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Jets create room for Ray Lewis


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BY Rich Cimini

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Friday, February 20th 2009, 2:21 AM

amd_lewis.jpg Carr/AP Ray Lewis

INDIANAPOLIS - The Ray Lewis rumors got a lot louder Thursday night.

The Jets left themselves perilously thin at inside linebacker, releasing veteran backups David Bowens and Brad Kassell - moves that could mean they're clearing the deck to pursue Lewis or Ravens teammate Bart Scott, another inside linebacker.

"They must be targeting a linebacker, probably from Baltimore," Bowens said in a phone interview.

New coach Rex Ryan, previously the Ravens' defensive coordinator, knows Lewis and Scott as well as anyone. Ryan has only one experienced inside linebacker under contract, David Harris, so it doesn't take a genius to connect the dots.

Lewis and Scott will be free agents on Feb. 27, although the Ravens are expected to make a push to sign Lewis before he hits the open market. The Ravens used their franchise tag on outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, effectively removing him from the market. Scott wants to stay in Baltimore, but he doubts that will happen.

"If you're able to keep all three of us, you'd almost have to be a miracle worker," he said Wednesday on Sirius Radio.

Lewis is a future Hall of Famer and has said he'd enjoy being reunited with Ryan, but Scott, 28, makes more sense to the Jets because he's nearly six years younger than Lewis. Scott will be one of the most coveted free agents in the league, but the Jets have $18 million in salary-cap space after gaining an additional $3 million with the release of Bowens and Kassell.

Jets' brass arrived here at the scouting combine with several pressing issues. They will meet Friday night with the agent for right guard Brandon Moore, who is due a $7 million roster bonus. The team poured a lot of money into the offensive line last offseason and wants to renegotiate his contract. Failing that, the Jets may release Moore, their best run blocker. He'd immediately become one of the top free-agent guards.

They also may part ways with tight end Chris Baker, another financially motivated decision. If he's on the roster March 5, the Jets would have to guarantee $9 million in salary over the next three years - a prohibitive amount at a position where they invested a first-round choice in Dustin Keller.

The Jets can use some of the savings for running back Leon Washington, whom they'd like to sign to a long-term deal. Washington, entering the final year of his contract, is likely seeking Darren Sproles money; the Chargers' all-purpose dynamo received the franchise tag - a cool $6.6 million for one year.

Meanwhile, the Jets lost a respected leader in Bowens, who started five games when Harris was hurt. Bowens recently underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.

"My knee was messed up since training camp," he said. "I could've sat down, but I sucked it up for the team. Was it worth it? Yeah, it was. I put the team ahead of me."

PICK IT UP: The Jets will receive a third-round pick for LB Jonathan Vilma, whom they traded to the Saints last March. It would escalate to a second-rounder if Vilma re-signs before the start of free agency, but that is unlikely.

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BY Rich Cimini

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Friday, February 20th 2009, 2:21 AM

amd_lewis.jpg Carr/AP Ray Lewis

INDIANAPOLIS - The Ray Lewis rumors got a lot louder Thursday night.

The Jets left themselves perilously thin at inside linebacker, releasing veteran backups David Bowens and Brad Kassell - moves that could mean they're clearing the deck to pursue Lewis or Ravens teammate Bart Scott, another inside linebacker.

"They must be targeting a linebacker, probably from Baltimore," Bowens said in a phone interview.

New coach Rex Ryan, previously the Ravens' defensive coordinator, knows Lewis and Scott as well as anyone. Ryan has only one experienced inside linebacker under contract, David Harris, so it doesn't take a genius to connect the dots.

Lewis and Scott will be free agents on Feb. 27, although the Ravens are expected to make a push to sign Lewis before he hits the open market. The Ravens used their franchise tag on outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, effectively removing him from the market. Scott wants to stay in Baltimore, but he doubts that will happen.

"If you're able to keep all three of us, you'd almost have to be a miracle worker," he said Wednesday on Sirius Radio.

Lewis is a future Hall of Famer and has said he'd enjoy being reunited with Ryan, but Scott, 28, makes more sense to the Jets because he's nearly six years younger than Lewis. Scott will be one of the most coveted free agents in the league, but the Jets have $18 million in salary-cap space after gaining an additional $3 million with the release of Bowens and Kassell.

Jets' brass arrived here at the scouting combine with several pressing issues. They will meet Friday night with the agent for right guard Brandon Moore, who is due a $7 million roster bonus. The team poured a lot of money into the offensive line last offseason and wants to renegotiate his contract. Failing that, the Jets may release Moore, their best run blocker. He'd immediately become one of the top free-agent guards.

