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Things are getting Gay in Hempstead with Randall's visit


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Cornerback Gay to visit Jets

By Mike Reiss, Globe Staff | April 9, 2007

The New York Jets are scheduled to host Patriots cornerback Randall Gay on a free agent visit that starts tonight and extends through tomorrow.

Gay, who has played three NFL seasons and is a restricted free agent, has been participating in the Patriots' offseason program. He was tendered a one-year, $1.3 million contract this offseason but has yet to sign the tender, making him free to visit other teams.

If a team signs Gay to an offer sheet, the Patriots would be compensated with a second-round draft choice if they don't match. If New England matched the offer sheet, it would retain Gay and assume that contract.

The Jets have two second-round draft choices, their own (59th overall) and the Bears' (63d), both of which are late in the round. The Patriots do not have a second-round pick; it was traded to the Dolphins as part of the deal for receiver Wes Welker last month.

The Jets' visit with Gay comes on the heels of cornerback Asante Samuel publicly expressing his displeasure with his contract negotiations with the Patriots. If Samuel were to hold out, a player like Gay -- who started 12 games in the team's 2004 Super Bowl season -- would be a candidate to replace him.

While it's possible the visit with the 5-foot-11-inch, 190-pound Gay has some gamesmanship to it -- the Jets looking to put a scare into their AFC East rivals -- New York coach Eric Mangini does have a background with Gay, having served as his position coach in 2004. Gay was one of the Patriots' top surprises that season, making the club as a rookie free agent out of Louisiana State and helping fill the void when cornerback Ty Law suffered a season-ending injury.

Gay, who turns 25 next month, has been limited to eight games over the last two seasons because of ankle (2005) and hamstring (2006) injuries.

Not including Samuel and Gay -- who have not signed their tenders -- the Patriots have Ellis Hobbs and Chad Scott as their top cornerbacks under contract. The team is likely to bolster the position in this month's draft.

Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com. dingbat_story_end_icon.gif

© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.

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two points:

1) the CHI trade previews this deal. The way RFA works the team has to give up the higher of multiple picks in the same round for compensation. By moving from 37 to lower in the round, the Jets can make the same move for Gay but at a lower price.

2) usually I am the last person to recommend giving up draft picks - however this deal appeals to me purely because it improves the Jets while at the same time worsening the Pats. It harms a division rival at a position of need, that's always a plus. If we can assume the Pats don't do anything with the pick (a BIG assumption), the Jets make out. On the contrary if the Pats draft a 10 year all pro with that 2nd rounder it would backfire.

also note that the player himself is only a few months older than Aaron Ross, CB Texas, so he's young enough he could be considered a draft pick. it's not like they would be dealing for a 32 year old who has one or two more years before retirement.

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Jets fans beware:

1) The thought of Randal Gay remaining healthy for an entire season is laughable at best.

2) If you must, please rent, borrow or steal a copy of the Philly/Pats SB video and describe Gay's performance.

3) You're willing to give a second round pick for him?

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two points:

1) the CHI trade previews this deal. The way RFA works the team has to give up the higher of multiple picks in the same round for compensation. By moving from 37 to lower in the round, the Jets can make the same move for Gay but at a lower price.

2) usually I am the last person to recommend giving up draft picks - however this deal appeals to me purely because it improves the Jets while at the same time worsening the Pats. It harms a division rival at a position of need, that's always a plus. If we can assume the Pats don't do anything with the pick (a BIG assumption), the Jets make out. On the contrary if the Pats draft a 10 year all pro with that 2nd rounder it would backfire.

also note that the player himself is only a few months older than Aaron Ross, CB Texas, so he's young enough he could be considered a draft pick. it's not like they would be dealing for a 32 year old who has one or two more years before retirement.

Good in theory.

However, he has not been healthy since 2004. Depending on the cost, this could be a nice signing if Gay ever gets and stays healthy. An undrafted Rookie FA, due to injury, and he stepped in and did ok.

