There is a huge difference between the Jets and Patriots that everyone is FAILING to comprehend. The Jets are in year two of their rebuilding program. They are still at the stage where they need multiple draft picks and FA signings to come in and replace the old system players. This is a young program that is in the process of flushing the old roster out. Many of you have been mislead by the Jets 10-6 record year. Although I am happy the Jets played well, lets not started deluding ourselves thinking this team is one or two players away. Now compare the above to the Patriots. The Patsies are a "mature" team with 3 Super Bowl wins, and an established program and core players. Because of where they are at in their "program cycle" they are looking at a couple key FA signings to put them over the top. Unlike the Jets, they have the luxury of not having to worrry about upgrading multiple positions on their roster. So if you are going to compare the Jets and the Pats, make sure you compare them to the Pats in Year 2 of Belicheck vice the Pats of today with 3 Super Bowl Wins. Ohhh and I know now many of you will say the Jets are going to win the Super Bowl this year given that comparison. Hold your breath...unless the Jets find another "Tom Brady" we will need to wait another couple of years for Mangini/Tannenbaum program to develop.
The NFL is different now though. You don't have to have like a 3-4 year rebuilding process. The Saints went from 3-13 to NFC Championship game in one year. Now I know the competition wasn't that much, but still. The Jets should be adding pieces to make a Super Bowl run in 2007, not adding pieces to year 2 of a 3-4 year process.
Not true. The NFL is exactly the same. It's the "Hurry, we need to sign the most expensive free agents possible in first two hours" mentality that creates all the fluctuation in team's records from year to year. Smart teams like Indy, New England, Pittsburgh, and Philly never make big deals like this. New England did this year and I truly believe that this is the beginning of the end for them. Actually, I think that was last year's draft when they went after exciting positions like RB and WR instead of their typical drafting of line guys. That aside, those four teams I named are always successful, year after year. Obviously, they don't always win the Superbowl - only one team can do that. But they always make the playoffs and they are always scary. Because they have a core group and fantastic coaching. It's all about coaching. A great coach can turn David Givens into a star and a crappy coach can turn Edgerrin James into the type of guy who gets 2 yards a carry. Well, the Jets have a great coach. And a great GM. Just sit back, relax, and don't play backseat driver. Have patience and faith. Tanginibaum will prevail. The Jets will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. You should be happy. I certainly am and I can't wait for next season. Go Jets!
The NFL hasn't changed that much in 5 years. Every year you will have a team make the "jump." Comparing the last year's Saints to the Jets is unfair. A better comparison is to the 1997-1998 Jets teams. The Saints have a talented team, drafted well and were playing on an emotional high all year after the Katrina debacle. Comparing that team to the 2006-2007 Jets isn't even fair. They have not one but two franchise RBs (the Jets have none) and they had an MVP season from Drew Brees (Penny was coming back from 2 severe shoulder surgeries). My point about a 2007 Super Bowl run is that if the Jets went 8-8 we wouldn't even be talking that way. The bottom-line is that we saw what a disciplined HC and program can due with sub-standard talent...a pleasant change from the Harm Edwards years of underachieving. IMO, the difference between our opinions is that your assessment of the Jets overall talent level is much higher than mine.
If the Jets did not have all the needs they have, maybe throwing huge money for a player like Thomas would be smart. However, he was not going to fill the needs of this team, not with Defensive line and Offensive line such a glaring deficiency and to a a lesser extent CB,RB and FB. I can not see all the whining about missing Thomas. It was one guy. If anyone thought one player would come in here and instantly make the Jets a SB contender, I want what they are smoking. If this FO can put together drafts like last year and bring in playmakers and players that can shore up the trenches this team is 2-3 drafts and offseasons away from being and elite team that can afford to overpay for that occasional 1 or 2 pieces of the puzzle. It ain't like the Patriots are acting like drunk sailer's every year. This was their first high profile foray into free agency in sometime.
Considering the Jets record is compared to the Pats record in the same year when determining the division winner, it is fair to compare the current Jet team to the current Pats team, not one of 5 years ago. While I understand your point about where the Jets are in the lifecycle of the regime, that fact remains that the Patriots got significantly better yesterday while the Jets didn't do anything. Add in the two #1 draft picks and the Pats are set to get some good young talent as well to keep the machine going. While I am not deluded in believing that the Jets are in the Pats class as a team or organization...yet, the Jets closed the gap last season a bit only to see it widened back up yesterday and eventually on April 28th. I am not saying the Jets had to get A.Thomas, but they did have to fill a need yesterday at CB/OT/OG/CB/OLB with a high quality player and they didn't get that done. I still have faith in the FO and will wait and see what happens, but I don't think fans can be faulted for a being a little disappointed at another first day whiff by the Jets.
