I agree, but this is a sticky situation. He will not be happy unless we give him some kind of concession; the most I would do is tell him that he can be an UFA after this year. That way he plays his a** off this year to get a new contract somewhere else and we have time to formulate a better backup plan. When the reality sets in next year that no one is going to pony up big bucks for him, he can always be resigned. Might work.... p.s. --> great section, 314. Been up there about 20 years myself.
I am not saying this is a completely equivalent situation, but it seems here some learned nothing from the Kendall debacle. I wonder how many who are suggesting harsh measures here did the same when the issue was Kendall. How'd that work out for the Jets?
Not sure where this was posted, but I know I saw a list of the top TE's last year in terms of production and he was either 19th or 20th. He was also either 19th or 20th in compensation. He's being paid fairly based on his production.
Oh, please... if nothing else it seems Chris Baker learned nothing from the Pete Kendall issue. And for what it is worth, Kendall was a far better OL-man than Baker is a TE. Unless Baker doesn't want to play football anymore the Jets rightfully hold all the cards in this situation.
I wanted us to be firm with Kendall just like I do with Baker. I still think we did the right thing with Kendall except for the fact that we trusted that Clarke would be able to take over; that right there is the big mistake. Letting Kendall cry and cry and cry was fine with me, and we even got a draft pick next year out of it. TE is not as essential of a position as OL and on top of that Franks and Keller will be able to at the very least hold the fort if Baker's gone by the season's start.
My thoughts: 1. Baker is not worth more money. He has lived up to his contract given the circumstances, but he has not outplayed his contract. Given today's league, the Jets must accept the need to renegotiate contracts when players outplay them (this is fair given the team's right to cut players or force them into paycuts when they underplay a contract). Baker, however, has not outplayed his contract (not when you consider the upfront money in addition to his base this year). 2. Baker should not be cut. First, if we cut him, we get nothing for him. Second, it would send a horrible precedent because every time a Jet wanted more money or to hit the open market, they would just act up like Baker with an expectation of being treated similarly. Cutting Baker would be giving him what he wants. Also, of course Baker can get more money on the open market. He took a big chuck of his salary upfront, so his base is very low this year. Cut him, and he keeps the upfront payment and all he has to do is find something better than his small base. (If Baker was willing to payback the million or so we fronted him, then I would be more willing to cut him if I really didn't think we'd get much in return.) 3. I am open to trading Baker for value. He is an average tight end that is still young. He has good hands and is a decent blocker. He can start for a number of teams. Even with a restructured contract, he could be gotten for a relatively small price by a team needing a tight end more than the Jets. Under the circumstances, he could be worth a fourth round pick or conditional third round pick. As much as we may be frustrated with his attitude and "average" performance, he has some trade value that should not be thrown away.
Does Chris Baker realize he's talking about CHRIS BAKER? Outside of Jet fans nobody knows or cares about him. I would venture to guess there is not a team that we face that is keeping the D Coordinator up at night wondering, "How the hell are we going to stop Chris Baker". In the famous words of Fabio to George Clooney, "Stop being a diva..."
The only thing that troubles me with this situation is it is a distraction to preperation. Players said that the Pete Kendell affair distracted them last year so its annoying having a situation similar this year. At some point i'm going to stop caring how they rid the Jets of this problem as long as they do it.
I think Kendall distracted everyone because he had such a big mouth. Even when things were going well I don't remember ever seeing as many quotes from a left guard as I did from Kendall. At the end of the day, these guys are all professionals and they all realize it is a business. They need to worry about themselves at this time of the year. Maybe the coaches will play Baker deep into the first pre-season game like they did with Kendall last year.
I have thought long and hard about this issue and have been on both sides of it at one time or another. The issue is this: the front office did a poor job to let it get to this level. Plain and simple. The problem was communication and was clearly misinterpreted on both sides. If the CS or FO communicated to Baker that they would increase his contract after last year then they should have done so. When Baker or his agent approached them about it. They should have cleared it up plain and simple. Baker didn't make up the fact that they would help him out or pay him more money this year. Something had to be said and it should have been clear so no one would get the wrong idea. Do I think they should pay him more, probably but I believe if you sign a contract you are bound to it. However if someone gives you a verbal contract saying that they will restructure your deal then they should do what they said they would. If not then they should clear it up immediately. Maybe they tried to and have failed. I think it is rediculous how players do this now. especially Burress doing it yesterday. Contracts are binding agreements!!! However if they said they would restructure and pay him more than they should. The FO should know how to manage players. that doesn't mean pay them when they decide to ask for it. But make sure things like this don't happen. I don't know everything here, maybe they tried and Baker and his agent are being absurd. But I know one thing if I was woody and I have to read this stuff in the news everyday I would be furious that my Front office and coaching staff have let something escalate to this level. I would go nuts. I think he is worth more but you can't let it be an example that you can change your contract whenever you want. It should have never gotten public and never gone this far. figure it out.
The problem I have with playing hardball with Baker is we have a rookie T/E who can't block and is more a third Wr as opposed to a T/E. We have a Aging Vet in Bubba Franks who was lost the last two years in Green Bay with Brett Farve throwing to him. If we lose one lineman we will have to use our T/E to block again this year because of a lack of depth at the position. Cutting Baker or having him pissed in the clubhouse could be a bigger problem than people think. It easier said than done until Keller has to block or Bubba looks like crap.
You can think long and hard on this as you want, but it might be helpful if you read some of the facts surrounding the issue. It might help clear up the misconceptions all over your post.
Jetzzz why don't you fill me in big guy??? I love how us jets fans have to be such dicks to one another. ease up buddy.
baker should be yelling at his agent, iam sure his contract is performance based and with all the te aquisitions we have made, looks like his role will be limited or the way he is going, nada. personally i like franks to be an upgrade over baker and sure i would be worried if my agent screwed me.
Baker wasn't even in the room when this was talked about. His old agent relayed the info to him. Then he fired that agent and the agent he has since hired is speaking like he was in the room as well, but he wasn't. The only person who really knows what was said at that meeting is Tannenbaum. Hell, Baker even said what his agent told him, and that wasn't even a promise that they would renegotiate. The only communication issue is that Baker is a fucking idiot and misinterpreted what his old agent told him.
I am sure I don't know what you are talking about. What Kendall learned is by standing up for himself he ended up on a team with a better record with a big fat raise, in fact more or less the raise he wanted from the Jets. He got what he wanted, the Redskins got what they wanted, and we got to watch Adrian Clarke play himself off the team and out of football. I tend to agree Kendall was the better player, but I am not of the understanding Baker is asking for the money Kendall got. How do the Jets hold more cards here than they did with Kendall? Oh, you though the Jets held all the cards with Kendall too? The one card they do hold that they did not have with Kendall is better options at TE, but imo I don't know that I would call those options the equivalent of what the team would have if Baker stays and is happy. The larger issue by far is why do we see situations like this happening? What might be going on that more than one player goes to the media announcing that the FO told them they would get a better deal? I don't start out assuming the player is telling the truth, but where you see a pattern, you have what they call in the law proof by pattern of conduct. If there is a pattern of this sort of conduct by the Jet FO, I would not find that comforting.
