Lombardi: Jets likely to let Cromartie walk; interested in Asomugha

[patsfan-1982]

every team will be interested in the top FA on the market but only one will over pay for him like the bears did last year with peppers

 

[Shelterdog]

every team will be interested in the top FA on the market but only one will over pay for him like the bears did last year with peppers

Free agency is going to be insane this year.

I suspect that the CBA is going to get worked out so that there's a fairly high cap in the near future, say 140-145 million (making the players voting on it happy), and like every year there will be a fairly high minimum-125 million or so- but it's only going to increase slowly, like 2% a year (making the owners happy). A lot of teams like the Chiefs and Bucs who had 70 million payrolls are going to have to go out and spend 50 million + this year, and a few of them are gong to spend those big dollars on guys like Aso.

 

[jsull87]

Honestly... how could one team afford Revis and Asomoguah?

Not only that, while franchising their ILB, Giving their LT a large contract and their centre a large contract and having just picked a QB qith a large contract in the top 5? Also hope to sign Holmes and Edwards to their big contracts...

All of that just doesn't sound right to me. Especially as most here were predicting the jets having to let players go rather than bring them in.

 

[VinnyPatrollie]

Free agency is going to be insane this year.

I suspect that the CBA is going to get worked out so that there's a fairly high cap in the near future, say 140-145 million (making the players voting on it happy), and like every year there will be a fairly high minimum-125 million or so- but it's only going to increase slowly, like 2% a year (making the owners happy). A lot of teams like the Chiefs and Bucs who had 70 million payrolls are going to have to go out and spend 50 million + this year, and a few of them are gong to spend those big dollars on guys like Aso.

Owners are demanding an 18% reduction in player costs yet you think the Cap will go up to $140-145MM. Really?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Owners are demanding an 18% reduction in player costs yet you think the Cap will go up to $140-145MM. Really?

Owners would like the 2011 cap to be the same as it was in 2009 ($128M) but will probably settle for $4-5M increase or around $133M with similar smaller increases tied to revenue going forward. The problems arose in 2006 when the cap went up $17M. It was $85M just 5 years ago...

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Owners would like the 2011 cap to be the same as it was in 2009 ($128M) but will probably settle for $4-5M increase or around $133M with similar smaller increases tied to revenue going forward. The problems arose in 2006 when the cap went up $17M. It was $85M just 5 years ago...

I can't imagine the owners accepting anything near that 2009 figure. The 2009 cap was a $12M increase from 2008, which made the owners opt out of the agreement the first chance they got.

 

[Ron Sellers]

I can't imagine the owners accepting anything near that 2009 figure. The 2009 cap was a $12M increase from 2008, which made the owners opt out of the agreement the first chance they got.

I think things would be too chaotic for the owners and their teams if there was an immediate reduction in the cap to 2008 levels. If that were to happen multiple teams would have to throw away money they weren't planning on doing in order to get down under the cap. I would expect something like MLR mentioned, a compromise starting point with very gradual increases in the cap until the percentage the owners are looking for is reached; after that cap increases would be tied to revenue increases.

 

[jeffbiologist]

The Jets have been proud of their recent drafting record....and they drafted a CB in the first round last year. If they did get him they couldnt pay anyone to rush the passer, those big guys like to get paid too.

 

[Rob0729]

Owners would like the 2011 cap to be the same as it was in 2009 ($128M) but will probably settle for $4-5M increase or around $133M with similar smaller increases tied to revenue going forward. The problems arose in 2006 when the cap went up $17M. It was $85M just 5 years ago...

I am guessing it will be in the $130-135 million range in 2011. According the Jets' Miguel, they already have $120 million tied up BEFORE David Harris' franchise tag. They want to give him, Holmes, Edwards, and Brad Smith new deals.

They only have one safety under contract and he ended the year on IR. Even if they redo Sanchez's contract, they probably won't free up much unless they just convert most of his salary into a bonus which will screw up future caps. Revis is basically in the last year of his deal because he already said either he gets a new deal by the end of the 2011 season or he sits out again. Calvin Pace and Bart Scott aren't remotely worth their contracts and cap dollars, but they are almost uncutable with no viable replacement for them anyway. They can cut Jason Taylor, Tomlinson, Woody, and Jenkins to free up about $10 million, but they would need to replace them and there is no guarantee replacement for any of them on the roster. They still need to find a starting DE, an outside pass rusher, a starting safety with a couple of back ups, potentially a nickelback or starting CB, possibly a starting RT if they cut Woody and Ducasse can't cut it, a change of pace back or starter if they cut LT and McKnight can't cut it, a kick returner, a punter, and a kicker.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I think things would be too chaotic for the owners and their teams if there was an immediate reduction in the cap to 2008 levels. If that were to happen multiple teams would have to throw away money they weren't planning on doing in order to get down under the cap. I would expect something like MLR mentioned, a compromise starting point with very gradual increases in the cap until the percentage the owners are looking for is reached; after that cap increases would be tied to revenue increases.

From what I've read about the expired CBA, the revenue was around $9B, with the owners receiving a $1B credit they can remove from that figure (they are now arguing for an additional $1B). The rest is then split at an estimated 60/40 for players. Say roughly $4.8B?

Including the credit the owners receive, players take home roughly 53% of all revenue, at which point, the owners opted out ASAP. The players offered a 50/50 split, and the owners gave up and killed discussions. Players union reps estimate they'd be down to 40-42% of overall revenue based on the owners proposals, the lowest in pro sports.

