Positive Tannenbaum Article

[madmike1]

Mar 22, 2006

By Dan Leberfeld

If Mike Tannenbaum is looking for a second career, he might consider entering the “World Poker Challenge.”

He’s turned out to be quite a poker player, and he’s beaten some formidable opponents.

In the last week, the Jets' 37-year-old GM has gotten the best of Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, and now Falcons GM Rich McKay, who might be the NFL’s next commissioner.

Both thought they could take advantage of Tannenbaum’s inexperience in his new job by making him take deals below market value.

Tannenbaum called their bluffs in both cases, and came out the victor.

First, Tannenbaum refused to give up the reported third-round pick the Redskins wanted for backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey. By waiting the Redskins out, Tannenbaum was able to steal the former first-round pick for a sixth-round selection, giving the Jets insurance for Chad Pennington.

Mike Tannenbaum

New GM Tannenbaum has gotten the best of Washington and Atlanta ths far. (AP)

Then in a poker game involving even higher stakes, Tannenbaum insisted on getting a first-round pick from the Falcons for defensive end John Abraham. The Falcons were holding fast on offering just a second-round pick, and a player (probably running back T.J. Duckett).

But Tannenbaum wanted nothing less than a first-round pick. After all, we are talking about one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers, a man responsible for 53.5 sacks in his first six years. Players like Abraham are really hard to find.

But McKay believed the Falcons' first-round pick, 15th overall, was too much to give up. So Tannenbaum turned his attention to the Seahawks, who agreed to send the 31st selection of the first round to New York for Abraham.

While it was very clear that Abraham wanted no part of going to Seattle, Tannenbaum sent a message to the Falcons that he’d be willing to take a late first- round selection for the prized defensive end.

So, after several days of deliberating, on Tuesday McKay went out and got a late first-round pick from the Denver Broncos, 29th overall, and sent it to the Jets for Abraham.

Tannenbaum is now 2-0 in stare-downs. While it remains to be seen if he is a good talent-evaluator, with a somewhat limited football background, you can’t question his negotiating skills. They are topnotch.

While it’s hard to let a dynamic speed rusher like Abraham go, it was the pragmatic decision to make. Here are two reasons.

For one, the Jets had no interest in giving him the type of money he was looking for in a long-term contract, in the neighborhood of $18 million guaranteed. Why? Well, it's no secret he’s had trouble staying healthy. While he played all 16 games last year, he’s had a history of maladies – including two knee injuries, a pair of sports hernias and a number of mangled fingers.

Here’s the problem. He’s a 250-pound defensive end facing double teams from 600 to 700 pounds of offensive linemen on a weekly basis. This takes a toll. Just look at Eagles defensive end Jevon Kearse.

An undersized end like Abraham, Kearse was dominant his first few years with the Titans, but then injuries started to mount and took away from his effectiveness. The Eagles threw megabucks at him in free agency three years ago, and have gotten little bang for their buck. Thanks to the pounding and injuries he sustained his first five years with the Titans, he’s clearly not the player he used to be. Why do you think the Eagles just went out and signed Saints free-agent defensive end Darren Howard? They're clearly not happy with Kearse's production.

Kearse, like Abraham, is a tightly muscled athlete, with the type of frame that is given to injuries. Bill Parcells used to joke that the “mushy” players get hurt less, and there is some truth to that.

John Abraham

Abraham gets his wish with a long-term deal in Atlanta. (AP)

So aside from the fact that “Abe” has a lot of wear-and-tear on his 27-year-old body, another issue that made a long-term investment in him a risky proposition is the Jets' switch to a 3-4 defense. He’s not a good fit for that system because he’s not very skillful in pass coverage. Plus, having him drop into coverage is a waste of his talent.

“He’s been such a good pass rusher, and it’s so hard to find good pass rushers, most defensive coordinators after a while aren’t interested in putting him into coverage,” said Abraham’s agent Tony Agnone. “[Offensive coordinators will tell you] you always had to account for him as a pass rusher. Don’t make it easier on them at all by dropping him into coverage.”

So now, with Abraham gone, it’s essential that the Jets use one of their two first- round picks on a 3-4 outside linebacker with pass rushing and coverage skills. Ohio State’s Bobby Carpenter (the son of former Giants running back Rob Carpenter) would be a perfect choice at 29, if he’s still there.

