Everyone relax...Tangini is doing it right.

[MSGold12]

I know on the outside that we look like we are spinning our wheels while everyone else is tying up player after player, but the closer I look at it, I do think we are doing the right thing right now. This isn't just about the overpaying...this is about 3 realizations that I believe in when building a team.

1. Nucleus comes first. You have to build the foundation of the house before you hire the interiior decorator.

2. You don't pay non-star players star type money. It screws up the make up of the team as a whole and your cap.

3. Buiding or rebuilding a team through FA NEVER works because you always land up overpaying whihc leads to problem #2 above.

OK, that said, lets look at these 1 by 1.

First off, lets all acknowldge one thing. Even though we closed the gap on NE some last year, we were NOT on their level yet. Can you see us walking into SD and beating that team? Can you see us taking an 18 point lead on INdy in Indy? Pennington is fne but hes not Brady (especially in the playoffs) just yet. No, we were improved but NE was still a better team. By all acounts, we were NE 2000 last year...only we finished with a better record then that 2000 team did. We still need foundation to make the next leap. We need to bolster the OL and DL and we need some more playmakers. We are a team whose infrastructure was crumbling under Hermy and were fortunate to have what (hopefully) is a solid group now. We PLAYED and were coached much better and were healthier in 2006 then in 2005, thus the much better record, but the 2006 team was still flawed in many ways.

Next, for YEARS the Jets would overpay to keep their own non star players. Or, they would overpay to get other teams non star players or former star players. You cant keep doing that. It kills your salary structure and it kills your cap. Target the guys that you think are the foundation of your team, pay them, and rotate the others. You dont give Marcus Coleman 5 mil per or JMac 4 mil per or Cowart 4 mil per. On this team, once they lock up Rhodes, IMO they have secured all the high priced foundation for the next 3-5 years. When guys like Eric Coleman or Pete kendall or Brando Mooore or Anthny Clement for that matter come due, you let them go and replace them like NE does. The key is to target young, talented , characrter guys with upside and let replaceable players go rather then overpaying to keep them off the market.

Finally, as we have seen in Washington and even here, the champions of March are RARELY the champions of the regular season.

OK, where is this going? Here...

Why are we so pissed about this off season? One reason as I see it...the Pats are cleaning up. They got the guy we all wanted in Thomas...but its clear THATS where Thomas wanted to go! We cant help that NE is a VERY desireable place right now and players WILL take less to go there. But beyone that, there is not ONE guy that has signed elsewhere that I would have paid that kind of money for. Do we really give a sh*t that Dallas decided to be stupid and give leonard Davis 23 mil guaranteed? Davis? A total BUST LT??? Or that two teams were stupid enough to give 7 mil per to 2 guards we possiby wanted? Guards???? Or that SF gave 80 MIL to Clements!!!! No, we are pissed that NE has widened the gap again by adding A. Thomas, an impact player, to their already very good D. The rest of this is buyers envy but I have to beleve there is a plan here...and paying fringe players (who are ONLY getting this type of money because of the open market) star money makes no sense to me.

Fact is this...NE is ahead of us. They are retooling with these big ticket players because their nucleus is set and they are making their probable last run. Our foundation is not yet set. We still need to build that before we start spending big dollars on those "last pieces" of the puzzle. And I would NEVER advocate spending huge dollars on non star players simply because they are availabale and we happen to have cap space. This was NOT a strong FA crop...thats a given. But these guys are being given HUGE bucks because the cap wnet up this year and teams cant help themselves when they have money to spend! I mean is Leonard Davis, a BUST at LT, 23 mil better then Anthony Clement? Is Eric Stienbach 6 mil a year better then Brandon Moore?

IMO the Jets are looking at 2007 as the "keep building the foundation" year. If they don't overspend now, they may be MAJOR players in the 2008 FA class which will probably be much better then this one. And since most teams will have capped themselves out this year, there wont be the bidding craze next off season for FAs.