So even if they split their differences down the middle, that would be a 5% drop in the 2009 cap around $128M, or around the $120M mark. I don't think it'll get that far down, but at the same time, I just can't see the owners taking a similar deal to the one they just opted out of. There's no way that cap figure will be the same or more when they come back unless the owners totally cave on their demands.

 

[VOODOOZF]

The thing that scares me as a Patriots fan is that players want to play for Rex Ryan. If you take away our natural bias against the Jets why wouldn't you want to play for the Jets?

It seems like they have more fun there than on most teams who have hard ass coaches and they win. They have been to the AFC Championship game two years in a row.

I honestly fear that big time free agents will want to play for the Jets as long as the money is in the same ballpark...Please tell me I'm wrong.

 

[Rob0729]

The thing that scares me as a Patriots fan is that players want to play for Rex Ryan. If you take away our natural bias against the Jets why wouldn't you want to play for the Jets?

It seems like they have more fun there than on most teams who have hard ass coaches and they win. They have been to the AFC Championship game two years in a row.

I honestly fear that big time free agents will want to play for the Jets as long as the money is in the same ballpark...Please tell me I'm wrong.

Some players would love to play for him and others would love to play for a coach like Belichick. A lot of players don't want to go to a team that has fun and want discipline. Guys like Bruschi and Harrison would have gone crazy playing for Ryan. His style isn't for everyone.

Their recent success will make it more likely that a lot of players will want to play for them, but the chance to play for Belichick still has clout (the Pats did go 14-2 and will likely be the favorites in the AFC going into the 2011 season). If the Jets go 8-8 or 6-10 next year, Ryan doesn't have the history of success that Belichick has.

The fact of the matter is football players are like everyone else. They all have different personalities and tastes. Not all of them would love to play for Ryan with his undisciplined style and lightning rod personality. Some players thrive on structure and being able to focus on football without all the BS.

Personally, If I am a player and my #1 priority is winning a Super Bowl, I would take Belichick over Ryan. Only one of them has hardware as a head coach. If I wanted to have fun and enjoy football and still have a chance of winning a Super Bowl, I would take Ryan.

One thing a lot of players know is that the undisciplined style of coaching Ryan has is infectious when they are winning, but it has the potential of turning a season into a disaster when things start to go bad especially if you have egomanical head cases in the lockerroom (hello Bart Scott).

I won't say there aren't a lot of players who would love to play for Ryan right now because there are. There are just a lot of players who would rather play for Belichick.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

And most of the players who want to play for Tubby wouldn't be a fit here because they are me players who lack discipline and need stroking and aren't unselfish or accountable or willing to make the kind of personal sacrifices (stylistically or financially) that Belichick and this scheme tends to require.

 

[upstater1]

The thing that scares me as a Patriots fan is that players want to play for Rex Ryan. If you take away our natural bias against the Jets why wouldn't you want to play for the Jets?

It seems like they have more fun there than on most teams who have hard ass coaches and they win. They have been to the AFC Championship game two years in a row.

I honestly fear that big time free agents will want to play for the Jets as long as the money is in the same ballpark...Please tell me I'm wrong.

Lots of players are into kinky rex, so I think you're right.

 

[lostjumper]

I would love for the jets to pay 30 million for 2 cornerbacks. It would be completely wasted. With that type of dough being shelled out for CB's, there wouldn't be any money left for the front 7. Opposing offenses would probably just line up a jumbo package and run 60 times a game on them.

 

[VJCPatriot]

no one can touch the pats at gaining draft picks

True enough. And the Jets did waste that pick if they're letting Cromartie walk. SD does pretty good with their picks too. Problem for them is that they play well below their talent level.

 

[jcdavey]

True enough. And the Jets did waste that pick if they're letting Cromartie walk. SD does pretty good with their picks too. Problem for them is that they play well below their talent level.

yep, that's been a big problem with san diego pro sports forever

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Cromartie tweets 'I'm a JET to the end' - NYPOST.com

 

[Calciumee]

Cromartie tweets 'I'm a JET to the end' - NYPOST.com

What are the chances he said he was a Charger for life?

If someone offers him more money, he will be at that team!

He needs to pay for his kids

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Cromartie tweets 'I'm a JET to the end' - NYPOST.com

Translation: I'm a JET til they tell me I'm not a JET.

If they aren't sure they can afford Cromartie, they sure as hell can't afford Asamougha. The only way they could afford Nnamdi is if they can't get deals done with either Holmes or Edwards/Smith. In which case they will need Asamougha because Cromartie ain't gonna cut it when you need to completely shut down the opposition...because you have an impotent offense.

Their priorities were always clear because of the financial limitations and ramifications of their win now formula. Retain the LB (who has been tagged @ $10M), retain Holmes, upgrade the sagging pass rush, retain Edwards and/or Smith if you can, upgrade the #2 RB if you can/must, retain Cromartie if you can still fit him in, and if not punt. Sanchize struggles enough without having to start over with new #1 and #2 WR options and a running game that isn't dominant and the wildcat QB/KR to set them up in good field position and give him a breather and a minute for Schottenheimer to get in his ear/head when nothing is working.

That's a lot left to accomplish with $128M already accounted for under the cap...which won't be significantly higher under a new CBA. Restructures and cuts will free up space but also create additional gaps to be filled via draft or FA. Which is harder to accomplish when you lack draft picks yet again and your last draft class turned in an underwhelming to say the least rookie season (Wilson, Ducasse, McKnight, a backup fullback) with hardly a contributor in the lot.