2014 Jets Offseason, Camp + Preseason Thread

[zilby]

Hey guys, so this thread is for anything Jets in the offseason, whether you wanna discuss the playoffs, talk about personnel, or anything really. I will be updating the title if something of note happens.

One of the things I wanted to talk about in this thread is how we can bring more traffic to the board next year. I know the handful of regulars around here, but I hope that for next season we can make a legit playoff push and bring some Jets fans back to this board. Anybody have any ideas, or would be willing to make some Jets avatars/sigs in which we can promote the board? Of course, if you guys are in then I think it'd be a good idea and would make our board more lively.

Question of this thread:

Who should the Jets pursue this offseason via trade or free agency?

Here is the list of free agents by position:
http://www.kffl.com/static/nfl/features ... php?y=2014

My answer is to go after a receiver as most of us agree, and I'd like to pursue a guy like Nicks or Sanders. Our receiving corps this year was hot garbage, and we need improvements there.

Anyways, I'll keep this thread updated throughout the offseason. Cheers, enjoy the playoffs guys

[JDP]

Nicks, Sanders, or Decker would all be nice.

[zilby]

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who played in the Pro Bowl only six weeks ago, was released Sunday by the New York Jets.

With a $5 million roster bonus due in the coming days, the Jets made the long-anticipated move, creating $9.5 million in cap space -- which they could use to pursue a top free-agent cornerback. They've already reached out to Alterraun Verner of the Tennessee Titans, according to a league source.

The Jets haven't shut the door on the possibility of re-signing Cromartie at some point, a source said, but there are concerns about his age (30) and a chronic hip injury that plagued him last season.

Pro Bowl appearance notwithstanding (he made it as an alternate), Cromartie admittedly suffered one of his worst seasons in 2013. The Jets were ranked 22nd in pass defense, in part, because Cromartie struggled to replace Darrelle Revis as the No. 1 cornerback. It was a significant drop off for Cromartie, who enjoyed perhaps his best season in 2012.

"Cro is one of the finest athletes I've ever coached," coach Rex Ryan said in a statement. "He was willing to contribute wherever the team needed him to win games, be it defense, special teams or offense."

Cromartie knew this was coming. At the end of the season, he said he expected to be a salary-cap casualty. He broke the news on Twitter, thanking the Jets' organization and the fan base:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/CRO31/status/442731457317199873[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/CRO31/status/442731921752489984[/tweet]

Cromartie, who turns 30 on April 15, was heading into the final year of a four-year, $32 million contract. He renegotiated last offseason, pushing money into this year. The result was a prohibitive $14.98 million cap charge.

The Jets made no effort to re-work his contract again, a source said. With the savings, the Jets have approximately $30 million in cap room -- and that figure will grow by another $8.25 million with the anticipated release of wide receiver Santonio Holmes. That will happen any day.

Quarterback Mark Sanchez also is a likely cap casualty, which would create another $9 million in room. Two years ago, the Jets' cornerback tandem of Cromartie and Revis was the envy of most teams.

But Revis got hurt in 2012 and was traded last year to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and now Cromartie is gone, too. It leaves Dee Milliner, coming off an up-and-down rookie season, and a lot of question marks.

Cornerback play is vital in Ryan's man-to-man scheme, so the Jets have to import another starting-caliber player through free agency or the draft. The Jets acquired Cromartie in a trade with the San Diego Chargers in 2010. It cost them a second-round pick, but he was well worth it.

In four seasons, he made 13 interceptions, played a handful of plays on offense as a wide receiver and delivered a long kickoff return that helped beat the Indianapolis Colts in the 2010 playoffs.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_ ... -york-jets

[Rich Rane]

Jets sign Eric Decker.

The deal is for five years and worth $36.25 million with $15 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_ ... ric-decker

[thebuzzardman]

After the two signings, how much $ the Jets have left for more free agents?

Are they going to release Sanchez to free up more money?

[Rich Rane]

After the two signings, how much $ the Jets have left for more free agents?

This site lists around $27 million in cap space and they count Decker and Giacomini.
http://overthecap.com/teamcap.php?Team=Jets&Year=2014

[j4remi]

Willie Colon and Calvin Pace are back. I think Cromartie has a good shot of coming back as well. Looks like the draft will be even more important than it has to be bc Idzik is sticking to his guns on player value.

Desean Jackson available for a 3rd? I would do that and free up our options with that first round pick, otherwise any WR we shoot for is a reach.

[zilby]

Michael Vick and the New York Jets are scheduled to meet this weekend.

The Jets are expected to release Mark Sanchez.

Vick would compete for the starting job with Geno Smith.

Vick ended up losing his job with the Philadelphia Eagles due to injury, he beat out Nick Foles last season in the preseason.

via the Tap. errrrr

[j4remi]

Michael Vick and the New York Jets are scheduled to meet this weekend.

The Jets are expected to release Mark Sanchez.

Vick would compete for the starting job with Geno Smith.

Vick ended up losing his job with the Philadelphia Eagles due to injury, he beat out Nick Foles last season in the preseason.

via the Tap. errrrr

Honestly, there aren't many options so I'm unopposed. It's not ideal to me because of Vick's past, but he fits with Marty and could mentor another mobile QB in Geno.

In other news, our secondary is in deep doo doo with no real options to sign and plug in as a starter opposite Milliner.

[zilby]

Jets sign Vick $5M 1 year and release Sanchez. Gonna grab some sushi and I'll post an article when I'm home.

EDIT - Here's Schefter's tweet:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/447138303075045376[/tweet]

And here's Albert Breer's on Sanchez:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/447139211029008384[/tweet]

[j4remi]

Jackson released...Looks like he might be worth at least an offer for a one year deal. The draft is deep on WR's but the CB need makes me think our first pick should really address that weak secondary.