We are not NE yet...we have to remember that. Don't fool yourself into believeing we are. They are making their last big run and (after sitting out FA for 2 years) saved their space, targeted an impact player, and snagged him. So be it. Hopefully, someday soon, we will be where they are. But for now, try and have some faith that Tangini knows what they are doing and lets see how this all plays out.

[MSGold12]

I know on the outside that we look like we are spinning our wheels while everyone else is tying up player after player, but the closer I look at it, I do think we are doing the right thing right now. This isn't just about the overpaying...this is about 3 realizations that I believe in when building a team.

1. Nucleus comes first. You have to build the foundation of the house before you hire the interiior decorator.

2. You don't pay non-star players star type money. It screws up the make up of the team as a whole and your cap.

3. Buiding or rebuilding a team through FA NEVER works because you always land up overpaying whihc leads to problem #2 above.

OK, that said, lets look at these 1 by 1.

First off, lets all acknowldge one thing. Even though we closed the gap on NE some last year, we were NOT on their level yet. Can you see us walking into SD and beating that team? Can you see us taking an 18 point lead on INdy in Indy? Pennington is fne but hes not Brady (especially in the playoffs) just yet. No, we were improved but NE was still a better team. By all acounts, we were NE 2000 last year...only we finished with a better record then that 2000 team did. We still need foundation to make the next leap. We need to bolster the OL and DL and we need some more playmakers. We are a team whose infrastructure was crumbling under Hermy and were fortunate to have what (hopefully) is a solid group now. We PLAYED and were coached much better and were healthier in 2006 then in 2005, thus the much better record, but the 2006 team was still flawed in many ways.

Next, for YEARS the Jets would overpay to keep their own non star players. Or, they would overpay to get other teams non star players or former star players. You cant keep doing that. It kills your salary structure and it kills your cap. Target the guys that you think are the foundation of your team, pay them, and rotate the others. You dont give Marcus Coleman 5 mil per or JMac 4 mil per or Cowart 4 mil per. On this team, once they lock up Rhodes, IMO they have secured all the high priced foundation for the next 3-5 years. When guys like Eric Coleman or Pete kendall or Brando Mooore or Anthny Clement for that matter come due, you let them go and replace them like NE does. The key is to target young, talented , characrter guys with upside and let replaceable players go rather then overpaying to keep them off the market.

Finally, as we have seen in Washington and even here, the champions of March are RARELY the champions of the regular season.

OK, where is this going? Here...

Why are we so pissed about this off season? One reason as I see it...the Pats are cleaning up. They got the guy we all wanted in Thomas...but its clear THATS where Thomas wanted to go! We cant help that NE is a VERY desireable place right now and players WILL take less to go there. But beyone that, there is not ONE guy that has signed elsewhere that I would have paid that kind of money for. Do we really give a sh*t that Dallas decided to be stupid and give leonard Davis 23 mil guaranteed? Davis? A total BUST LT??? Or that two teams were stupid enough to give 7 mil per to 2 guards we possiby wanted? Guards???? Or that SF gave 80 MIL to Clements!!!! No, we are pissed that NE has widened the gap again by adding A. Thomas, an impact player, to their already very good D. The rest of this is buyers envy but I have to beleve there is a plan here...and paying fringe players (who are ONLY getting this type of money because of the open market) star money makes no sense to me.

Fact is this...NE is ahead of us. They are retooling with these big ticket players because their nucleus is set and they are making their probable last run. Our foundation is not yet set. We still need to build that before we start spending big dollars on those "last pieces" of the puzzle. And I would NEVER advocate spending huge dollars on non star players simply because they are availabale and we happen to have cap space. This was NOT a strong FA crop...thats a given. But these guys are being given HUGE bucks because the cap wnet up this year and teams cant help themselves when they have money to spend! I mean is Leonard Davis, a BUST at LT, 23 mil better then Anthony Clement? Is Eric Stienbach 6 mil a year better then Brandon Moore?

