Jets Try to Build on Mangini's Year-One Success
Team-By-Team Offseason Roundup
New York Jets
Players Released:
Kevan Barlow, RB
Trey Teague, OL
Derrick Blaylock, RB
Bobby Hamilton, DE
Patrick Ramsey, QB
Free Agents Lost:
B.J. Askew, FB
Dave Ball, DE
Traded For:
Thomas Jones, RB
Free Agents Re-Signed:
Bobby Hamilton, DE
Wade Smith, G/T
Anthony Clement, T
Free Agents Added:
Kenyon Coleman, DE
Darian Barnes, FB
Marques Tuiasosopo, QB
Michael Haynes, DE
Andre Wadsworth, DE
David Bowens, DE
Eric Hicks, DE
Draft:
Rd. 1 (No. 14 overall) Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh
2 (47) David Harris, LB, Michigan
6 (177) Jacob Bender, T, Nicholls State
7 (235) Chansi Stuckey, WR, Clemson
Analysis:
First-year coach Eric Mangini and new general manager Mike Tannenbaum received plenty of praise, especially in New York, for the Jets' revival last season. In truth, they did nothing more than Mangini's predecessor, Herman Edwards, had managed: They got the Jets into the postseason in a season in which quarterback Chad Pennington was healthy. It was simply so unexpected this time around because there had been little reason to believe that Pennington could stay healthy after two shoulder surgeries.
That's not to say that Mangini and Tannenbaum didn't do a good job. They did. They simply didn't work the wonders for which some observers seemed to want to credit them.
What they have done is raised expectations and established the Jets as the top rival to the New England Patriots and Coach Bill Belichick, Mangini's former boss, in the AFC East. It's been a good offseason for the Jets, who have managed to improve the team they'll put around Pennington.
That was ensured when the Jets traded for Chicago Bears tailback Thomas Jones and signed him to a new four-year, $20 million contract. The Jets benefited from Jones's desire to get out of Chicago, where he was splitting playing time and carries with Cedric Benson. Now the Jets have a worthy replacement for Curtis Martin after patching together a running game last season.
The other major upgrade of the offseason was getting cornerback Darrelle Revis in the first round of the draft. Some observers had regarded him as the top cornerback in the draft and a potential top-10 selection, so the Jets were fortunate to get him by trading up for the 14th choice. It made for a tiny draft class, but Revis and second-round linebacker David Harris were solid selections.
The Jets switched veteran quarterbacks behind Pennington, releasing Patrick Ramsey and signing Marques Tuiasosopo as a free agent. Kellen Clemens could end up being the primary backup, anyway, as a second-year pro. The Jets signed free agents Kenyon Coleman, David Bowens and Eric Hicks in an attempt to fortify at defensive end, and even went so far as to bring Andre Wadsworth out of retirement. The bar is raised for the Jets after Mangini's success in year one, and they've given themselves a chance to be a solid playoff team again if Pennington can stay healthy and in the lineup once more.
By Mark Maske |
May 25, 2007; 11:50 AM ET
| Category:
Jets
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Posted by: AV | May 25, 2007 1:11 PM
It would be nice to see the reign of the Patriots as division champions ended ... some day.
Posted by: Gonzo, MD | May 25, 2007 1:31 PM
^ i concur, but this season?
jets = exposed.
Posted by: pack4life | May 25, 2007 5:34 PM
I think that a new formation wouldn't harm anyone. Try something new everynow and then.
By the way, have you been on this iste.
Posted by: Harry | May 28, 2007 9:14 AM
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J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!