The New York Jets continue to spend big bucks in an effort to get back to the playoffs, this time reaching a 6-year $42 million deal with linebacker/defensive end Calvin Pace. According to agent Pat Dye Jr. of ProFiles Sports Management, the deal will include a $20 million signing bonus, and total guarantees of $22 million. The contract will pay Pace $26 million over the first 3 years, making him one of the NFL's highest paid linebackers in history, even though he has done little in the NFL to merit such a deal.
Pace was a 1st round pick by the Cardinals in the 2003 NFL Draft, and has spent time at defensive end and outside linebacker, starting 38 games in his 5 years with Arizona. Last year was his best season, when he notched 98 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception. For his career, Pace only has 186 tackles and 14 sacks, so $7 million per year seems pretty outrageous for limited production, especially if the Cardinals, whose defense isn't that great to begin with, didn't make a play to lock him up long term. If perenial Pro Bowler Lance Briggs could only get $6 million per year, there's no way Calvin Pace is worth that type of coin.
Showing posts with label new york jets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new york jets. Show all posts
Monday, March 3, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Jets Ship LB Jonathan Vilma to Saints For Conditional 4th Round Draft Pick
The New Orleans Saints began their 2008 defensive makeover by sending a conditional draft pick to the New York Jets for linebacker Jonathan Vilma. There is no official word yet on what the pick will start as or end as, but it is predicated on Vilma recovering from the knee injury that sidelined him for most of 2007.
Hailing from the U (Miami Hurricanes), Vilma was the 12th overall pick in the 1st round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and showed immediate promise for the Jets, winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, and earning a Pro Bowl berth in 2005. However, when Eric Mangini took over the reigns in 2006 and implemented the 3-4 defensive scheme, Vilma looked out of place and didn't fit the bill for bigger linebackers who take up space. He ended 2007 on a down note, injuring his knee in week 7 and ultimately being placed on injured reserve, further falling out of place with the coaching staff.
The Detroit Lions were also rumored to be interested in trading for Vilma for the past couple of days, and he was in Detroit for a physical on Wednesday, but the Saints offer was likely better and more convincing.
UPDATE 02/29/2008 12:20PM: John Clayton of ESPN reports that it is believed that the deal will be for a conditional 4th rounder in 2009, which could upgrade to a 3rd rounder based on Vilma's performance this coming year. Vilma is in the final year of his rookie deal signed in 2004, and there has been no indication the Saints are looking to sign him to a new deal before seeing what they are getting in 2008.
Hailing from the U (Miami Hurricanes), Vilma was the 12th overall pick in the 1st round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and showed immediate promise for the Jets, winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, and earning a Pro Bowl berth in 2005. However, when Eric Mangini took over the reigns in 2006 and implemented the 3-4 defensive scheme, Vilma looked out of place and didn't fit the bill for bigger linebackers who take up space. He ended 2007 on a down note, injuring his knee in week 7 and ultimately being placed on injured reserve, further falling out of place with the coaching staff.
The Detroit Lions were also rumored to be interested in trading for Vilma for the past couple of days, and he was in Detroit for a physical on Wednesday, but the Saints offer was likely better and more convincing.
UPDATE 02/29/2008 12:20PM: John Clayton of ESPN reports that it is believed that the deal will be for a conditional 4th rounder in 2009, which could upgrade to a 3rd rounder based on Vilma's performance this coming year. Vilma is in the final year of his rookie deal signed in 2004, and there has been no indication the Saints are looking to sign him to a new deal before seeing what they are getting in 2008.
Panthers Trade DT Kris Jenkins to Jets For 3rd & 5th, Then Jenkins Inks Extension
The Carolina Panthers have struck a deal to send defensive tackle Kris Jenkins to the New York Jets in exchange for 3rd and 5th round picks in the 2008 NFL Draft. Jenkins was due a $1 million roster bonus later this week, and has palatable base salaries of $2.955 million in 2008, and $3.71 million in 2009.
Jenkins joined the Panthers as a 2nd round pick in 2001 out of Maryland. After missing 27 games in 2004 and 2005 due to various injuries, he started 31 games over the past two seasons, and notched 38 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2007. He is likely to be replaced by defensive/nose tackle Damione Lewis, who recently signed a 3-year $14 million contract with the Panthers earlier this offseason.
The acquisition of Jenkins will likely hasten the departure of failed former 1st round pick Dewayne Robertson, who never really filled the disruptive nose tackle role the Jets sought when they drafted him with the 4th overall pick in the 1st round in 2003. Robertson has a 2008 cap figure of over $11.2 million, including a $3 million roster bonus due in June, and a $6.8 million base salary, plus the prorated portion of his original signing bonus. It will be difficult to trade a player owed so much money who has only 14.5 sacks in 5 years, so he may be a likely candidate to be cut if New York can't find a willing trade partner soon.