IMO the Jets are looking at 2007 as the "keep building the foundation" year. If they don't overspend now, they may be MAJOR players in the 2008 FA class which will probably be much better then this one. And since most teams will have capped themselves out this year, there wont be the bidding craze next off season for FAs.

We are not NE yet...we have to remember that. Don't fool yourself into believeing we are. They are making their last big run and (after sitting out FA for 2 years) saved their space, targeted an impact player, and snagged him. So be it. Hopefully, someday soon, we will be where they are. But for now, try and have some faith that Tangini knows what they are doing and lets see how this all plays out.

One last thing...go back and look to when NE made true FA splashes. One was when they signed Rosie Colvin but that was AFTER they had already won a SB. Next is A Thomas but only after they won 2 more and started to have some attrition with impact players (Bruschi, McGnist, etc). Aside from that, they have always built through the draft and signed bargin FA types who fit the system. This just happens to be one of thos eyears when they are singing FAs in order to make a last oush with this group.

[NY Jets Guy]

Couldn't agree with you more. We don't have the ability to spend big money on ONE person right now, when we have so many needs.

Good post.

[SoFlaJets]

great post MSG-I'm becoming convinced that they had no intention of signing players that are and were out there.Not any of the supposed big names anyway...I love this board with some of the more mature (old) and knowledgeable football fans on it-hey it ain't Bongo-mania over here but more grounded to reality

[JonEJet]

Yep, lets sit back and continue to squeek into the playoffs.

These core players...who are they? From what I hear Tangini wants to rid us of DRob and Vilma. Are these new core players going to be drafted this year and next? Because it would be nice to know who will be here for awhile. Cotch, and whoelse??

[4HCrew]

so who are the core players? Mangold D Brick Rhodes and Cotch? also there are no locks when drafting players so lets not assume every year will be like last year

[joewilly]

great post msgold & I agree with your input & the analogies were great. If you post more often this year you're gonna give me a hell of a run at most knowledgeable poster.

This year also shows mangini has a plan in place( & not copy pats moves) since he dibn't hit any panic button after pats/thomas deal.

[Sperm Edwards]

Because there are no locks in the draft is no reason to go into panic mode in FA? What if Jerry Porter's demands are $8M/yr now?

What is it we should have done? Given Ahman Green $6M/yr?

When Dennis Northcutt can get a $17M contract, I'm ok with waiting.

Frankly, with each new contract, the trade value for Vilma (a sure-thing in the 4-3 and under contract for 2 more years at $1M per) should be jumping up.

[SoFlaJets]

Because there are no locks in the draft is no reason to go into panic mode in FA? What if Jerry Porter's demands are $8M/yr now?

What is it we should have done? Given Ahman Green $6M/yr?

When Dennis Northcutt can get a $17M contract, I'm ok with waiting.

Frankly, with each new contract, the trade value for Vilma (a sure-thing in the 4-3 and under contract for 2 more years at $1M per) should be jumping up.

see?...another thing I learned today-that is something I would have never thought of-how the money a team would have to pay Vilma makes him that much more of a hot property in a trade...I really think if we can get what we put in for JV (the 12th pick) I say trade him-the guy had ZERO sacks last year

[MSGold12]

Yep, lets sit back and continue to squeek into the playoffs.

These core players...who are they? From what I hear Tangini wants to rid us of DRob and Vilma. Are these new core players going to be drafted this year and next? Because it would be nice to know who will be here for awhile. Cotch, and whoelse??

Who was available in FA this year that was enogh of a differcne maker over what we have to warrant being paid 5-10X as much. Is Leonard davis, a klnown bust, 23 mil in guarantees better then re-signing Clement or giving the job to a kid like NE did last year with O'Callgahan? Is Eric Styeinbach 6 mil per year better then Brandon Moore? Is Nate Clements 60 mil better the David Barrett???