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where a guy started out is irrelevant - samuel was a 4th round pick the Pats are going to pay an avg of top 5 CB money to, if that can be justified, using a 2nd on Gay *who by the way could be the best CB on the NYJ roster* can also be justified. It's the mangini instruction (and promise of more to come) that increases these players' values.

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where a guy started out is irrelevant - samuel was a 4th round pick the Pats are going to pay an avg of top 5 CB money to, if that can be justified, using a 2nd on Gay *who by the way could be the best CB on the NYJ roster* can also be justified. It's the mangini instruction (and promise of more to come) that increases these players' values.

Just showing a history of injuries.

Mangni did an awesome job of coaching the DBs, especially 2004 when Assante and Randal Blue replaced Ty and Tyrone at corner.

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I say pass...not worth a second round pick for a guy who hasn't done anything to warrant the cost it would take to get him...

I agree but the Pats may have to match with the whole Samuel mess they have now. If that's the case and the Jets can make them spend more I'm all for it but I don't think he is worth a second rounder.

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If we get him, I wonder who has the balls to where his jersey....

Then all that is left is for the Jets to draft De'Cody Fagg, the WR from Florida State next year, and duos of friends all over New York can wear their jerseys together with pride.

:cheers:

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Improves the Jets, hurts the Patriots and I've always been a fan of Gay since '04 and thought that he should've been starting over Hobbs the past 2 seasons, when he has played. I would not mind giving up 59 or 63 for him, especially if we end up trading down in Round 1.

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two points:

1) the CHI trade previews this deal. The way RFA works the team has to give up the higher of multiple picks in the same round for compensation. By moving from 37 to lower in the round, the Jets can make the same move for Gay but at a lower price.

2) usually I am the last person to recommend giving up draft picks - however this deal appeals to me purely because it improves the Jets while at the same time worsening the Pats. It harms a division rival at a position of need, that's always a plus. If we can assume the Pats don't do anything with the pick (a BIG assumption), the Jets make out. On the contrary if the Pats draft a 10 year all pro with that 2nd rounder it would backfire.

also note that the player himself is only a few months older than Aaron Ross, CB Texas, so he's young enough he could be considered a draft pick. it's not like they would be dealing for a 32 year old who has one or two more years before retirement.

The only way I'd be okay with the deal is if they recoup the pick or at least stock up some other picks by or on draft day by making some deals. I pretty much expect them to have to be wheeling and dealing as they did last year. Maybe they can deal Barrett for a mid-round pick. They may be able to get something for Von O. too (although that would probably be a late round pick). There is always McCaerins for maybe a 4th or 5th. I don't know if I believe they are looking to deal Barton (nor do I really want them to) but they could get a mid-rounder for him. I'm sure there are some others they would be willing to deal for the right return. There is also the trade down a few spots and get extra picks move which I fully expect them to do at some point on draft day.

It does make sense that they would have grabbed that pick from the Bears in anticipation of maybe signing Gay or using the pick in some other way. That is definitely up Tannenbaum's alley.

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Gay is not a qual;ity CB and he is NOT worth a second round pick. There are several CBs in the draft that are better then him at this moment! ROSS & REVIS are but two!

i'm totally in this boat that gay isn't worth the 2nd rder. if the jets were to take a CB from the pats and it would hurt, then go after samuel. samuel's comp is a 1st rd pick, and he could be a better pick then ross or revis but i don't think you give the pats 3 first rders, b/c doing that for bellichek is like giving an 8 year old a box of matches.

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I don't even know anything about this gay fella. But giving a second rounder for him is ludacris. I would give our 25 for Samuel and I would give one of our seconds for Starks. They seem like no brainers. Bad side about getting Samuel is the pick you have to give to the pats. Although we did the say thing for Curtis.

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As other have stated quite well , the thought of giving up a 2nd rounder for a CB that has been hurt for the last 2 seasons is NOT the way to go. I think Gay is a decent CB but he's of no use to us if he's on IR.

If i'm giving up a 2nd round pick I need a little more then just decent or servicable I agree with you. The guy i'd be asking about is Samuel.

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