UPDATE 02/29/2008 11:12AM: The base salaries of his deal will no longer be very palatable. Steve Reed of the Carolina Growl reports that Jenkins' agent Tony Paige has leaked details of a new 5-year $35 million contract for Jenkins, which will include $20 million in guaranteed money.
Reed also reports that the Panthers have been talking to DT Rod Coleman and DT/DE Tyler Brayton to help reshape their lineup. Brayton would certainly help them get younger and more explosive, while Coleman would simply eat up space and allow their linebackers to make more plays.
Jenkins joined the Panthers as a 2nd round pick in 2001 out of Maryland. After missing 27 games in 2004 and 2005 due to various injuries, he started 31 games over the past two seasons, and notched 38 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2007. He is likely to be replaced by defensive/nose tackle Damione Lewis, who recently signed a 3-year $14 million contract with the Panthers earlier this offseason.
The acquisition of Jenkins will likely hasten the departure of failed former 1st round pick Dewayne Robertson, who never really filled the disruptive nose tackle role the Jets sought when they drafted him with the 4th overall pick in the 1st round in 2003. Robertson has a 2008 cap figure of over $11.2 million, including a $3 million roster bonus due in June, and a $6.8 million base salary, plus the prorated portion of his original signing bonus. It will be difficult to trade a player owed so much money who has only 14.5 sacks in 5 years, so he may be a likely candidate to be cut if New York can't find a willing trade partner soon.
UPDATE 02/29/2008 11:12AM: The base salaries of his deal will no longer be very palatable. Steve Reed of the Carolina Growl reports that Jenkins' agent Tony Paige has leaked details of a new 5-year $35 million contract for Jenkins, which will include $20 million in guaranteed money.
Reed also reports that the Panthers have been talking to DT Rod Coleman and DT/DE Tyler Brayton to help reshape their lineup. Brayton would certainly help them get younger and more explosive, while Coleman would simply eat up space and allow their linebackers to make more plays.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Eagles, Jets, and Others Targeting Asante Samuel Early
Unrestricted free agent Asante Samuel figures to be the most sought after (and highest priced) free agent this offseason, and when the bidding opens February 29th, expect the bids to come early and often. Last year's top free agent cornerback Nate Clements landed a reported 8-year $80 million deal (with $22 million guaranteed) from the free spending San Francisco 49ers, but the deal was structured more like a 7-year $64 million deal with a huge back end that has already been voided. Clements was snapped up in the first days of free agency, and look for Samuel to try to get the same type of contract in the first couple of days of free agency.
In another year where a number of clubs are very flush with cap space, the Philadelphia Eagles have been rumored to be targeting Samuel, who would be paired with either Lito Sheppard or Sheldon Brown in a presumed camp competition. The Eagles are roughly $17.17 million under the projected 2008 cap of $116 million, with 49 players under contract, and will probably have much more space once they clean up the roster, including the likely event of restructing or releasing of Jevon Kearse's high dollar deal.
The New York Jets ($27.72 million under cap, with 45 players under contract) have also already been rumored to be very interested in acquiring Samuel. They brought him in last year when he had already been slapped with the franchise tag, but that was probably more of a look-see to just toy with the Patriots, and possibly to see what they'd be getting this year. Jets coach Eric Mangini is intimately familiar with Samuel, having coached him when he was the defensive coordinator for the Patriots.
A number of other teams with significant cap space, including the Tennessee Titans ($40.85 million under cap), Buffalo Bills ($32.05 million under cap), New Orleans Saints ($31.69 million under cap), Cincinatti Bengals ($31.45 million under cap), and Arizona Cardinals ($30.27 million under cap) also all need help at cornerback, and are all rife with a surplus of money that needs to be spent. Look for the top suitors to be the Jets, Patriots, Eagles, and Saints.
In another year where a number of clubs are very flush with cap space, the Philadelphia Eagles have been rumored to be targeting Samuel, who would be paired with either Lito Sheppard or Sheldon Brown in a presumed camp competition. The Eagles are roughly $17.17 million under the projected 2008 cap of $116 million, with 49 players under contract, and will probably have much more space once they clean up the roster, including the likely event of restructing or releasing of Jevon Kearse's high dollar deal.
The New York Jets ($27.72 million under cap, with 45 players under contract) have also already been rumored to be very interested in acquiring Samuel. They brought him in last year when he had already been slapped with the franchise tag, but that was probably more of a look-see to just toy with the Patriots, and possibly to see what they'd be getting this year. Jets coach Eric Mangini is intimately familiar with Samuel, having coached him when he was the defensive coordinator for the Patriots.
A number of other teams with significant cap space, including the Tennessee Titans ($40.85 million under cap), Buffalo Bills ($32.05 million under cap), New Orleans Saints ($31.69 million under cap), Cincinatti Bengals ($31.45 million under cap), and Arizona Cardinals ($30.27 million under cap) also all need help at cornerback, and are all rife with a surplus of money that needs to be spent. Look for the top suitors to be the Jets, Patriots, Eagles, and Saints.
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