The ONLY guy I think we really missed out on was A Thomas. HE was a differecne maker for us. But he obviously wanted to go to NE where he took less money. We cant compete wiht that.

IMO, we are building a nice core of 2 and 3rd year players and a few older vets. Brick, Mangold, Smith, Wahsington, BT, Vilma, Rhodes, Dyson. But singing a bunch of above average players to star contracts to fill those holes is simply not the smart way to go.

Yes, we missed out on a couple of guys. But aside from Thomas and maybe Sinacoe, there is not one guy that has singed elsewhere that I wuld have given that type of money to.

[MSGold12]

so who are the core players? Mangold D Brick Rhodes and Cotch? also there are no locks when drafting players so lets not assume every year will be like last year

And if signing FAs were such a lock to success washington would have 4 rings by now.

If we add 3 or 4 more foundation pieces this season, you will see them make some noise in 2008 on the FA front to try and add the final pieces to the puzzle.

But paying 7 mil per to upgrade at OG or RT when we could draft and develop them like NE did wiht neal and o'cllaghan? How does that guarantee winning?

[drago]

Yep, lets sit back and continue to squeek into the playoffs.

These core players...who are they? From what I hear Tangini wants to rid us of DRob and Vilma. Are these new core players going to be drafted this year and next? Because it would be nice to know who will be here for awhile. Cotch, and whoelse??

Rhods, Brick, Mangold, how many more would you like?

Oh i know, lets sign some old OLB's, play well for a year, take a huge cap hit and be back to 2005 for a few more years. That sounds great. I think i'll take option B, build through the draft, and through our CORE players.

[JonEJet]

We are trying to trade 2 of our core players (Vilma and DRob)

SO that leaves us with

Brick (We hope)

Mangold (Stud)

Rhodes (Maybe, still have to sign)

B Smith (Hopefully)

L Washington (WE hope)

Most of these guys are from last years draft....I sure don't like to overpay, but it would be nice to snag a stud out there

[MSGold12]

Rhods, Brick, Mangold, how many more would you like?

Oh i know, lets sign some old OLB's, play well for a year, take a huge cap hit and be back to 2005 for a few more years. That sounds great. I think i'll take option B, build through the draft, and through our CORE players.

I wuld say you can add a guy like Dyson (who is a young solid CB), Ellis (who has sveral good years left), BT, Brad Smith (who I thiink will develo into a very good WR), Cotch, and to a lesser extent Vilma, DRob and Hbson to that core group. Also, (hopefully) either Chad or Clemens is a core player as well as Leon, whoever we bring in to upgrade the RBs, and hopefully 3 or 4 more guys from this draft.

[Sperm Edwards]

Vilma is not going to be here long-term. He does not fit in the 3-4 unless he's a strong safety. Friggin' running backs are bigger than he is. His considerable sideline-to-sideline speed is not necessary in this defense.

DRob it's too hard to say at this point. He may or may not fit in long-term. He is a guy with potential to be a fixture because adding bulk and losing speed will not make him less valuable. He's certainly not staying here with his scheduled salary next year with a cap # of $9M.

I disagree with these two being listed as the "core" of the defense. They are the core of a cover-2 defense, not the 3-4.

[SoFlaJets]

Vilma is not going to be here long-term. He does not fit in the 3-4 unless he's a strong safety. Friggin' running backs are bigger than he is. His considerable sideline-to-sideline speed is not necessary in this defense.

DRob it's too hard to say at this point. He may or may not fit in long-term. He is a guy with potential to be a fixture because adding bulk and losing speed will not make him less valuable. He's certainly not staying here with his scheduled salary next year with a cap # of $9M.

I disagree with these two being listed as the "core" of the defense. They are the core of a cover-2 defense, not the 3-4.

now I guess you're gonna try and tell me Justin McCairens isn't a core player...

you see my JMac to The Eagles post SE?

