West Coast offense, if that's what new coordinator John Morton decides to employ. Cook's talent is undeniable, but he has medical and personal issues that need to be checked out. He has had three shoulder surgeries since high school and multiple arrests. The Jets' brass will get a chance to sit down and meet with Cook.

Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State: His missed his freshman year because of a hamstring surgery, an issue that cropped up again in 2015. The doctors need to take a look at that. Lattimore was healthy last season and flashed his immense raw talent, recording 14 passes defensed (including four interceptions) on only 35 targets. He, too, could be in play at No. 6.

Ryan Ramczyk, LT, Wisconsin: Some believe he's the top left tackle in the draft, although probably not worthy of the sixth pick. The focus in Indianapolis will be his surgically repaired hip, which was operated on after the Badgers' bowl game. At 6-foot-6, 314 pounds, Ramczyk has ideal dimensions for a left tackle, but some are curious to see to his arm length. Some suspect he has short arms, a detriment at his position.

Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson: Even though he stated his case rather emphatically in the national championship, Watson remains a polarizing player to NFL scouts. This will be an opportunity to perform alongside the other top quarterbacks, namely Mitch Trubisky and DeShone Kizer. The Jets will get a chance to meet Watson, a high-character person who should fare well in his interviews. It's worth noting that general manager Mike Maccagnan places an emphasis on intangibles when evaluating quarterbacks.

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66941/jets-should-focus-on-cornerback-left-tackle-and-yes-qb-at-combine

Tinstar · February 27, 2017

18 minutes ago, kelly said:

A closer look at the positions the New York Jets could target at the NFL combine in Indianapolis :

Positions of need: The Jets finished 5-11 for a reason; they have one of the most talent-deficient rosters in the NFL. They need a left tackle, a lockdown cornerback for their man-to-man scheme, an edge rusher, a pass-catching tight end and a ball-hawking safety. Quarterback is a perennial need for the Jets -- how big a need will be determined by what happens in free agency. Chances are they will sign a 2017 starter, with Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty remaining as backups. This would reduce the temptation to reach for a quarterback in the draft unless they have a strong conviction about a player.

Four players the Jets should focus on at the combine:

Dalvin Cook has an intriguing skill set that could entice the Jets at No. 6. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State: His rushing and receiving skills make him an ideal fit in a West Coast offense, if that's what new coordinator John Morton decides to employ. Cook's talent is undeniable, but he has medical and personal issues that need to be checked out. He has had three shoulder surgeries since high school and multiple arrests. The Jets' brass will get a chance to sit down and meet with Cook.

Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State: His missed his freshman year because of a hamstring surgery, an issue that cropped up again in 2015. The doctors need to take a look at that. Lattimore was healthy last season and flashed his immense raw talent, recording 14 passes defensed (including four interceptions) on only 35 targets. He, too, could be in play at No. 6.

Ryan Ramczyk, LT, Wisconsin: Some believe he's the top left tackle in the draft, although probably not worthy of the sixth pick. The focus in Indianapolis will be his surgically repaired hip, which was operated on after the Badgers' bowl game. At 6-foot-6, 314 pounds, Ramczyk has ideal dimensions for a left tackle, but some are curious to see to his arm length. Some suspect he has short arms, a detriment at his position.

Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson: Even though he stated his case rather emphatically in the national championship, Watson remains a polarizing player to NFL scouts. This will be an opportunity to perform alongside the other top quarterbacks, namely Mitch Trubisky and DeShone Kizer. The Jets will get a chance to meet Watson, a high-character person who should fare well in his interviews. It's worth noting that general manager Mike Maccagnan places an emphasis on intangibles when evaluating quarterbacks.

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/66941/jets-should-focus-on-cornerback-left-tackle-and-yes-qb-at-combine

Ramczyk and Trubisky should be our targets and if both are not available, then Watson and cook. There's no way I am spending this high a draft pick on a kid with recurring Hamstring issues at the CB position .

kelly · February 28, 2017

NFL Draft analyst Mike Mayock did a conference call yesterday. Among the questions he got was whether the Jets should pick a quarterback with the sixth selection. He did not hold back when giving his opinion.