The rumors that the Jets want to use the extra draft pick to possibly trade up to the No. 2 spot with the Saints -- to grab USC quarterback Matt Leinart -- are a little crazy.

With Pennington doing well in his rehab, and with Ramsey and plucky Brooks Bollinger on board, why would they want to throw Leinart in the mix? It would be the mother of all quarterback controversies, the last thing a rookie coach (Eric Mangini) and GM need to deal with in the New York market.

Plus, Leinart is basically a lefty Pennington in that he’s smart, a good leader and a great decision-maker, but lacks a rocket arm.

The Jets have so many needs, they should keep their two first-round picks and add two potential starters. How about picking left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson at four, and then grabbing Carpenter at 29?

Here is where we see what kind of talent-evaluator Tannenbaum is. Let’s see what he does with a truckload of draft picks. Don’t forget, that aside from two first- round picks, the Jets pick near the top of the second round, which is almost like having another first-round pick. And they also have some compensatory picks on the way, likely at the end of the third and fourth round, due to the free-agent losses last year of tackle Kareem McKenzie, LaMont Jordan and Jason Ferguson.

All these premium picks will test the first-year GM’s talents as a player personnel guy real quick.

But one thing is for sure early on in Tannenbaum's tenure.

He’s a heck of a poker player.

At least we didn't get embarrised in either of those trades. Thats a start compared to the previous regeme...

[spjets]

thats a great article...

[raffyD]

Best article I've read in a while, thanks! I love that we won the "stare down" with the big boys, WE HAVE HOPE!

[Jetme23]

I like the way our office has been handling things, infact, mangini im sure helped in the whole process of a staredown.

Lets just see what kind of selections these two (for now) geniouses make.

[124]

Mr.T is the man. We were never going anywhere with Bradway as the GM. The day he stepped down and Mike T took over is the true day of the new Jets regime.

[RSJ]

Great article.

[gsnts725]

Tannenbaum is the man ppl. he has not break and he's handling pressure real well so far.

[quietjets]

I think it is wise that i wait until at least 3 years before starting to comment on him..

Jets lost 6th rounder for just renting Ramsey for a year? Not that I mind but come on.... Jets would be lucky if Ramsey is ready to take over after this season for Jets because 6th rounder for a full time starter is a great steal..

JA is worth a PLAYER? I dont think so. He is worth at least TWO players. Unfortunately, it is impossible to get this deal. Jets did get a first rounder as planned but it was not 15th overall selection... Technically, Jets lost 14 spaces in first round order for JA.. The reason Jets are winner is they did get a first rounder without losing any picks..

Overally, MT has done very good job to handle CP, 2nd stringer qb and JA's departure... That is good start but not he wont get a gold star just yet.

MT will be an idiot if he trades up to take Saints' 2nd overall selection in order to get Leinart because Jets will probably lose 3 or 4 picks to get that 2nd overall selection..... The rumor has floated that Broncos ponder to use their 2 first rounders to get Saints' first selection to beat Titans for Leinart. Broncos have better first round value than Jets'..

I am not ready to congratulate MT yet.... Just keep it up good works.

[Cmart28Coles87]

Mikey T is the man. Hes the right guy for the job. I have the upmost confidence that hell give us a great draft.

[L.I.MikeBleedsGreen]

BARE WITNESS TO THE NEW REGIME AKA THE TAKE OVER GOOD JOB MR.T & MR.M

[shutout]

Mr.T is the man. We were never going anywhere with Bradway as the GM. The day he stepped down and Mike T took over is the true day of the new Jets regime.

[SeniorFlaJet]

The article brings up another spin as to why the Jets were anxious

to get rid of Abe. This was not talked about in any acticle that I

read. Most of the thoughts were that Woody didn't want to

pay the big bucks and have it backfire similiar to Chad.

i know a lot of guys wanted Abe to stay and there is some merit in

that way of thinking. However IMO and as the article states we

have a chance if MANdelBAUM uses our first four picks wisely

to build a very good team for the future and with the boatload of

cap money we will have next year we can be heavy in the FA market.

[mbn007]

Bottom line.

Mike and Eric handled the Ramsey and Abe deals better then recent history shows that Bradway/Herm would have.

Plain and simple.