Could Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson have an “Eagle-sized” reunion in New York?
The Jets are reportedly interested in the Pro Bowl wide receiver, just days after signing former Eagles' quarterback Michael Vick to a one-year, $5 million contract. Jackson, 27, had a career-high 1,332 receiving yards and tied a career-high with nine touchdown catches in 2013. Vick and Jackson had been teammates in Philadelphia over the last five seasons. Vick was the team's starting quarterback for more than three of those five seasons.
“I’m not going to use the word ‘patient’ anymore,” Jets' owner Woody Johnson told the New York Daily News. “We want to do it now. Our job is to perform for our audience and that’s what we want to do.”
If the Jets want to win now, then obtaining a great wide receiver is a must! The signing of Eric Decker is a good start, but only a “start.” If the regular season were to start today, opponents (including the Patriots who signed former Jets star Darrelle Revis this off-season) would simply double cover Decker. Santonio Holmes is gone. Jeremy Curly has some explosiveness, but is not a legitimate threat offensively. There are a lot of great wide receivers in the NFL draft this season, especially Marquis Lee from USC, who could fall to the Jets' when they select their first round pick at 18.
However as history will tell us, the Jets do not make a habit of drafting offensive weapons in the first round. Rex Ryan's mantra has always been “defense wins championships.” Seattle winning the Super Bowl can back up his claim, but the facts are the facts. The Jets need offensive weapons if they want to contend. Even Seattle has had good offensive weapons, such as Golden Tate, last season. Johnson is even saying the Jets are looking to win it all this year, believing that fans should stop being patient.
Now, one of three things will happen in regards to the Jets and Jackson. The Jets could make a trade for the wide receiver. Jackson is set to make $10.25 million for the Eagles next season. After the 2014 season, the Jets could rework his contract to fit it within the salary cap. It would likely take a third round pick (at the least) to bring Jackson in, though the Eagles may be so fed up with him that a fourth or fifth round pick will do.
The Eagles could end up releasing or waving Jackson. This would be the Jets preferred option, as they would not have to give up a draft pick. Jets' general manager John Idzik is a wizard when it comes to salary caps and will not go overboard when trying to sign a player.
Yet, Idzik's money handling could also lead to the third option; not signing Jackson at all. This would be a huge mistake for the second year general manager, who is already in hot water with fans over losing Revis to the Patriots (though to be fair, the Jets never had a shot at Revis) and losing cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the Giants.
New York is a “what-have-you-done-for-me-lately” market. The Jets have a lot of cap room and they are expected to be spending. It's all right for Idzik to hold back some money, if he feels it's in the team's best interest. There will be no problem if the Jets have a winning season in 2014. And of course by winning, I mean making the playoffs. Fans will praise Idzik for saving money if the team wins next season.
It's a different animal if the Jets don't win. By having Johnson say he expects the team to win this season, a lot of pressure falls onto the shoulders of Idzik. Head Coach Rex Ryan already had the pressure last season. Ryan expects the Jets to do well every season, so Johnson proclaiming the team as potential winners is nothing new. Idzik is one who will carry the pressure. Fans and Johnson love Ryan with a passion. I would not be surprised if Idzik became public enemy number one in the eyes of Jets' fans should they struggle next season.
If I were Idzik and my boss had a “win now” mentality, then I would be spending the money to bring in great players. If Idzik is such a genius with the cap, then he can figure it out later after the Jets have won the Super Bowl and his job becomes secure. Obtaining DeSean Jackson will go a long way to building a winning franchise in New York.
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