The NFL’s free agency period got underway at midnight. Typically, it’s the Redskins who are the ones handing out W-2 forms like candy when the clock hits 12:00 a.m. This off-season, however, they, along with most other teams, were much quieter. In fact, there was only one coach staking out a player’s home until that magic hour. Way to put in the overtime, Jim Schwartz.
I’m going to update this page regularly to keep everyone abreast of the action from the Giants and Jets during this period. Check back regularly for both insight and opinions. (For those looking for baseball coverage, my 2010 MLB preview will be posted the last week in March. Also stay tuned for my NCAA Tournament selections.)
Friday, March 12 (7:12 a.m.): Safety Brodney Pool is the Jets’ latest acquisition. The team signed the former Cleveland Brown to a deal on Thursday. It was only a matter of time for one of Eric Mangini’s players to come to New York. Pool, a second round pick out of Oklahoma in 2005, was the Browns starting safety for the last three seasons; however, during that span, he’s only made it through a full campaign in one of them. If the season started today, the Jets would run Jim Leonhard and Eric Smith as their starting safeties with James Ihedigbo and Pool as their reserves.
Thursday, March 11 (7:30 p.m.): Rumblings have future Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson visiting Florham Park this week. I’m not quite sure why though. The Jets weren’t willing to give Thomas Jones a fair-value deal so what makes Tomlinson think he’ll get one? Jones put together a great season last year, while Tomlinson had the worst of his career. His 730 rushing yards was the only time in his nine years as a professional that he’s ever run for under a thousand. Now, Tomlinson, who I came away very impressed with after speaking with him last year, was not the primary back in San Diego in 2009-10, which contributed to his down numbers. Here’s the thing though: the Jets weren’t willing to pay Jones $5 million for next season, or $5 million over the next two seasons. That means, despite Tomlinson having a better career than Jones, last season’s performance puts him in the $2.5-$3 million range based on their past dealings. I doubt being one year younger — Jones is 31, while Tomlinson is 30 — will help his argument either. A couple million is definitely not enough to get Tomlinson to ask for a pen so he can sign on the thin black line.
Thursday, March 11 (6:50 p.m.):Earlier today, the Jets got a visit from linebacker Jon Alston, according to the Star-Ledger. Alston was released by the Oakland Raiders after four seasons in silver and black. The 26-year-old finished last season on Injured Reserve due to two concussions, so this move, if made, could be a risky one. Head coach Rex Ryan loves hard hitters, but you don’t want Alston to hit so hard he knocks himself out yet again, this next time possibly ending his career. Of note, in 2008, Alston got into some offensive action against the Jets, taking a direct snap 22 yards on a fake punt play. Alston is viewed as a special teamer and backup linebacker should he reach a deal with New York.
Tuesday, March 9 (8:24 p.m.): Thomas Jones ran for a career-high 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, and all he got was his walking papers. The Jets cut the valuable running back last week to avoid a $2.8 million roster bonus. Now, he’ll be making more than that in Kansas City. The ink has dried on a contract with the Chiefs that will reportedly pay him $3 million in 2010 and $2 million in 2011. There is also an additional $500k of incentives available in the deal. The Chiefs have Jamaal Charles as their featured back, so Jones will provide a nice touch in those tough yardage situations. New York was hoping to re-sign Jones, but I can’t blame him for looking for, and finding, greener pastures. At a time when the Over 30 Running Backs Club is packed with members, Jones, who is 31, is one of the few, and perhaps the only, who has shown no signs of slowing down.
Tuesday, March 9 (7:21 p.m.): The always gracious Pat Hanlon, V.P. of Communication for the Giants, reported on his Twitter page that the team has signed Jim Sorgi to compete with Rhett Bomar to become Eli Manning’s number two. Sorgi doesn’t have the name that Mark Brunell or Jeff Garcia would have brought to town, but he’s still a good fit for the role. Sorgi also probably came at a cheaper rate than the two former starters. Eli will now have someone to relate to when it comes to being in Peyton’s shadow.
Monday, March 8 (6:33 p.m.): It was a smart move by the Jets to re-sign tight end Ben Hartsock. The 29-year-old, along with position-mate Dustin Keller, were valuable contributors on offense last season. The difference between the two is Keller is primarily a pass catcher, while Hartsock is a blocker. Hartsock probably also got a look from the Chicago Bears, who are running a blocking set at tight end under new offensive coordinator, Mike Martz.
I’m not surprised to see Fred Robbins land in St. Louis after six seasons in New York. Robbins played very well under former defensive coordinater Steve Spagnuolo, who is now the Rams head coach. In fact, he was a Giants defensive captain in 2008, Spagnuolo’s last season in New York. There was no chance Robbins was coming back this season, which makes this move quite easy to swallow for Giants fans.
At least it’s easier to comprehend than watching Jake choose Vienna on “The Bachelor.” I watched that show this season no more than five times — four more times than I should ever admit — but am a firm believer that the producers knew Ali wasn’t going to get picked, created a dramatic storyline where she would choose work over love and assured her the spot as the next “Bachelorette.” I suppose that backstory is slightly more intriguing than the one about a former NFL football player looking for love, ala Jesse Palmer.
Sunday, March 7 (8:16 p.m.): I just returned from a weekend in Vermont so pardon me being a little behind from Saturday’s happenings. I’ll cover them quickly below.
