Dyson Out, Coles In
By Tom Rock
I was expecting a big party when I pulled into the parking lots this morning, but to me surprise there were very few tailgaters. I was even able to pull my care up next to my buddy Mike’s and snag a piece of chicken – the spot where he sets up camp is usually pretty thick with fans and cars when I get there on gamedays. I’m guessing there is sense that there will be more to celebrate AFTER the game rather than before.
The Jets aren’t celebrating their thin secondary. Andre Dyson is inactive – no surprise if, as was reported, he has a sprained MCL in his right knee. I think he might be available for the Jets in a first-round game. No sources on that, just a hunch from watching him improve as the week went along in practice. And if the Jets are facing the Colts, the most likely opponent, they’ll need all hands on deck.
So Dyson is out and Barrett, who was also “questionable” during the week, gets the start at CB. Miller and Drew Coleman will also get some turns there. It’s pretty lucky that the Jets found Hank Poteat to stabilize the other CB position.
Joining Dyson among the inactives are Derrick Blaylock, Kevan Barlow, Stacy Tutt, Anthony Schlegel, Na’Shan Goddard and Dave Ball. The Jets have both Askew and Hodgins for FBs, so they’ll probably try to pound the ball through the Raiders front. Kellen Clemens is listed as the third QB. That means Laveranues Coles and his head/jaw injury will be available, but as I've said, the minute the Jets go up by two scores I expect to see Justin McCareins playing with the starters. Mangini was touting McCareins this week, possibly as a last-second ego boost in preparation for such a scenario.
Randy Moss is inactive for the Raiders, so all those who showed up with their No. 18 jersey in black and silver, tough break.
Hope everyone has a fun, safe time tonight. Happy New Year. See you all in 2007.
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Comments (2)
Questions about Jets vs Pats next Week playoff game?
1)Can Jets Rush Defense Stop Dillon and Maroney?
2)Can Jets defense have enough pass rush against Tom Brady?
3)Can Jets Db and Safeties stop Caldwell and Brown and Jackson?
4)What will be key matchup between Jets and Pats?
Hank Poteat vs. Jackson?
Great game great season! Looking forward big time to the Mangini-Belichik showdown…..you couldn’t write a better story before the seaosn started.
Totally a side point, I'm attaching the original Martin contract extension. I have to be a salary cap specialist to figure out how much he's really making ($6 million/yr sounds right) now that he redid his contract in feb 2006 but in a nut shell he's done. A great player no doubt and he should be rewarded but we still don’t know if he's retiring next year. Are they paying him just out of gratitude and respect at this point?? The guy basically played for 2 1/2 years 2003-2005(1st half) for this monster $.
This isnt a debate on whether or not Lamont Jordan is better than Curtis Martin. You gotta ask yourself if we really had to sign a long 8 year contract extension taking him into 37. I'm not sure how the cap works. Could they have cut him this year and just take a hit on the bonus guaranteed money?? Is the money better spent buying 2 or 3 sick linemen instead and let an avergage RB play behind them ala the Denver Broncos?
Not being Johnny come lately here but I've always maintained that holding onto a hall of famer based on his history is a mistake in the NFL. You don’t have to be a genius to figure out a RB has a short shelf life and he was going to get permanently injured age 33-35 take your pick. This isn't the Steinbrenner Yankees where money is no object. We will be saddled with his contract into next year even if he retires. I don’t think he'll announce it. Can you imagine the jets cutting him?? Its sad but it’s a classic case of a star not knowing when to hang it up!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2002/08/29/martin_jets/
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Commentary/Spins/2002/spin090302.htm
Sept. 3, 2002
PFW spins
ProFootballWeekly.com asks personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hottest topics in football.
Martin’s contract extension could affect future NFL deals
RB Curtis Martin and the Jets agreed to a five-year contract that provides the team the option of adding three more years to the deal. The eight-year deal, if New York exercises the option, could be worth $46 million. Over five seasons, the contract is worth about $30 million. Martin will earn a base salary of $3.5 million for 2002 with a signing bonus of $10 million. The team must decide in March of 2003 if it will exercise the option. If the team decides to do so, it must pay Martin another bonus of about $2.9 million. There is a "default provision" that calls for the team to pay Martin $10 million if it does not exercise the option.
Buchsbaum: Martin’s new contract with the Jets might be a groundbreaker for all teams in the NFL if the league approves it. Under this contract, the Jets sign Martin to a long-term deal with a huge signing bonus, which could kill them salary-cap-wise if he ends up being finished in a year or two because of injury. However, there’s protection involved because Martin is required to buy injury insurance with the Jets as the beneficiaries.
So the way the Jets interpret the salary-cap rule, if they get the money back from the insurance company if Martin is hurt, that money would not count against the salary cap. That enables them to give him the huge signing bonus while at the same time not risk being damaged for a great deal of time if he is hurt. It’ll be very interesting to see how this goes.