[Sperm Edwards]

now I guess you're gonna try and tell me Justin McCairens isn't a core player...

you see my JMac to The Eagles post SE?

We could unload Justin McCareins? The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

[MSGold12]

Vilma is not going to be here long-term. He does not fit in the 3-4 unless he's a strong safety. Friggin' running backs are bigger than he is. His considerable sideline-to-sideline speed is not necessary in this defense.

DRob it's too hard to say at this point. He may or may not fit in long-term. He is a guy with potential to be a fixture because adding bulk and losing speed will not make him less valuable. He's certainly not staying here with his scheduled salary next year with a cap # of $9M.

I disagree with these two being listed as the "core" of the defense. They are the core of a cover-2 defense, not the 3-4.

DRob I think can be a very good 3-4 DE. All he lacks is a little height but his speed and power could make him a very good force there.

Heres the thing wiht Vilma. Ask any Pats fan who Belli loved going into the 2004 draft and they'll name 2 or 3 players and Vilma is always one. If BB loved him that much, I have to believe Mangini knows he can be a force in this D but needs more help up front to do it.

[Sperm Edwards]

DRob I think can be a very good 3-4 DE. All he lacks is a little height but his speed and power could make him a very good force there.

Heres the thing wiht Vilma. Ask any Pats fan who Belli loved going into the 2004 draft and they'll name 2 or 3 players and Vilma is always one. If BB loved him that much, I have to believe Mangini knows he can be a force in this D but needs more help up front to do it.

If we had an additional pick, the #9 pick in the country (his value in the trade rumor to Detroit), you would advocate trading the #9 pick for Vilma right now?

[MSGold12]

If we had an additional pick, the #9 pick in the country (his value in the trade rumor to Detroit), you would advocate trading the #9 pick for Vilma right now?

Tough call. Dpeends whose there at 9 I guess. In general Id have to say yes I would but if I asked that same question about MANY players in the NFL the answer would be yes. The "potential" at #9 is always more intriguing then the player yopu have. But if I go back 10 drfats, I am willing to bet I can fin 5 or more #9 picks who either busted out or were much worse then Vilma is now.

[SeniorFlaJet]

Another great post on here relating to the FA situation. I would say MS that the

large majority of posters on here are RELAXED about the way the FO is going

about handling the offseason. Probably more than most boards I have read.

As to the Thomas situation there was no way in hell whether it was the Jets or

any other team that wanted him could make him change his mind about going to the Pats.

[Sperm Edwards]

Tough call. Dpeends whose there at 9 I guess. In general Id have to say yes I would but if I asked that same question about MANY players in the NFL the answer would be yes. The "potential" at #9 is always more intriguing then the player yopu have. But if I go back 10 drfats, I am willing to bet I can fin 5 or more #9 picks who either busted out or were much worse then Vilma is now.

If we still ran a 4-3 I'd agree with you. Vilma is a known quantity.

But now, knowing we are and will be running a 3-4 defense, you'd take a 225-230-lb Vilma with the Jets' pick at #9 in the country?

[mangenious420]

If we still ran a 4-3 I'd agree with you. Vilma is a known quantity.

But now, knowing we are and will be running a 3-4 defense, you'd take a 225-230-lb Vilma with the Jets' pick at #9 in the country?

If this was Sperms world, who would we acquire with that pick?

[Sperm Edwards]

If this was Sperms world, who would we acquire with that pick?

Don't know who will be available. Hey, for all you know, Adrian Peterson will still be there. Before you shout "NO F'ING WAY" just about everyone thought Matt Leinart would go no lower than #3 last year.

Any of the following would be more than "acceptable":

Adrian Peterson - no explanation needed

Alan Branch - a mild upgrade over Kimo

Brady Quinn - may be too hard to pass on; if so, we trade Clemens

Adam Carriker - see Alan Branch

Levi Brown - what would a RT with his skill get as a FA?