[Rich Rane]

$30 million in cap space and Idzik passed on another big name. I'm not sure I'm understanding it, but Moneyball it is.

[Matt007b]

Is it this year or next year that teams have to spend a certain amount of capspace? (I think 80% right?)

If it's this year - a whole lot of spending to do..

[zilby]

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_ ... -york-jets

Not gonna bother with the entire article, but Chris Johnson met with the team today. Hoping a deal is in the works, that would be a huge boost to our offense. Takes the load off Geno.

[j4remi]

Chris Johnson has agreed to a two year deal with the jets. I think ivory and Johnson is an excellent one two punch and we have Powell still.

[zilby]

After a relatively conservative first month of free agency, the New York Jets made one of the splashiest moves of the offseason, signing former Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson to a two-year deal worth up to $9 million, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The base value of the deal is $8 million, and includes another $1 million in incentives, according to league sources. Johnson's deal has a team option for the second year at $4 million, which would have to be picked up in February 2015, a league source told Schefter.

The team took to Twitter on Wednesday to confirm the signing:

[Tweet]https://twitter.com/nyjets/statuses/456527292647231488[/Tweet]

"I've always been a big fan of the Jets," Johnson told the team's official website. "There was some thought into this, but just at the end of the day, I was comfortable here. I just felt like it was the right situation."

Released April 4, Johnson generated little interest on the open market. He visited with only one team -- the Jets -- and wrapped that up Tuesday. The team wanted to get him signed before the start of its offseason program next week. No other team was identified as a serious suitor.

The days of Chris Johnson ranking among the elite fantasy RBs are over, as Christopher Harris writes. Story

"I see this as a team on the rise," Johnson told the team's official website. "This is a winning team. They didn't make the playoffs last year, but I think they were a game out of the playoffs with a rookie quarterback. So I feel like this is a team that can do some good things."

For years, Johnson was one of the sport's elite players. He has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in his each of six seasons, including 2,006 yards in 2009. But declining production, coupled with a large salary, led to his ouster.

The Jets were reportedly one of four teams that inquired about trading for Johnson, but they didn't want to pick up his salary ($8 million) or surrender a draft pick, not when his release was expected.

New York finished sixth in rushing last season and has every running back returning in 2014, yet felt the need to add more speed. Johnson, 28, is one of the fastest backs in the league, although he's coming off a season in which he averaged a career-low 3.9 yards per carry.

Johnson's health is a question. He underwent surgery in late January to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and resumed running only about a month ago. He said after the season that he first hurt his knee in Week 3. He didn't miss any games and became the fifth player in league history with 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first six seasons. Obviously, the Jets feel confident he will regain his explosiveness.

There's also a question about Johnson's role. He was a workhorse with Tennessee, averaging 290 carries per season, but he likely will have to accept a reduced role as part of a committee approach. The Jets' other veteran backs are Bilal Powell and Chris Ivory, who rushed for a team-high 833 yards. Ivory's power game should pair nicely with Johnson.

"I think I'm going to fit in pretty well," Johnson told the team's official website. "Just talking to (offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg) and to (coach) Rex (Ryan), who's a guy that likes to run the ball, I think I'm going to fit in very well. We talked about all those things, catching out of the backfield, getting the ball to me in space."

Johnson's pass-catching ability is another reason the Jets signed him. He's not a prolific receiver, but he averages 45 receptions per season. With 42 catches last season, he was one shy of the Jets' team leader, wide receiver Jeremy Kerley. Johnson had as many receiving touchdowns as any player on the Jets.

Johnson became the Jets' third high-profile addition on offense, joining quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver Eric Decker.

Once known as CJ2K, Johnson brings star power to the position, the first true breakaway back of the Ryan era. Ryan coached Thomas Jones and LaDainian Tomlinson, both accomplished runners, but they weren't home run threats.

Some will argue that Johnson no longer has that dimension, as he managed only five runs of at least 20 yards last season.

There has been a dramatic decline in all aspects of his game since 2011, when he signed a four-year, $53.5 million contract extension.

Shaky offensive-line play, a change in offensive coordinators and the knee injury contributed to Johnson's downturn, but scouts also have noticed that he's not as elusive as he once was. He doesn't force as many missed tackles as he did in his vintage seasons. In 2009, the year he dominated the league, he had 22 runs of at least 20 yards.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_ ... -york-jets

Two years, $8M with $1M in incentives. I like it.

[zilby]

Schedule was released 12 minutes ago.

Week 1: vs Oakland Raiders
Week 2: @ Green Bay Packers
Week 3: vs Chicago Bears
Week 4: vs Detroit Lions
Week 5: @ San Diego Chargers
Week 6: vs Denver Broncos
Week 7: @ New England Patriots
Week 8: vs Buffalo Bills
Week 9: @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 10: vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: @ Buffalo Bills
Week 13: vs Miami Dolphins
Week 14: @ Minnesota Vikings
Week 15: @ Tennessee Titans
Week 16: vs New England Patriots
Week 17: @ Buffalo Bills

What are your predictions? I see a 9-7 or 10-6 record with expected improvement from the offense.

[j4remi]

It's a rough schedule...especially the Denver straight to a Thursday against NE is just foul. I'm really hoping 9-7 but damn, it's a tough one.

[j4remi]

Wide Receiver Rooks have some drops...typical...Pryor sounds like he's really having a great camp so far. Reilly actually had Ryan telling him to calm it down with the hard hits a bit, I find that promising.

[Grover]

Flowers and/or Houston? Anyone? Anyone?