1. The Giants signed safety Antrel Rolle. I offered my opinion on this move on Thursday, when it was only a possibility. The Giants defense got better against the pass by adding Rolle, and it seems he feels that pairing himself with Kenny Phillips makes them the best safety combo in the league. I’m not quite ready to proclaim that just yet, but both are young and have several years to grow together. What the Giants should have done, however, is thrown more of Rolle’s cash — the most a safety has ever received — towards his former teammate in Arizona, linebacker Karlos Dansby, who chose to sign with the Miami Dolphins instead.
2. Jim Sorgi to work out for the Giants. Sorgi could backup Eli Manning after the last couple of years working behind older brother Peyton Manning in Indianapolis. He fits into the mold as the perfect backup should Eli Manning go down, something he hasn’t done since taking the reigns in 2004. If Sorgi, who battled a hamstring injury last season, was good enough to backup Peyton Manning for six years, he’s good enough for the Giants. The Colts were very good during Sorgi’s tenure there and to have trust in him should their star get injured speaks volumes.
3. The Jets trade Kerry Rhodes to the Arizona Cardinals. This was a move the Jets had to make. Rhodes, who I still feel is very talented, had fallen out of favor with several coaches in New York and probably wasn’t going to regain his starting spot next year. It was a trade the Cardinals also had to pull after losing Rolle to the Giants. In return, the Jets got fourth (this season) and seventh round (2011) picks. Perhaps they can find a replacement in this year’s draft for Rhodes, who was a fourth-rounder in 2005, to put across the field from Jim Leonhard.
Friday, March 5 (8:33 a.m.): I love the Jets’ move of trading for cornerback Antonio Cromartie. I don’t care how many people say Cromartie comes with baggage, this guy has major potential. Once regarded as a premiere defensive back in the league, the fourth-year veteran has fallen off since his 10-interception season in 2007. Pairing him with Darrelle Reevis, arguably the best corner in the league, may motivate Cromartie to reach his potential once again, something he’ll certainly have to do to be effective as the Jets run a man-to-man defense rather than the zone the Chargers do. Working in Cromartie’s favor, however, is that he’ll rarely have to face opposing teams’ top wide receivers, instead he’ll go against their No. 2 guys. While quarterbacks rarely throw in Reevis’ direction, Cromartie will be tested quite a bit.
Also, there was some talk that the Jets would draft a cornerback with their first-round pick. The team has bigger concerns than that position, even without Cromartie on their roster. Instead, New York gave up a third-rounder, possibly a second, for the former All Pro. The 25-year-old is an upgrade over Lito Sheppard and the move was one the Jets and head coach Rex Ryan had to make and did.
Friday, March 5 (7:34 a.m.): I’ve been asked to give my take regarding David Carr possibly leaving the Giants for either San Francisco or Arizona. Carr spent the last two years backing up Eli Manning after several years behind center in Houston. When Carr first joined the Giants, his passion for the game was at an all-time low. Two years later, it’s back to where it was when he was the top pick in the 2002 draft. Carr didn’t get much playing time in New York; much of it came during preseason games. Carr did get to throw 14 passes in the Giants’ October 14 game against the Oakland Raiders. In that contest, he was 9-for-14 with a rushing touchdown. Afterward, I spoke with Carr, who couldn’t have been happier with his playing time that afternoon. Seeing that he wants to start again brings me back to that moment. Carr has the potential to be a starter; he was thrust into action in 2002, but finally got to sit back and learn for a few seasons. He deserves another shot, no question. For the Giants, however, this could be a major loss should Manning go down. I don’t know how confident they’ll be should Rhett Bomar have to take snaps in a live game. There are a number of options on the market that would be a well-received replacement, though, including Mark Brunell and Jeff Garcia.
Thursday, March 4 (10:03 p.m.): The Giants certainly will put feelers out there for safety Antrel Rolle and linebacker Karlos Dansby, both of the Cardinals last season. Don’t expect either to be wearing gray and blue, though. These are two of the most coveted players on the open market and there are teams with a lot more cash to spend, or overspend, however you want to look at it. Improving their defense is a must after last season’s disaster and, in my opinion, the linebacker spot is absolutely more important to fill than their void at safety. The linebacker directs the defense and handing that job over to just anybody isn’t smart — they won’t do that. The Giants also learned last season that experimenting with fillers is not the wisest move — they might do that. That said, Dansby would be a great addition after the release of Antonio Pierce, who for years was one of the best in the league at that position. I see him landing in Miami though.
Thursday, March 4 (9:43 p.m.): I understand the Jets are very high on Shonn Greene, but to let both Leon Washington and Thomas Jones walk away could be a major mistake. The Jets had the best rushing attack in the league last season, and it’s mostly Jones who is to thank for that. I understand being 31 is over the hill for running backs, but he’s the perfect guy to train Greene to become a better runner — they’re both physically the same type backs. I’m hearing the Jets will make a strong attempt to re-sign Jones at a discount, but I could see him heading to a team such as New England who would utilize him in a similar role as the Jets did — featured, but surrounded by a supporting cast. Plus, we know how much Bill Belichick would love to have the former Jet on his roster. As for Washington, he missed much of last season with a fibula injury, but it wasn’t that long before when he was considered one of the most exciting utility players in the league. Unless the Jets feel like he will never be the same after being sidelined, there’s no reason to rid themselves of him, too. I predict Washington isn’t going anywhere.