Chris Houston - total shut down corner. Did anyone not see Clements' contract yet?

Marshawn Lynch - Shaun Alexander is a good guy to be compared to

Gaines Adams - Ask AJ Smith if he regrets taking Merriman

[MSGold12]

If we still ran a 4-3 I'd agree with you. Vilma is a known quantity.

But now, knowing we are and will be running a 3-4 defense, you'd take a 225-230-lb Vilma with the Jets' pick at #9 in the country?

That was my point from before...according to most Pats fans, aparantly BB would have taken Vilma in a heartbeat. That is why I am not ready to write him off just yet. he may need some better people in front of him.

[MSGold12]

Don't know who will be available. Hey, for all you know, Adrian Peterson will still be there. Before you shout "NO F'ING WAY" just about everyone thought Matt Leinart would go no lower than #3 last year.

Any of the following would be more than "acceptable":

Adrian Peterson - no explanation needed

Alan Branch - a mild upgrade over Kimo

Brady Quinn - may be too hard to pass on; if so, we trade Clemens

Adam Carriker - see Alan Branch

Levi Brown - what would a RT with his skill get as a FA?

Chris Houston - total shut down corner. Did anyone not see Clements' contract yet?

Marshawn Lynch - Shaun Alexander is a good guy to be compared to

Gaines Adams - Ask AJ Smith if he regrets taking Merriman

Branch to me is a huge upgrade over Kimo.

[Sperm Edwards]

Branch to me is a huge upgrade over Kimo.

sarcasm. Of course he's more than a mild upgrade over Kimo.

[Arsis]

We are trying to trade 2 of our core players (Vilma and DRob)

SO that leaves us with

Brick (We hope)

Mangold (Stud)

Rhodes (Maybe, still have to sign)

B Smith (Hopefully)

L Washington (WE hope)

Most of these guys are from last years draft....I sure don't like to overpay, but it would be nice to snag a stud out there

there were no studs available. Just mediocre to slightly above-average players getting stud money and killing teams caps.

[MSGold12]

sarcasm. Of course he's more than a mild upgrade over Kimo.

Gotta turn up my sarcasm meter...sorry, my bad.

[drago]

there were no studs available. Just mediocre to slightly above-average players getting stud money and killing teams caps.

That is very evident right now, yet everybody just wants NYJ to make moves just for the sake of making moves. If we sign Porter to a decent contract, that would be more than enough for this free agent class. Signing anyone else is either a reach, or only done for them to be a role player.

Our draft is going to go really well again, and that is exactly where we should be building/finding talent.

[Smizzy]

Ive been saying this all week. Everybody needs a Zanax.

[Kentucky Jet]

I know on the outside that we look like we are spinning our wheels while everyone else is tying up player after player, but the closer I look at it, I do think we are doing the right thing right now. This isn't just about the overpaying...this is about 3 realizations that I believe in when building a team.

1. Nucleus comes first. You have to build the foundation of the house before you hire the interiior decorator.

2. You don't pay non-star players star type money. It screws up the make up of the team as a whole and your cap.

3. Buiding or rebuilding a team through FA NEVER works because you always land up overpaying whihc leads to problem #2 above.

OK, that said, lets look at these 1 by 1.

First off, lets all acknowldge one thing. Even though we closed the gap on NE some last year, we were NOT on their level yet. Can you see us walking into SD and beating that team? Can you see us taking an 18 point lead on INdy in Indy? Pennington is fne but hes not Brady (especially in the playoffs) just yet. No, we were improved but NE was still a better team. By all acounts, we were NE 2000 last year...only we finished with a better record then that 2000 team did. We still need foundation to make the next leap. We need to bolster the OL and DL and we need some more playmakers. We are a team whose infrastructure was crumbling under Hermy and were fortunate to have what (hopefully) is a solid group now. We PLAYED and were coached much better and were healthier in 2006 then in 2005, thus the much better record, but the 2006 team was still flawed in many ways.