Q. What are your thoughts on what the Jets should do at No. 6 as you look at their many needs? Would you in any way put quarterback in there as a possibility for them?

MIKE MAYOCK: I don't do team needs until after free agency because it's, frankly, a waste of time. But the quarterback thing for the Jets is really frustrating. I mean, they took Hackenberg last year. Geno's not working out. Petty's still on the roster.

So they've expended some pretty high draft picks on a bunch of quarterbacks that have paid no fruit. So if you're asking me whether the Jets at No. 6 should take a quarterback, I would emphatically tell you no. As a matter of fact, I don't have a Top 10 grade on any quarterback in this draft. So I would not be in that conversation.

If you're talking about what the Jets should do at six based on what they've done with their offensive line, they just released or didn't re-sign three of their starting offensive linemen. That's a real need for them, obviously. At No. 6, is there a guy worthy of that? Probably not. I think you're going to end up, just because of value, unless they trade back -- I think you're going to look at a defensive back, corner or safety, or one of the edge guys. I think that's where they're going to end up being. Because if you're picking six, you've got to get a great football player. You've got to get five or six of the best players in the draft. So if you're the Jets, you're hoping a couple of those quarterbacks go early until a better positional player falls to you.

I think Mayock hits on the only valid reason for passing on a quarterback. That is if the Jets’ evaluation deems none of the quarterbacks to be good enough to take with the sixth pick.The reality that the Jets have picked quarterback who have paid no fruit means they have to be looking for a quarterback. A team needs to keep looking until it finds a guy. That is easier said than done, though. It is the most pressing need, but there also has to be a quarterback who is good enough to take.

> http://www.ganggreennation.com/2017/2/28/14760752/mike-mayock-jets-should-not-draft-a-qb-with-the-sixth-pick

kelly · March 1, 2017

How can Jets replace cornerback Darrelle Revis? Here are free agent and NFL Draft options

The New York Jets released cornerback Darrelle Revis. They need a replacement. Could they find one in NFL Free Agency 2017, like Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson ? Or maybe in the 2017 NFL Draft, like Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore ?

How can the Jets replace cornerback Darrelle Revis ?

The move was expected. It was the right decision for general manager Mike Maccagnan to make. Darrelle Revis is no longer the player he once was, and far from someone deserving of a $15.33 million cap hit.

So, on Tuesday, Maccagnan made the right move for football reasons, and cut the 32-year-old cornerback. Now, he needs to find a replacement... Who's out there?

Here are a few options the Jets could target in free agency or the NFL Draft.

Trumaine Johnson, Rams

It's uncertain if Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson will hit the open market. There's a good chance L.A. slaps the franchise tag on him. But if he does, Johnson will demand a big contract.With Revis off the books, the Jets can afford it.Johnson is big (6-2, 205), physical and young (27). In 2015 he had 71 tackles and intercepted seven passes.

A.J. Bouye, Texans

Bouye has developed quite nicely for the Texans ever since he signed with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2013. In his four-year career, he has six interceptions and 32 defended passes. This season was when he truly broke out.He finished the regular season with 63 tackles, a sack, interception and career-high 16 passes defensed. Through seven weeks, he was ProFootballFocus.com's highest-rated corner. He intercepted two passes in the Texans' two postseason games.

Sidney Jones, Washington

Sidney Jones isn't the sexy cornerback name, but NFL Network's Mike Mayock has him ranked as the top cornerback in the draft. He's big (6-1, 170), which Todd Bowles will like, and is tremendous in press coverage. Depending on how he tests at the combine, he could be an option at No. 6.

Stephon Gilmore, Texans

Todd Bowles likes physical players with attitudes. That description fits Stephon Gilmore quite well. He's a nasty, in-your-face player who doesn't back away from anybody. He's also quite the ball hawk. In his last three seasons, he has 11 interceptions. The lone concern with Gilmore is his durability. He hasn't played a full season since his rookie year in 2012.

