E-Boland & Gang Green

By Tom Rock

Eight years, $80 million? What have we learned today, class? Yes, supply and demand. If there is a limited field of cornerbacks available in free agency, then even a guy such as Nate Clements can be paid as if he is the ultimate stopper. Clements is good, but that’s like crazy QB money! $22 million guaranteed according to the reports I’m reading! Maybe the 49ers found more gold in them hills!

While the big-time deals are taking place, the Jets are staying quiet. Adalius Thomas? Pass. London Fletcher-Baker? Pass. Hey, the Jets said they wouldn’t be sucked into a spending spree! Didn’t you believe them?

But there is still hope. First of all, there are plenty of RBs around all of a sudden, even if you eliminate the ones who have been arrested for drunk driving after winning the Super Bowl and are therefore not “Mangini Type” players. Chris Brown is scheduled to meet with the Jets early next week; see the post below for thoughts on him. Corey Dillon would make a wonderful tweak to our friends up north, but he’s said he wants to be an every-down back and the Jets are pretty committed to their committee concept. I’m thinking that if Brown says the right things -- and hears the right numbers -- he’ll wind up here (which is nothing more than an educated hunch so don’t go spreading rumors about Newsday reporting that the Jets will sign Chris Brown!).

And the Jets are expected to reach out to Colts CB Nick Harper (the poor man’s Nate Clements) in the coming days. He'd look pretty nice opposite Andre Dyson (who could become known as the poor man's Nick Harper).

So stay tuned, Jets fans. The first full day of free agency may not bring all of the trinkets you desired, but I can guarantee two things: 1) By the time the draft rolls around in April, the Jets will have signed somebody; and 2) It won’t be an 8-year, $80 million deal.