Jets Update

Base10 supposes that speculation was right that Chad Pennington was playing hurt after coming back from a rotator cuff injury. The Jets announced today that he would undergo shoulder surgery in the off-season.

As Jets fans already know, Paul Hackett will not be back next season having been replaced by Mike Heimerdinger, the former offensive coordinator of the Tenn. Titans. Base10 doesn't know a lot about Heimerdinger, but has always been impressed by the Titans offensive game. Maybe a fresh Pennington coupled with a new offensive game plan is just the thing that the Jets need. In the meantime, Paul Hackett has reappeared in Tampa Bay.

The Jets have all but announced that they are putting the franchise tag on John Abraham if they cannot reach a deal. The speculation now revolves around Lamont Jordan. Qouth he,

I want to be here. It has been a roller coaster my four years and when I think about the fact that I might not be here, it's sad. The family atmosphere that we have here as players is something I haven't had in a while.... I was completely out of control during (training) camp. I think I let my frustrations get the best of me. But you know what, I had to go through that and I'm a lot better person and football player because of it.

It is unlikely that the Jets will be able to keep him, but Base10 hopes they can work something out. Base10 saw an interview with Herman Edwards last night and he seemed pretty positive they were going to keep him, so let's hope. The best thing about Jordan is that he could start with other teams--which is obviously the reason that he wants to move on and get more playing time.

The other key free agents include NT Jason Ferguson, RT Kareem McKenzie, TE Anthony Becht, DT Josh Evans, QB Quincy Carter, LB Kenyatta Wright, P Toby Gowin and CB Terrell Buckley. The only serious loss is with Kareem McKenzie, who may be a little high priced for the Jets, but nontheless was part of one of the best O-Lines in football this year. The rest will almost certainly be signed on the cheap or sent packing.

Jon Heyman, a sports columnist for Newday, suggests that now that the Jets have franchised John Abraham, they should go for broke and try to sign Randy Moss--rumour has it that Minnesota is quietly pursuing trade talks. Base10 doesn't think he agrees because players like Moss are poison for a team. The Jets probably couldn't afford him anyway.

In stadium news, the Times reports that Fernando Ferrer has called for a public referendum on the proposed west side stadium and convention center. I believe he'll get his way, I think it's called an election. Base10 caught Ferrer on News Forum on Sunday (sorry no link, just this Pressman bio) where he was interviewed by Gabe Pressman and I have to say, I have not seen a more softball interview from anybody other than Larry King. Ferrer went on and on about how Republican policies are hurting the city without so much as a peep from Pressman.

Other than the Superbowl, football will be dead for a while until the draft. Base10 will try to keep interest alive during the long night of the off-season by posting news of the Jets when any comes up.
- posted by Base10 @ 4:40 PM