Prince Amukamara, Jaguars

Prince Amukamara signed a one-year contract with the Jaguars last offseason. He hoped to play well, then cash in big this year. But no one on the Jaguars played well. So, unlike Gilmore and Johnson, Amukamara could be a cheap low-risk, high-reward signing.Of course, he does come with some performance and injury concerns. In his six seasons, Amukamara has intercepted more than one pass just once (three interceptions in 2014). Likewise, he has only played a full season once (2013).Last year, in 14 games, he had 49 tackles and no interceptions.

Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State

Lattimore has been a popular name mocked to the Jets this offseason. It makes sense, too. He's considered by many to be the top cornerback in the draft. He's certainly an option to replace Revis.

Morris Claiborne, Cowboys

Like Amukamara, Claiborne isn't going to command a big-money contract. He's still young and has talent, but injuries have halted his development and on-field production. If the Jets want to save money, Claiborne makes sense. He's a low-risk, high-reward type signing.

Tre'Davious White, LSU

While Jones and Lattimore figure to be first-round picks, White could be there in the second round. The Jets have a ton of holes on their roster. Maybe taking another position in the first, then grabbing White in the second, makes sense?

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/03/how_can_jets_replace_cornerback_darrelle_revis_her.html#incart_river_index

kelly · March 2, 2017

The New York Jets have dumped big names (Darrelle Revis and Nick Mangold) and big salaries (a total of $38.5 million on the 2017 cap), signalling a rebuilding phase.

How far are they willing to take this approach ?

Hall-of-Fame general manager Bill Polian, an ESPN analyst, suggested the Jets could be headed toward a Browns-like rebuild. Translation: A complete tear down, with an eye on 2018.

"Shall we say that maybe they're reloading with the idea that this year may not be a terrific year record-wise," Polian wondered Thursday on the air, hinting the Jets' plans could be based on what appears to be a strong 2018 quarterback draft.When asked if the Jets could be "tanking" this season, Polian replied: "I don't want to say that, but we saw the Browns do it with no repercussions, by the way. So who knows? Maybe it's an objective. It's hard for me to believe (that could happen) in New York. And the moves they've made have been justified, without question."

Because of those moves, the Jets have $26.3 million in cap room, according to overthecap.com. It's not a ton of room, certainly nothing compared to the 2015 offseason, but it should allow them to be active in the free-agent market.But will they? That may not be a gimme. One school of thought making the rounds in league circles is the Jets will spend conservatively in free agency, restoring cap health for future years and building through the draft.

It can be a painful process, as the Browns know all too well. They were 1-15 last year. That would be a tough sell in the New York market, as Polian noted.

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67194/are-jets-planning-to-copy-16-browns-thanks-but-no-tanks-please

kelly · March 3, 2017

Todd Bowles moved into his new football home two years ago, a real fixer-upper at One Jets Drive. Instead of tearing down walls and ripping out fixtures, he and general manager Mike Maccagnan decided to spruce up the place. Some paint, some spackle and -- voila! -- they made it livable. Well, for a year anyway.

Now they're in the middle of a renovation -- actually, they're gutting the place -- a process that will take at least two years, possibly longer. Problem is, the lease will be up for review in a year and that could be troublesome, especially for Bowles, the head coach.

Welcome to his new reality.

The New York Jets are in a full-blown rebuilding mode, putting Bowles in a precarious position. With a pre-free agency/pre-draft roster that screams 4-12, it looks like he's being cast as the setup man for the next coach. He's about to embark on the coaching challenge of his life, one that will have dire consequences if he doesn't get this team to overachieve."I'm not afraid of the unknown," Bowles told reporters Thursday at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. "We don't have the names we had in the past, but that doesn't mean we can't win with the players that we're going to get."

Darrelle Revis and Nick Mangold, future Ring of Honor members, are gone. So are Breno Giacomini, Nick Folk and Ryan Clady. Brandon Marshall got his pink slip on Thursday night. There are only a few pieces of furniture nailed to the floor, namely Leonard Williams, Brian Winters and Muhammad Wilkerson.It wouldn't be a shock if the Jets have nine new starters, many of whom will be young and unproven. It'll be up to Bowles and his revamped staff to coach 'em up and get this thing moving in the right direction."You rebuild as far as people and names, but you don't rebuild in terms of trying to win and not win," Bowles said with a brave face. "We're trying to win all the time."

