BAKER SITUATION BOILED OVER LAST WEEK

[SayNoToDMC]

BAKER SITUATION BOILED OVER LAST WEEK

Posted by Mike Florio on September 11, 2008, 3:03 p.m. EDT

Though we haven’t been able to track down many concrete details, we’ve learned over the past few hours that the contract signed last Friday by Jets tight end Chris Baker was the end result of a certain degree of overt ugliness that erupted between the player and the team in the preceding couple of days.

We don’t know what happened or what was said, but we know that something transpired, most likely as a result of Baker’s desire to get this contractual situation resolved before the first regular-season game.

Previously, Baker claimed that the team had reneged on promises to re-do his deal. He was the third veteran Jets player in roughly a year to contend that he’d been lied to by the team about his contractual status.

In the end, Baker got no additional money in 2008, possibly because the Jets are squeezed against the cap following the trade for Brett Favre’s $12 million contract. (It should make things interesting if/when current players get hurt and new players are signed.) The key is that, if Baker participates in at least 50 percent of the snaps this season, he’ll either get $9 million in guaranteed money, or he’ll get his freedom.

We’ve also gotten a look-see at Baker’s new numbers. Here’s a quick summary:

His base salary for 2008 remains at $683,000. Next year, his base salary is $2.1 million. If he meets the play-time threshold and the team doesn’t cut him before the fifth day of the 2009 league year, the salary is guaranteed.

Those same triggers would make his $2.73 million salary in 2010, his $3.36 million salary in 2011, and $810,000 of his $2.99 million salary in 2012 guaranteed.

Guaranteed base salaries are rarely used in the NFL — the fact that $3.36 million could be guaranteed to Baker in 2011 might make for some interesting developments, if there’s a lockout.

Regardless, the problem is now solved. We’re currently forming a pool regarding which of the team’s current players will be the next to claim he has been lied to by the organization.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/09/11/baker-situation-boiled-over-last-week/

I'm disappointed they caved at all to his bull****

[Lil Bit Special]

Though we haven

[rick34125]

So something happened, but they dont know what?

sounds like someone is just throwing sh!t against the wall to see what sticks...

the original name for pft was gonna be the sh!t mill. florio is the sheis meister and doesn't like the jets too much either.

[aec4]

Basically this means if Baker puts up, the Jets keep him.. if he plays like he has, and Keller/Franks/someone else shows promise, byebye and no costto the jets.. Nice job Tannenbaum

[serphnx]

Basically this means if Baker puts up, the Jets keep him.. if he plays like he has, and Keller/Franks/someone else shows promise, byebye and no costto the jets.. Nice job Tannenbaum

Yeah, to me it looked more like Baker and his agent trying to save face. This does pretty much nothing for them, except make him likely to get cut before the guarantees kick in. And then he will have no job unless he crawls back here and we take him again. But after his little outburst, who knows if he will even be welcomed back. We know even if we pay him he'll just bitch again.

[CobraVerde]

I hear Baker makes a great soup...The key is bringing it to a boil but not letting it burn...