I understand what you are saying, but I disagreed that about "another first day whiff by the Jets." IMO, I think alot of people over-valued this year's free agency class. I am not saying some of those players wouldn't have been upgrade over the existing Jets talent. What I am saying is that I saw alot more "Neil O'donnell" type signings yesterday than I saw "Reggie White" type signings. And given the money being throw around, that is heck of a lot of risk with very minimal return.
"The Jets are in year two of their rebuilding program." After reading that I stoped reading... The Jets aren't in a rebuilding program. We just made the playoffs and have something great going. The Pats, everyone is saying its a end of their dynasty, with them getting Thomas, we have the right to be whining and worried. We are trying to get better then the Pats and win the division, this year and the next, not just next year.
No doubt that FA is slim pickings, but I believe that Jets had to fill at least one need with a top shelf player through FA. If there was ever a year to do that it was this year when the havie more cap space than anticipated due to the change of the formula in the CBA. I think there are only two FA left that can fill a need for the Jets at a high level...Joey Porter (OLB) and Leonard Davis (RT). The fact that I would have been disappointed if either of those guys were Day 1 FA signings leads to my belief that the Jets whiffed.
The Pats have 2 first round draft choices and are not by any means an old team. They are building for the future and solidifying their ability to continue to be an elite team this coming season.
to play in Fa.. your gonna have to overpay at some point to land a GOOD FA.an Since we have a no over pay attitude. thats why we target 30 yr old DE's and Injury prone rbs that nobody want.
I never said the Patriots are "old" so not sure where that is coming from. My entire point is that their team is at a completely different stage than where the Jets are at. And yes the Patriots are building for the future, but they aren't throwing ridiculous money around every year like the Redskins. So am not sure really what your point is.
It really bugs me that whenever a FA signed, many say "they overpaid." In 99% of the cases, they are paying what the market dictates which is called market value. (Overpaying is when the most other teams can offer a player is $80mm and his current team throws $100mm at jump shooting guard who can't pass, play defense, rebound or drive to the whole effectively.)
The idea that free agents are more expensive than draft choices is one I don't really get. The reality of draft choices is the cost money and as many of them do nothing as do something. That means your paying for players who you know will do nothing which has to be averaged out over the draft. High draft choices cost money also and very often low draft choices that pan out in 3 or 4 years are going to cost as much as a rented player for a couple of years. It's not as simple as saying build through the draft not through FA or the Redskins overspend in FA. Plenty of teams who build through the draft and don't overspend do worse than teams like the Redskins. The Pats seem to be a team that has a balanced approach to FA. Ignoring FA and only building through the draft is as big a mistake as building through over spending on FA. The reality is the Jets are going to need to not only fill holes all over but at some point get a couple of real game changing studs to make a run at some point in the future. The name of the game is acquiring talent and hanging on to it. The draft is no better or worse than FA depending on the particular draft class and FA class. I don't have a problem not signing an older FA for big money right now because I agree we are far from competing on an elite level. I think the message that is really being sent by not stepping up and at least talking to the top FA's is our management feels we are not even close to being a contender.
Teams that have come out of nowhere to win Super Bowls recently: 1999 St Louis Rams (Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk were the keys) 2000 Baltimore Ravens (Ray and Jamal Lewis were the keys) 2001 New England Patriots (Tom Brady was the key) Every other team that has won in the last 20 years did so after a prolonged period of establishing themselves as a contender first. At this point I think it's becoming clear that 1999-2001 were the aberrations and the normal rebuild for several years to get in contention is where NFL success lies. The teams that have won multiple Super Bowls in the last generation (Cowboys, Broncos, Patriots) have all spent a number of years in the wilderness putting the talent together and improving their chances each season before they struck.
Great original post. The Pats window is beginning to thin out and will most likely close completely within the next 2-3 years. Sure they have some decent young players like Samuel and Marroney and 2 first rounders this year, but foundational guys who have been a signature to their team mentality like Bruschi, Vrabel, Harrison, Light and Troy Brown are beginning to show their age. And lets face it, i's those players character and mental toughness that has made them the quality team that they are. As I stated in another thread, this was a desperate move for a guy who fits their system but doesn't fILL quite the need that some may think. Their biggest need is a big strong inside linebacker w/ speed. Bruschi is showing his age and Vrabel has been forced to play out of position due to lack of depth. It showed last season as teams were able to run the ball against the Pats better than in the past and really picked on the short routes in the passing game. Thomas doesn't exactly help this weakness, what he gives them is not much more than another pass rusher and some quality depth at OLB.
well the rams didnt draft Faulk.. the traded for him. Trent dilfer was a big part of baltimores win. he was a FA signing.