ESPN analyst Bill Polian, a Hall of Fame general manager, suggested the Jets could be tanking the season to set themselves up for 2018. Some might say that concept makes sense. You concentrate on building the team this year, then go for the big quarterback splash in 2018. Kirk Cousins and Jimmy Garoppolo could be free agents, and USC's Sam Darnold will be draft-eligible.I can tell you this: The Jets won't be the Cleveland Browns. Once they get done tearing it down, they will start building it up through free agency and the draft. They have a plan. We'll find out if that plan is good enough to save Bowles, who won't survive another 5-11 season.But, hey, that's life in big-boy football. He's partly responsible for this situation because, by his own admission, he did a poor job last season. What are the Jets going to do -- give him a contract extension to make him feel better? That's not how it works. He has two years left on his deal, and he'll have to earn an extension by coaching his butt off.

It's too soon to say he's "Dead Coach Walking." Let's see how the rest of the offseason plays out, but it certainly doesn't appear promising here on March 3. Refusing to blink, Bowles insisted he's "excited" about facing the challenge ahead of him."I felt no differently the day I took the job than I do now," he said. "I have a lot of faith, whether our older guys stay or whether our young guys come in and play. ... Whether it's street ball or professional ball, I'm always trying to win."

> http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67230/jets-coach-todd-bowles-insists-hes-not-afraid-of-the-unknown

kelly · March 4, 2017

Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer

New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan has put out the word: His draft picks are for sale, including the No. 6 overall pick.

"We're open for business in every round," Maccagnan told reporters Friday at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. "If somebody wants to move up in any round and we have a pick in that round, call us up."The Jets are interested in acquiring additional picks because they want to rebuild through the draft and they'd like as many choices as possible "to expedite the process." As of now, they have seven picks, including four in the top 107.

There are certainly plenty of holes to fill.

The Jets have become one of the biggest stories of the offseason, as they've already released five veteran players, including wide receiver Brandon Marshall, cornerback Darrelle Revis and center Nick Mangold. All told, they've cleared about $46 million in cap space.

Team officials don't agree with the perception that the Jets are in a rebuilding phase.

"I know we've made quite a few moves this offseason, but a lot of it is predicated on how we feel about the younger players," Maccagnan said. "With the money we freed up, hopefully we'll be able to help ourselves in different areas."

Quarterback is a priority position, he said. The Jets met on Thursday with the top quarterback prospects -- Deshaun Watson, Mitch Trubisky and DeShone Kizer. Chances are, they will try to find a starter in free agency, with Mike Glennon emerging as a likely target.

The Jets have two unproven quarterbacks on the roster in Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty, who is recovering from surgery on his non-throwing shoulder. He will start throwing in April, according to Maccagnan.One position they haven't touched is running back, but Maccagnan didn't rule out the possibility of using the sixth pick -- if he keeps it -- on a running back. The Jets have been linked to LSU's Leonard Fournette in mock drafts.

"Would I consider a running back at six? Absolutely, if I thought he was worth that high a pick," Maccagnan said.

As for the roster purge, Maccagnan hinted that most of the major moves have been made. Sources said players such as Eric Decker, Marcus Gilchrist, Calvin Pryor and Buster Skrine are in jeopardy, depending on whom the Jets sign in free agency. The Jets are expected to shop defensive end Sheldon Richardson.

Maccagnan didn't rule it out, noting they have a "wealth of talent" on the defensive line, and he will "look at all options."Decker appears safe -- for a few months, anyway. Maccagnan said he wouldn't make a decision on the veteran receiver until he has recovered from hip and shoulder surgeries, adding it will be another few months before Decker's shoulder is healed. He expects Decker to be ready for Week 1.

"Our goal is to get him healthy and then kind of evaluate how he comes off the injuries," Maccagnan said.

> http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2017/story/_/id/18817494/new-york-jets-general-manager-mike-maccagnan-says-team-draft-picks-including-no-6-overall-sale

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How can Jets replace cornerback Darrelle Revis? Here are free agent and NFL Draft options

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