Mean Papi Green Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 Ex-Dolphin Fiedler emerges as Jets' backup plan BY GARY MYERS DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER If Jay Fiedler comes home to New York on the next stop of his NFL career, it will be with the Jets, not the Giants. The Giants had Fiedler, from Oceanside, L.I., in for a visit on Friday. But the Giants backed off and signed Jim Miller as Eli Manning's backup. The Jets, who initially didn't express any interest in Fiedler, will have him in for a visit toward the end of this week. The Jets have had varying degrees of success bringing home local quarterbacks Boomer Esiason, Neil O'Donnell and Vinny Testaverde. Now Fiedler could be joining the list. He would provide the ideal veteran insurance in the event Chad Pennington has a slow recovery from surgery last month for a torn rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder. Fiedler's knowledge of the AFC East, after five years in Miami, would be a bonus. The Jets opened talks with Fiedler's agent, Brian Levy, on Friday and the talks continued yesterday. Levy indicated the Giants were disappointed Fiedler left the building last week without signing, a point Giants GM Ernie Accorsi disputed. Levy said Fiedler was determined to fully investigate his options, which include a meeting today with the Bears, who are committed to starting Rex Grossman. Levy anticipates Fielder will make a decision by the end of the weekend. "It's important for him to get an education before he signs," Levy said. "He will visit the Bears and the Jets and take all the information and figure it out. Pennington is the Jets starter and we know that." Accorsi said the Giants were not upset Friday with Fiedler, who played for Tom Coughlin in Jacksonville. The Giants knew he wanted "to start and there were other places he was considering," Accorsi said. They never made Fiedler a contract offer. The Giants turned their attention to Miller, 34, who didn't get into a game as a backup in New England last season. The Patriots were his fifth team. As the Jets await the arrival of Laveranues Coles for a physical tomorrow, a requirement before they complete the trade with Washington for Santana Moss, they are focusing on Pennington's backup. The No. 2 quarterback for the Jets may be one of the five most important players on the team going into training camp, considering Pennington's uncertain status. The Jets appear to be Fiedler's best option. Levy said Pennington's injury is "absolutely a consideration." It could present Fiedler with more playing time. Levy said another positive is Fiedler would "probably get a lot of reps" in the offseason and minicamps in new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger's system. Fielder, 33, started 59 of a possible 80 games with the Dolphins, taking over for Dan Marino. He lost his job to A.J. Feeley during last season and was cut before he was due a $2 million roster bonus this month. He led Miami to the playoffs in each of his first two years as the starter. The Bears, who also are interested in ex-Bucs QB Brad Johnson, don't have big money budgeted for the spot. They had ex-Giant Kurt Warner in last week, but Warner elected to sign a one-year, $4 million deal with the Cardinals, who offered a clear path to a starting job. Meanwhile, Coles officially should become a Jet again tomorrow. Team doctors will obviously completely check out his right big toe that he injured early in the 2003 season. The Redskins wanted him to have surgery, but he refused. The trading of Moss means in the last week the Jets have lost their No. 1 pick (Moss), No. 2 pick (LaMont Jordan) and No. 3 pick (Kareem McKenzie) from the 2001 draft, the first draft for Terry Bradway and Herm Edwards. SAFETY GAMBLE: Dolphins free agent safety Trent Gamble was expected to arrive last night for a visit with the Jets. He was in Green Bay yesterday. Originally published on March 8, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
124 Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 Good. With Fiedler behind Chad we can know going into the season if Chad re-injuries himself we'd still have a pretty good Vet behind him and not a druggy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mean Papi Green Posted March 8, 2005 Author Share Posted March 8, 2005 Good. With Fiedler behind Chad we can know going into the season if Chad re-injuries himself we'd still have a pretty good Vet behind him and not a druggy. better than quincy right, Jay is a decent QB that won alot of games with an idiot for a head coach down here, but was susceptible to the pick 6 remember he threw 2 when we shut them out here in miami about 3 years ago? not a super strong arm but makes a few throws, not who you want starting alot of games but suitable as a backup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 I would be happy with this move. This is the guy I wanted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 I would be happy with this move. This is the guy I wanted. while i'm new to this board, it seems your want for men is uncanny....... kinda scary dude I think he'd be a great back up as well if it doesn't break the bank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 while i'm new to this board, it seems your want for men is uncanny....... kinda scary dude I think he'd be a great back up as well if it doesn't break the bank Don't get me wrong, I think he would also make a great backup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 ha!! is there enough cap room after the signing for a custom helmet with the flared wheel wells? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGHT STALKER Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 It could be an excellent signing. I look at Vinny as an example. Had his best years in my opinion in front of the home crowd. Home cooking tends to bring out your best sometimes. 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetswin Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 Fiedler would be a good add.... the only thing I would worry about is crowd noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 Fiedler would be a good add.... the only thing I would worry about is crowd noise. Fireman Ed would definitely have to stop the chant when the Jets have the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiamiJet Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 I like the move, if it goes down. Yes, he's gritty, tough, etc, he's also a soild leader, and he still has good mobility, something Heimerdinger could use effectively. If not Fiedler, what other options would we have? Brad Johnson? Maybe....not sure how he'd fit into Heimerdinger's O. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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