Jets 10 Worst Free-Agent Signings Since 1997

[JetNation]

Yesterday, we covered the top 10 free-agent signings since 1997. Today, the bottom 10. It was harder to compile a bottom 10, considering the amount of candidates. Once again, the size of the contract is factored into the final rankings.

Here goes:

10. WR Justin McCareins (2004-present) – If this were a nice-guy list, McCareins would be near the top. Unfortunately, it’s not. The Jets, still smarting from the Laveranues Coles departure in 2003, signed McCareins as a restricted free agent from the Titans. They gave him a $6 million signing bonus - insanity - and sent a second-round pick to Tennessee. In three seasons, McCareins has managed only seven touchdowns and one 100-yard receiving game. It would be an upset if he’s on the roster in 2007.

9. WR Matthew Hatchette (2001) – He was supposed to be the prize of Terry Bradway’s first free-agent class, but Hatchette finished with only two receptions. The Jets didn’t do their homework. Most everybody in the league knew he was an undisciplined route runner from an unstructured offense (the Vikings), but the Jets signed him anyway, thinking he’d adapt to Paul Hackett’s complex West Coast system. Bad move. At least he didn’t cost that much.

8. DT Chester McGlockton (2003) – He was about 380 pounds when the Jets signed him before the start of camp. Of course, they refused to admit that publicly, probably because they were too embarrassed. Chester was so out of shape that he didn’t accompany the team to its preseason game in Tokyo. The Jets claim he stayed behind to work on his conditioning; I think they were worried about the plane getting off the ground. Classic scene: Late in the season, McGlockton took a nap in front of his locker. He was sprawled out on the floor, creating his own mountain range. And he was snoring. He snored so loudly that other players were distracted while conducting interviews on the other side of the room. Chester shouldn’t have quit his day job; he owned “Fat Burger