Next, for YEARS the Jets would overpay to keep their own non star players. Or, they would overpay to get other teams non star players or former star players. You cant keep doing that. It kills your salary structure and it kills your cap. Target the guys that you think are the foundation of your team, pay them, and rotate the others. You dont give Marcus Coleman 5 mil per or JMac 4 mil per or Cowart 4 mil per. On this team, once they lock up Rhodes, IMO they have secured all the high priced foundation for the next 3-5 years. When guys like Eric Coleman or Pete kendall or Brando Mooore or Anthny Clement for that matter come due, you let them go and replace them like NE does. The key is to target young, talented , characrter guys with upside and let replaceable players go rather then overpaying to keep them off the market.

Finally, as we have seen in Washington and even here, the champions of March are RARELY the champions of the regular season.

OK, where is this going? Here...

Why are we so pissed about this off season? One reason as I see it...the Pats are cleaning up. They got the guy we all wanted in Thomas...but its clear THATS where Thomas wanted to go! We cant help that NE is a VERY desireable place right now and players WILL take less to go there. But beyone that, there is not ONE guy that has signed elsewhere that I would have paid that kind of money for. Do we really give a sh*t that Dallas decided to be stupid and give leonard Davis 23 mil guaranteed? Davis? A total BUST LT??? Or that two teams were stupid enough to give 7 mil per to 2 guards we possiby wanted? Guards???? Or that SF gave 80 MIL to Clements!!!! No, we are pissed that NE has widened the gap again by adding A. Thomas, an impact player, to their already very good D. The rest of this is buyers envy but I have to beleve there is a plan here...and paying fringe players (who are ONLY getting this type of money because of the open market) star money makes no sense to me.

Fact is this...NE is ahead of us. They are retooling with these big ticket players because their nucleus is set and they are making their probable last run. Our foundation is not yet set. We still need to build that before we start spending big dollars on those "last pieces" of the puzzle. And I would NEVER advocate spending huge dollars on non star players simply because they are availabale and we happen to have cap space. This was NOT a strong FA crop...thats a given. But these guys are being given HUGE bucks because the cap wnet up this year and teams cant help themselves when they have money to spend! I mean is Leonard Davis, a BUST at LT, 23 mil better then Anthony Clement? Is Eric Stienbach 6 mil a year better then Brandon Moore?

IMO the Jets are looking at 2007 as the "keep building the foundation" year. If they don't overspend now, they may be MAJOR players in the 2008 FA class which will probably be much better then this one. And since most teams will have capped themselves out this year, there wont be the bidding craze next off season for FAs.

We are not NE yet...we have to remember that. Don't fool yourself into believeing we are. They are making their last big run and (after sitting out FA for 2 years) saved their space, targeted an impact player, and snagged him. So be it. Hopefully, someday soon, we will be where they are. But for now, try and have some faith that Tangini knows what they are doing and lets see how this all plays out.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

there are many ways to skin a cat! What works for one team might not work for others. If we stick to second tier players ala KIMO, AC, then we will have to replace them in a year or two. Why not sign a young guy who can play! If we wait for the prices to come down, they won't! Noone said the dreaded word: OVERPAY!

The problem as I see it is that we should not sign KIMO or Anthony Clement type free agents. We did that last year and all we have heard from some guys is how they have to be replaced. How many times can we keep replacing second tier types without the cost going through the ceiling? Secondly, the JETS did not have to try to match what NE has done by overpaying anyone. What we need is infrastructure. We need an OG or two and a RT. We need a NT. If we sign a quality player THIS year at OG it would solidify our OL immediately. We have a QB entering or in his prime with little mobility and one that requires time to throw. Hence a superior OL is of paramount importance. Someone is apparently assuming that the FA market will be drastically reduced for next year. I don't! OG is the new glamour position. That is a fact of the NFL. IMO the salaries of ALL players will keep going up! Signing an excellent OG this year would keep us from spending additional cap space next year.

