By MARK CANNIZZARO May 1, 2007 -- Justin McCareins has read and heard all the rumors. By most accounts - except his and that of the Jets - he was supposed to be a goner by the end of this past weekend?s NFL Draft. The Jets, who believe in building with youth through the draft, went into the weekend with just six picks and the prevailing assumption was that they were certain to try to add a pick or two by trading McCareins. Adding to the speculation that McCareins would be dealt was the fact that he was made an example of by Eric Mangini at the start of last season?s training camp, left on the physically unable to perform list after failing a running test, and he lost his starting job to Jerricho Cotchery. So, all signs pointed to a McCareins exit. Yet, when the Jets? offseason weight training program is in session, there is McCareins in the Weeb Ewbank Hall weight room pumping iron and getting ready for the 2007 season as a Jet, and that?s just fine with him. ?I?m the luckiest guy I know,? McCareins told The Post yesterday. ?I?m happy to still be in the league and happy to be a Jet. I?m just going to keep working hard and keep trying to improve. ?I?ve made it farther than I ever thought I would, and I?m still improving,? McCareins went on. ?I don?t think anyone has seen me at my peak. I still think my best football is ahead of me. I know I can still definitely be a productive player.? Two sources inside the organization told The Post before the draft that the team still sees McCareins, who?s only 28, as a value to the team. He is, after all, its best down-field threat, averaging 15.1 yards on 23 catches last season and 16.6 yards on 43 catches in 2005. And with Tim Dwight injury prone and coming off surgery and Brad Smith still considered a project, McCareins is the Jets? No. 3 receiver at the moment. Asked if he expects to remain a Jet come training camp, McCareins said ?I?m not even thinking in that way. A lot of things are out of my control. I?m under contract with the Jets and continue to work hard and be a part of this team. ?I don?t think of it as I want to go somewhere else. I want to be at my best. I?m a Jet and I?m under contract and I need to work as hard as I can as a New York Jet." --------------------------------------- Perhaps we're judging this guy loose too soon? Thoughts?
I think so, I don't see any benefit in releasing JMac at this point at least. Besides the couple million we will save on the cap, which we don't need, where is the benefit in releasing him? Right now he is the best option for the #3 spot, until there is a viable replacement it makes no sense to get rid of him. And no Brad Smith or Chansi Stuckey are not viable replacements right now.
yeah he's here for another year. you haters need to realize that if anyone is gone, it is tim dwight. j-mac was a deep threat last year playin the role of 3rd wr. he fits that role best and always has throughour his career.
i dont think hes that bad, hes better then most of the other options out there at 3rd reciever, but i would love to see more action from brad smith this season!
How is Brad Smith and Stuckey not viable options? Smith showed a lot of promise last year and having on the field is a huge advantage to us because teams are trying to figure out if we are going to pull any "gadget play." McCareins, on the other hand, is unbelievably inconsistent and has a poor attitude and on top of that has a 3M cap figure.
At this point in time, Stuckey, B Smith, and Dwight are not good #3 options. B Smith is still learning the nuances of the position, and Stuckey and Dwight will be going into TC having just healed from injuries, thus missing out on any offseason training. If McCairens can get his act together for camp, then I'm fine with him being our #3, as he's a good deep threat to compliment the over-the-middle styles that Cotch and Coles excel at.
ok fair enough but is 3 mil when we are in good shape with the cap worth creating a major hole in our WR corps and killing the depth? To me the answer is no, say what you want about JMac but he is a servicable #3, noone on the roster can be described as serviceable at this point.
The way that I see it is that we need to give Brad Smith a shot, since he has showed so much promise. Just think if we would have played Cotchery sooner?
I just feel like as much as i like smith he didnt get many chances at the wr position last season he was usually used as a decoy and there for he hasnt been proven, i think after this season and getting a few more reps at wr he will take over for j mac at #3, but till then i dont see anyone out there being a better number 3.
The better question is how are they viable options? Brad Smith has great talent but he has not proven to be a legit option as a WR let alone being counted on for the important role of the #3 wr and first option should Coles or Cotch go down. Stuckey??? cmon, I like the kids potential but lets be real here, he was a 7th round pick, lets see him make the team before he could be considered to replace JMac.
Frankly I feel we should keep him because regardless of his salary, he's good to have as depth figuring we only drafted 4 players. But not all decisions made are in the best interest of the team. Some are purely financial. Woody may not want to pay the dude 3M to catch 30 balls a season. that's $100k a catch. It may also irk him that Randy Moss is making the same amount of money this season.
Smith didn't really show anything as a WR thus far. His role on O for this team was limited last year- alot of times it was as a decoy or under center. The amount of throws his way was not too great and he needs another season under his belt, as a true WR before I'm convinced that he's our #3 guy for the future.
Big difference, Cotchery is and has always been a WR who set school records in college. Brad Smith is just learning to be a WR, while I do think he has potential down the road as a WR, I haven't seen enough of the promise you mention to count on him.
Agreed. Let's think logically. He's our best number 3 right now. If another team cuts a better option latter this summer, that's another matter. But for now, it makes no sense to release him. I have more faith in JMac as #3 right now than I do Brad Smith who needs another year to develop before taking a larger role...
If there's one thing that Mangini is about, it's production. You produce and play well in camp, you play. JMac will get his chance, but if he can't beat out Smith and Stuckey and Dwight, he's getting cut. He may end up being training camp fodder or he may end up being our 3rd receiver. I don't think anyone's mind is made up at this point. Same thing with Barton, Barrett and Kendall. They'll need to play well to keep their jobs.
My thoughts exactly. McCareins had a few great plays last year when he was given a shot. Dwight helped out but we drafted a punt returner so he's a non-issue anymore. Stuckey will play special teams and sit on the bench to learn from Coles. Smith is a viable fourth reciever/tweener/do-everything kinda guy and he'll develop into a 3rd or 2nd WR in a few years when Coles calls it quits and Cotch takes over at #1. For now, we need J-Mac.
