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Brunell wants to join Jets...


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Brunell wants to join Jets, but held up by Taylor

3:06 PM, April 9, 2010 ι By BART HUBBUCH

A source close to Mark Brunell told The Post today that the veteran quarterback would very much like to sign with the Jets, but Brunell's hands are tied until Jason Taylor makes up his mind.

That's because the NFL's "Final Four" rule allows the Jets to sign an unrestricted free agent only if they lose one to another team, then at roughly the same first-year salary of the departing player.

In the Jets' case, they only have one such slot available at $1.5 million in the first year after losing kicker Jay Feely to the Cardinals. And that slot is reserved for Taylor, the league's active sack leader who reportedly is leaning toward signing with the Jets after a red-carpet recruiting trip earlier this week.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported today that Taylor's decision to bolt the Dolphins for the rival Jets is 'close to done,' but Taylor's representative and the Jets both said they don't expect a formal move -- if it comes -- to happen for another day or two.

Brunell is eager to sign with the Jets after spending the past two seasons as Drew Brees' backup in New Orleans. A three-time Pro Bowl pick in the 1990s, Brunell turns 40 this fall and is well past his prime but is viewed by the Jets as a competent replacement were Mark Sanchez to go down.

Brunell's arrival would put Kellen Clemens' future in limbo, but Brunell can't sign with the Jets for the time being unless Taylor spurns them or they unexpectedly lose another unrestricted free agent.

A source close to Brunell said the "Final Four" rule will be lifted starting July 22, but that has not yet been confirmed by the league.

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I thought there was no restriction to signing UFAs from other top 4 teams... maybe I am missing something.

Unfortunately that's not the case -- as we would have been able to bring in Darren Sharper as well. The final four rule being lifted would be a good thing, I suppose -- at least when it comes to bringing in someone like Brunell (who personally I'd love to get as a backup).

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This was a great touch by Tannenbaum. The Jets obviously want Taylor over Brunell... But Tanny also knew that Taylor may have just been there trying to use the Jets as leverage for either the Dolphins or Pats... By bringing in Brunell for a visit, Taylor gets the message that the Jets are not going to wait forever for Taylor to make up his mind.

This way if the weekend comes and goes and Taylor doesn't sign... Tanny gives a quick call to Brunell, gets him to come sign the dotted line, and Sanchez is given a very solid vet backup and role model/teacher.

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mark brunnell actually won a playoff game in Washington... with a recipe of handing the ball off to Portis and strong defense... sound familiar?

love to have mark Brunnell... i dont know how much mentoring he does but it's gotta be more than Clem, Ainge and Oconnell... and if Mark goes down they still have a chance.

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I don't know what his incentive is to come here. He already got a ring backing up Brees. But hey if that helps Sanchez that's great for the Jets. That veteran leadership without the worry of him taking the job.

I think he's at the point of his career where he knows hes probably not going to start anywhere but doesn't know what he'd do without football... So mine as well be paid to backup and coach a young guy.

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I don't know what his incentive is to come here. He already got a ring backing up Brees. But hey if that helps Sanchez that's great for the Jets. That veteran leadership without the worry of him taking the job.

I think you actually just answered your own question. He's a smart enough guy to know that nobody sees him as a starter anymore, so he's fine with that. He got himself his ring that he wanted, so he's got that covered as well. So if he wants to stay in the league, what's really left? Well obviously even if you're backup, you'd always prefer to be on a good team, which the Jets certainly do appear to have and as a QB, the one thing he probably still feels he can contribute is the mentoring of a young guy. Its really all that's left for him to do, and what better person and place for that than Sanchez and the Jets?

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mark brunnell actually won a playoff game in Washington... with a recipe of handing the ball off to Portis and strong defense... sound familiar?

love to have mark Brunnell... i dont know how much mentoring he does but it's gotta be more than Clem, Ainge and Oconnell... and if Mark goes down they still have a chance.

Did you watch Mark Brunell in Washington?

If it was 3rd and long, there was a 95% chance he was going to panic and run with the ball. The problem was that he wasn't "lefty Steve Young" anymore. And that was three years ago!

He might be an upgrade over Clemens, if only because Clemens is one of the worst quarterbacks in Jets history, but Brunnell is no prize himself. I'd trust Ainge more.

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I thought there was no restriction to signing UFAs from other top 4 teams... maybe I am missing something.

Not that I know of. From all I've read it's you have to lose one first before you can sign anyone elses. Just our luck that it goes into effect this year.

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