They also may part ways with tight end Chris Baker, another financially motivated decision. If he's on the roster March 5, the Jets would have to guarantee $9 million in salary over the next three years - a prohibitive amount at a position where they invested a first-round choice in Dustin Keller.

The Jets can use some of the savings for running back Leon Washington, whom they'd like to sign to a long-term deal. Washington, entering the final year of his contract, is likely seeking Darren Sproles money; the Chargers' all-purpose dynamo received the franchise tag - a cool $6.6 million for one year.

Meanwhile, the Jets lost a respected leader in Bowens, who started five games when Harris was hurt. Bowens recently underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.

"My knee was messed up since training camp," he said. "I could've sat down, but I sucked it up for the team. Was it worth it? Yeah, it was. I put the team ahead of me."

PICK IT UP: The Jets will receive a third-round pick for LB Jonathan Vilma, whom they traded to the Saints last March. It would escalate to a second-rounder if Vilma re-signs before the start of free agency, but that is unlikely.

why do we want Lewis over Vick again...i forget

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why do we want Lewis over Vick again...i forget

well let's see. vick was convicted of his crime....a crime that he personally did with his own handsa. lewis was not convicted of his crime, a crime which was supposedly done by someone he was with...who were also acquitted.

oh and there's also the part where ray lewis is a great lb'er and vick is a ****ty qb.

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well let's see. vick was convicted of his crime....a crime that he personally did with his own handsa. lewis was not convicted of his crime, a crime which was supposedly done by someone he was with...who were also acquitted.

oh and there's also the part where ray lewis is a great lb'er and vick is a ****ty qb.

Keep on believing...OJ was innocent too

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BY Rich Cimini

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Friday, February 20th 2009, 2:21 AM

amd_lewis.jpg Carr/AP Ray Lewis

Jets' brass arrived here at the scouting combine with several pressing issues. They will meet Friday night with the agent for right guard Brandon Moore, who is due a $7 million roster bonus. The team poured a lot of money into the offensive line last offseason and wants to renegotiate his contract. Failing that, the Jets may release Moore, their best run blocker. He'd immediately become one of the top free-agent guards.

Funny how prior to last year, Moore was allegedly a POS, now he's the Jets' "best run blocker."

Sounds to me like Cimini is readying a rip piece if the Jets cut Moore loose. :rolleyes:

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well let's see. vick was convicted of his crime....a crime that he personally did with his own handsa. lewis was not convicted of his crime, a crime which was supposedly done by someone he was with...who were also acquitted.

oh and there's also the part where ray lewis is a great lb'er and vick is a ****ty qb.

Vick paid for his crime, and then some. Say what you want about Vick being a ****ty QB, but he's still better than anyone on our roster.

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Why does the Brandon Moore situation remind me so much of 2005 and Reggie McKenzie? We all said "ahh, it's OK he wasn't THAT good anyway". Two years later we see him in the Super Bowl. Don't make the same mistake twice. Chris Baker and 9 million? C-ya #86

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Why does the Brandon Moore situation remind me so much of 2005 and Reggie McKenzie? We all said "ahh, it's OK he wasn't THAT good anyway". Two years later we see him in the Super Bowl. Don't make the same mistake twice. Chris Baker and 9 million? C-ya #86

kareem mckenzie?

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Why does the Brandon Moore situation remind me so much of 2005 and Reggie McKenzie? We all said "ahh, it's OK he wasn't THAT good anyway". Two years later we see him in the Super Bowl. Don't make the same mistake twice. Chris Baker and 9 million? C-ya #86

Kareem McKenzie but yes I get your point... as for Baker, the Jets can let him go but truly need to get a blocking tight end. And get Franks out of here as well

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Why does the Brandon Moore situation remind me so much of 2005 and Reggie McKenzie? We all said "ahh, it's OK he wasn't THAT good anyway". Two years later we see him in the Super Bowl. Don't make the same mistake twice. Chris Baker and 9 million? C-ya #86

You nailed it, SFJ. Releasing Moore would be a hige mistake. Just like McKenzie was. I would not miss Baker for the money he is making.

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Kareem McKenzie but yes I get your point... as for Baker, the Jets can let him go but truly need to get a blocking tight end. And get Franks out of here as well

yup THAT guy Kareem...I agree 4H Bubba was a big disappointment and will be gone. Remember when we all wanted him and got Becht instead in 2000-day late, dollar short again Jets

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After thinking about it for a couple of weeks, I'd rather have Bart Scott than Ray Lewis. Pretty much a quote by Pat Kirwan on Sirius made me do a 180.