Again, why waste money on guys we have to replace almost on a yearly basis? Some want to assume that guys here want the JETS to go out and sign every FA possible and overpay to keep up with the JONES'. That is unrealistic and was never said here or anywhere else.

The players wanted this system to raise their salaries and it is working! It also gives them the ability to change teams and get rich. IMO if we think that salaries will be going down in the next few years, well, I think that is wrong!

A smart GM, IMO, utilizes all means possible to build a team. There is no single best way to do it! The last team built solely by the draft that won a SB was the STEELERS in the late 70s. With the advent of FA the method to build a team has changed. We have always gone for second tier players except for MAWAE and CURTIS. When the USFL folded we signed very few players and they were second rate players. Still we all complain that we have not won a SB since 1969 and have not been constant winners at all. Is there any wonder why? Our drafts have NOT been all that good either. The Draft is a crap shoot! Because an Olman did well in college does not mean he will do well in the NFL. A guy like DIELMAN is young and proven. Aside from injury the risk of him failing is very slight compared to a draftee. The mistake made here by some is that they insist that other guys want to build only via FA. They are absolutely wrong. When a team can get a very good player in a position of need in FA, imo, they should get him as long as they do not have to vastly overpay ala CLEMENTS. Yet a man like DIELMAN was pretty reasonable considering his talent and PROVEN ability. I dare say that a comparable player next year will cost just as much, if not more! I also disagree with MSG when he says that there will be fewer teams participating in FA next year. IMo that is an unknown at this time. TEAMS have a way to divest themselves of cap debt. We have done it in the past and they will do it in the future.

In summation, I think we should realize that every team has its own way of building a championship team. Some are more successful then others. Teams like the JETS and LIONS are still searching for the proper keys to a SB ring! How can they exclude FA as a way of acquiring a player that they need in a position like OG when fairly priced players are available? The word OVERPAY has been said over and over ad nauseum. If NE wins a SB because of the moves they made this year, you can bet that their fans will never say that they overpaid for AT, et al! They started off better then us and have built their team in a strong fashion. All I want is ONE excellent player at OG or RT in FA and a few good second tier players to fill important roles that are better then players we currently have. No more KIMO types! I have to laugh though. I hear complaints about KIMO, CLEMENTS and complaints when it is suggested that we sign better replacements for those players! Go figure! LOL

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Lets hope that this is our year!

[Arsis]

Why do people think that we have to go out and get the biggest name out there every year? why do people think that because we're being patient and quiet that we're being cheap? That jones trade came out of nowhere, I've heard rumors about signing columbo. You guys act like the sky is falling because we didn't pay $80 million for nattte clemens or that adailus thomas wanted to go to the pats. It's sad really. The guys in charge aren't morons, they have a plan and it seems to be working so far. So lets give them the benefit of the doubt.

[pjam76]

Win a division title and beat the Pats in the playoffs. That is a plan that is working.

While what they've done seems to be nice, it's no different than anything done in the past 30+ years. The Jets rarely go out and sign the big names. Most of the names they've signed are always second tier players. They always seem to let their bigger name players go via Free Agency or Trade.

Nobody wants them to sign every big name or trade away half their drafts to wind up with the first pick in the draft. But people get tired of hearing about Brady picked in the 7th Round. Colston picked in the 7th Round. Etc etc etc while the Jets have Washington, picked in the 4th round, who will probably not play much for the next few years, if at all. And if he does get too many touches, Jones will not be happy. And an unhappy player who signs a big money contract at the end of his career, isn't a good thing.

[Arsis]

so you're mad the jets haven't gotten lucky in the 6th and 7th rounds every year? if they went out and signed nate to a 10 yr 80 mill contract; you'd be happy? What other big names are you talking about? Thomas had no interest in the jets.