Would Jets' Buster Skrine be open to pay cut to return in 2018? He says ...

[Gas2No99]

Would Jets' Buster Skrine be open to pay cut to return in 2018? He says ...

 

 

Will the Jets cut Buster Skrine? (AP Photo | Bill Kostroun)

As the Jets continue to rebuild with younger players, cornerback Buster Skrine certainly fits the profile of a player who could be part of their future plans, since he is still just 28 years old. 

But Skrine would be entering the final year of his contract in 2018, and the Jets would create $6 million in salary cap space by cutting him, with $2.5 million in dead money attached. 

So might they release him after this season? And if they keep him around, could they ask him to reduce his $6 million salary for next year? (He turns 29 in April.) 

Skrine doesn't envision either of those things happening. He fully expects the Jets to retain him with his $8.5 million cap figure in 2018, which is the same figure he has this year. (The NFL's salary cap is expected to increase by about $11 million next year, to $178 million.) 

"What's my cap, 8.5 next year?" Skrine told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday. "So I'm expecting 8.5. I don't think any player goes into thinking if they're taking a pay cut." 

He believes he has played well enough during his three seasons with the Jets to warrant being retained at that $8.5 million figure in 2018. 

"Yeah," he said firmly and without hesitation. "I feel like I've been doing well and playing at a high level for what they ask me to do. I've just got to continue to play the way I'm playing." 

But he declined to speculate on what he'd do if the Jets asked him to take a pay cut. 

"I'm not answering that question," he said. "You can't think ahead, because people who think ahead, they start messing up. Everybody has seen it. People's contract year comes, and some people ball out and some people crumble. My whole theory is you play it game by game. As a player, you don't go about thinking, 'Hey, maybe I might not be here.'

"I think I'll be here. I mean, you have to be positive. I feel like I'm a productive team player. What if I got an extension? You can't really speak into the future. In the NFL, you never know." 

What do the numbers say about Skrine? 

Always penalty prone, Skrine this season has 11 flags, second-most among cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus.

He has allowed a 105.6 quarterback rating in coverage this year (94th among 120 corners in the league), per PFF. Skrine's five touchdowns surrendered are tied for sixth-most among all corners. He has given up 1.31 yards per coverage snap, which ranks 86th at his position. And he has allowed a catch every 9.5 coverage snaps, which ranks 82nd. 

But over the past three games, coming out of the bye week, Skrine has performed much better. His 54.2 quarterback rating allowed over that span is sixth-best among corners, per PFF. Skrine has no penalty flags during the past three games. 

For his part, Skrine believes that he has performed well this season, besides a dud of a game in Miami in Week 7. 

"I think I've had a good year," he said. "The only bad game I think I've had was Miami. My whole career, I've been high in penalties, so I'm not saying it's an excuse, but I feel like I've been doing better the last three weeks.  I'm an aggressive corner. You can't change the way you play because you're getting penalties. Just play smarter." 

Morris Claiborne, the Jets' starting outside corner opposite Skrine, said Skrine "has been tremendous" since struggling at the Dolphins. 

"Buster is one of those guys where he doesn't let too much get to him," Claiborne said. 

 

 

The Jets signed Skrine to a four-year, $25 million contract in 2015, after he began his career with the Browns from 2011-14. This is Skrine's third season in coach Todd Bowles' defense. While playing slot and outside cornerback, Skrine believes he is more mentally advanced now.

"I feel like I'm a smarter player," he said. "I anticipate plays. Everything is just second nature." 

But will he see a fourth season with the Jets? Skrine, at least, certainly thinks so. 

[jeremy2020]

Buster's Magical World must be a nice place for him.

[T0mShane]

This reminds me of that time the Bears dumped Brandon Marshall on us for a measly fifth round pick and Maccagnan restructured his contract to give him more money just because.

[HighPitch]

ABSOLUTE TRASH most rookies would provide similar resulta with less penalties

[peebag]

I'm guessing zero.

[j4jets]

Reading between the lines, he’s expecting a paycut. He knows he hasn’t played like an 8.5mil CB. Else he would’ve just said “why would the Jets even ask me for a paycut?”

[Fibonacci]

Jets should give IQ test to the players before signing them to multi year contracts. 

[joewilly12]

11 minutes ago, Fibonacci said:

Jets should give IQ test to the players before signing them to multi year contracts. 

Who is smart enough in the Jets organization to administer this testing? 

[CrazyCarl40]

I cannot wait until this guy is no longer on the team. He was a mistake to sign in the first place. He’s so bad and Macc gave him so much money. 

[jmat321]

Sounds like the CTE is acting up.  They still have that rheumatologist on staff in Florham Park?  Maybe he can squeeze Buster in Monday morning.

[Ghost]

Is he serious? 

[TuscanyTile2]

He does have cool hair

[TnT]

Buster really underachieved but at least he’s not an off the field ass...I’m trying this new thing where I say something positive after saying something negative...minus Mo Wilk and Cade McNown and Forte and the offensive line.

[bla bla bla]

Take a pay cut...ha... paying him not to be here is probably more of a positive than him racking up penalties.

[Philc1]

C-Ya

[section314]

Don't they still have drug testing in the NFL?

[Beerfish]

I like the word 'cut' in the title of the thread but not so much the word 'pay'

[rangerous]

okay so his cap number is 8.5 with 2.5 in dead money if he's cut.  so it would reasonable to expect he'd be offered somewhere between 2.5 and 8.5 for his services.  buster is height challenged.  it's not like he takes plays off or apparently causes off field issues.  he just needs to be put in as a slot corner instead of on the outside.  and he needs to cut down the penalties.

[peebag]

19 minutes ago, rangerous said:

okay so his cap number is 8.5 with 2.5 in dead money if he's cut.  so it would reasonable to expect he'd be offered somewhere between 2.5 and 8.5 for his services.  buster is height challenged.  it's not like he takes plays off or apparently causes off field issues.  he just needs to be put in as a slot corner instead of on the outside.  and he needs to cut down the penalties and be employed by another team.

fixed that for you.

[Pac]

35 minutes ago, rangerous said:

okay so his cap number is 8.5 with 2.5 in dead money if he's cut.  so it would reasonable to expect he'd be offered somewhere between 2.5 and 8.5 for his services.  buster is height challenged.  it's not like he takes plays off or apparently causes off field issues.  he just needs to be put in as a slot corner instead of on the outside.  and he needs to cut down the penalties.

Pretty much..  8 Mil for 2 years with 4 Mil guaranteed but he must play in the slot. 

[Maxman]

On 12/15/2017 at 8:03 PM, T0mShane said:

This reminds me of that time the Bears dumped Brandon Marshall on us for a measly fifth round pick and Maccagnan restructured his contract to give him more money just because.

Yeah, then Marshall had the absolute balls to surpass 1,500 yards receiving. And the audacity to catch 14 touchdown passes that year.

Some nerve that guy has.

[Maxman]

Buster Skrine and I have one thing in common. We both have the same chances of making 8.5 million dollars next year.

[BurnleyJet]

I'd sooner have Buster Gonad from Viz magazine.

[Philc1]

18 hours ago, Pac said:

Pretty much..  8 Mil for 2 years with 4 Mil guaranteed but he must play in the slot. 

So which nickel CB does Macagnan pass on Lamar Jackson for?

[JetFaninMI]

[Snell41]

He came to my office for a signing about a week or 2 ago. I was desperately trying to find a penalty flag and have him sign it.


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