"Ray Lewis' leadership exists only in Baltmiore. What happens when he goes elsewhere and misses four tackles in a game because he is slowing down each season? The leadership means nothing there, it is a new group of guys. His leadership is in Baltimore only"

I hope we can re-work that $7 million roster bonus with Brandon because he is our best run blocking Offensive Linemand and when it comes to Baker, when you have Dustin Keller on the roster, its time to say goodbye and bring in a top tier blocking Tight End to stay in and block while Keller catches passes in the slot ala Dallas Clark, the man he is compared too.

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I hope we can re-work that $7 million roster bonus with Brandon

Two things. First, it's 5M, not 7M. Second, we don't actually want to restructure Moore. We could if we really had to clear the cap room this year, but we don't. The 2009 and 2011 roster bonuses basically make Moore's current deal two two-year contracts at 6.5M apiece. Restructuring now to spread out the 2009 bonus will take away our option to cut ties free and clear in 2011 should his play fall off. Pace and Rhodes can be (have been?) restructured, but with Moore I think we either pay the bonus or cut him.

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BY Rich Cimini

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Friday, February 20th 2009, 2:21 AM

***

Jets have $18 million in salary-cap space after gaining an additional $3 million with the release of Bowens and Kassell.

Jets' brass arrived here at the scouting combine with several pressing issues. They will meet Friday night with the agent for right guard Brandon Moore, who is due a $7 million roster bonus. The team poured a lot of money into the offensive line last offseason and wants to renegotiate his contract. Failing that, the Jets may release Moore, their best run blocker. He'd immediately become one .

How in the **** does this make sense?

1) The Jets have $18 million in cap space.

2) Spent a ton last year on Oline

3) Rex wants to be a run-first team

4) Would cut Moore, their best run blocker, because of $7 million roster bonus.

Seriously, how the **** does cutting Moore make sense??? Does Cimini think anything out. If they spent a ton on the Oline last year and want to be a run-first team, why would they mess up the Oline by getting rid of Moore???

Sorry to rant, but either Cimini is a bloody idiot or the Jets FO is.

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How in the **** does this make sense?

1) The Jets have $18 million in cap space.

2) Spent a ton last year on Oline

3) Rex wants to be a run-first team

4) Would cut Moore, their best run blocker, because of $7 million roster bonus.

Seriously, how the **** does cutting Moore make sense??? Does Cimini think anything out. If they spent a ton on the Oline last year and want to be a run-first team, why would they mess up the Oline by getting rid of Moore???

Sorry to rant, but either Cimini is a bloody idiot or the Jets FO is.

Have you seen a recent picture of Cimini?

Retard.jpg

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Cutting Moore makes ZERO sense. We are supposely going to be a run first, run second and run or pass third type team, yet we are considering releasing our best run blocking Offensive Lineman? Makes no sense to me either SMC. If Moore is cut I question what exactly Rex Ryan is doing.

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Why does the Brandon Moore situation remind me so much of 2005 and Reggie McKenzie? We all said "ahh, it's OK he wasn't THAT good anyway". Two years later we see him in the Super Bowl. Don't make the same mistake twice. Chris Baker and 9 million? C-ya #86

SoFla, completely different situation.

McKenzie was an UFA then while Moore is under contract. With McKenzie, the Jets were tight against the cap and couldn't afford to re-sign him at the money the Giants were willing to give him.

I want to keep Moore as well because it makes no sense to get rid of him and screw up the OLine the Jets invested heavily in. But Bradway wanted to keep McKenzie but couldn't because the contracts of the 3Cs were killing the team (Chad, Chrebet, and CuMart)

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How in the **** does this make sense?

1) The Jets have $18 million in cap space.

2) Spent a ton last year on Oline

3) Rex wants to be a run-first team

4) Would cut Moore, their best run blocker, because of $7 million roster bonus.

Seriously, how the **** does cutting Moore make sense??? Does Cimini think anything out. If they spent a ton on the Oline last year and want to be a run-first team, why would they mess up the Oline by getting rid of Moore???

Sorry to rant, but either Cimini is a bloody idiot or the Jets FO is.

They'll renegotiate it in some way. There is no way the Jets ever intended to pay Brandon a one-time check of $7M at the time he signed his contract 2 years ago. Whatever they do now has been planned and put in motion 2 years ago.

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No to Lewis, sorry guys I don't want anyone past their twilight years.

Maybe to Scott

Keep Moore, please.

Wish we would have kept Bowens, but I understand the money aspect of it all.

Cya Baker it's been nice.

And one they didn't mention, I would cut ties or trade Coles.

It's going to be near impossible to move Coles.

His contract for 6M is guaranteed. If you trade him, it's off the books, but who would want to inherit a 6M contract for him? If you cut him, you're on the books for the 6M.

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