Jets News 4/27

hydro51 · Apr 27, 2006

Jets may dodge 'O' in draft

BY RICH CIMINI
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/412383p-348765c.html

Teams are scrambling after Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler.
Here's a factoid that will help explain why the Jets' offense fell into disrepair last season:

They've gone four straight drafts without picking an offensive player in the first two rounds, the longest streak in the NFL.

Can you say "neglect"?

So, with the fourth pick in Saturday's draft, the logical decision for the Jets' new regime is to go offense. But don't be surprised if they don't. Don't be surprised by anything.

The rumor mill was churning yesterday, and, no shock, the Jets were in the middle of the mayhem.

The latest:

# As much as they want to bolster the offense, the Jets could end up with North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, not left Virginia tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, as many have speculated. The leaguewide consensus is the Jets will stay at No.4 and gladly take Ferguson or Williams, whichever player doesn't go to the Saints at No.2. Reggie Bush is expected to go first to the Texans and it has been widely assumed the Saints want Williams. But now there are strong indications coming from New Orleans that the real preference is Ferguson.

Publicly, the Saints have said right tackle Jammal Brown, the 13th pick in last year's draft, will move to the left side, seemingly eliminating the need for Ferguson. But that apparently is a smoke screen. Brown struggled in a recent minicamp at left tackle, prompting the Saints to reconsider. Of course, they could trade out of that spot (the Raiders could deal up for Texas quarterback Vince Young), which would be a good news-bad news situation for the Jets.

It would be good because the Jets would have a choice of Williams or Ferguson, both blue-chip talents - assuming the Titans take Southern Cal's Matt Leinart at No. 3. The downside is that, with the top two quarterbacks off the board, the fourth pick would lose value and probably eliminate the Jets' chances of trading down for an extra pick.

Ferguson would fill a bigger need, but Williams is a rare talent who could replace John Abraham. Another possible scenario: If Young or Leinart falls to them, the Jets could get a call from the Raiders about swapping places. That would be risky for the Jets; why take a chance on losing the player you really want?

# The Jets, who also own the 29th pick (acquired in the Abraham trade), have been calling teams picking in the teens about possible trades. By offering their second-round pick (No. 35), they could get up as high as No. 13, the Ravens' spot, according to the pick-value chart used by teams. If the Jets jump that many teams, it would be to take a quarterback, Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler. It's believed the Jets favor Cutler over Leinart and Young, but they don't feel comfortable taking him as high as four. They might have to jump over the Vikings (No. 17), who covet Cutler.

If the Jets emerge with Williams and Cutler, it would be a successful debut for rookie GM Mike Tannenbaum.

Tannenbaum admitted last week that "we're going to try to add some competition" for Chad Pennington and Patrick Ramsey, neither of whom is a lock to be on the team beyond 2006. If they can't get Cutler, the Jets could pluck a quarterback from the second tier, with Alabama's Brodie Croyle, Oregon's Kellen Clemens and Clemson's Charlie Whitehurst the leading candidates.

# If the Jets take Williams at No.4 and remain at No. 29, they likely will address an offensive line that has deteriorated over the years. They like Miami left tackle Eric Winston and Auburn right tackle Marcus McNeill.

They desperately need to help the offense. The Jets haven't used a high pick on that side of the ball since they selected running back LaMont Jordan in the second round in 2001.
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hydro51 · Apr 27, 2006

TE DAVIS SAYS HE'LL BE A JET
By MARK CANNIZZARO

VERY, VERNON GOOD: Maryland TE Vernon Davis weighs 254 pounds and can run the 40-yard dash in less than 4.4 seconds. He says he looks forward to playing in New York and competing with the Giants' Jeremy Shockey.
Photo: WireImage.com

April 27, 2006 -- Vernon Davis has a gut feeling, and it's one that either will excite Jets fans or horrify them as Saturday's NFL Draft approaches.

"I think I'm going to the Jets," the Maryland tight end told The Post yesterday. "If I'd say anything, I'd say the Jets will draft me. I'm pretty sure, if nothing crazy happens, it'll be the Jets."

Davis is a 6-31/4, 254-pound physical freak of nature who runs faster than 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash and can leap over the Empire State Building without a running start. He's thought of as a can't-miss prospect, a dynamic player who can change the game for any offense.

Think the moribund, pop-gun Jets' offense, devoid of a single explosive player, can use someone like Davis?

Davis does.

"If [the Jets] know what's right for them, they'll take me, a guy that can make plays," he said at a lunchtime interview in Manhattan set up by representatives from EAS, the supplement drink he'll endorse as a pro. "I don't look at myself as a tight end; I look at myself more as a playmaker.

"I feel I can come in and be one of the best tight ends in the league. It seems like every goal I set for myself I tend to reach it. My philosophy is, somebody might beat me, but they're going to have to bleed to do it."

Asked if he believes he can come in and be an immediate impact player, Davis said, "Oh, I know I can, right away."

Told of the black hole the tight end position has been over the years for the Jets, who since 1992 have used seven draft picks on tight ends, three of them in the first round (Johnny Mitchell, Kyle Brady and Anthony Becht, where have you gone?), Davis was undaunted.

Told that sports-radio callers already are ranting against the Jets taking another tight end in the first round, Davis said, "My answer to that is - and I'm not trying to knock anyone - but who do they have now?"

The answer would be Chris Baker (eight starts in 52 games, 52 career catches) and journeyman Doug Jolley (118 catches in four seasons and a non-factor as a blocker).

Davis was asked if he would embrace some New York competition with Giants brash TE Jeremy Shockey. Davis' eyes lit up.

"Oh, yeah, he'll definitely have some competition here," he said. "Oh, yeah."

Davis said he's well aware of Shockey's game and those of the other top tight ends in the NFL.

"I can make people miss and run them over, too," Davis said. "I'm explosive. With that, you've got a Jeremy Shockey and Antonio Gates mixed in one."

Davis said he visited the Jets at Weeb Ewbank Hall three weeks ago, spending time with owner Woody Johnson and head coach Eric Mangini.

Davis, asked what his lasting impression was, said, "I could tell by the way they were talking, the way we bonded, that they liked me. It just seemed like it was good."

Davis said he'll wait for his name to be announced in the green room at Radio City on Saturday. Told by The Post that we'd be at the Jets' complex for the draft on Saturday, Davis smiled and said, "Well, I'll see you at the complex on Saturday then."

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com
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hydro51 · Apr 27, 2006

Rumors everywhere
One insider says Jets will select DE Williams or T Ferguson at No. 4
BY KEN BERGER
Newsday Staff Writer
April 27, 2006

When the Jets' Mike Tannenbaum was asked recently if he'd spoken with any other general managers about potential draft-day trades, the first-year GM came back with a coy response.

"I like to do a lot of listening to the GMs above us and below us," Tannenbaum said. "That's part of the job, though, to try and listen as much as you can, and we'll continue to listen."

There was plenty to listen to yesterday, when the pre-draft rumor mill churned out some of its best work.

It's not surprising that the Jets, with the fourth overall pick Saturday, are being mentioned as potential players in draft-day trades. Nor is it stunning that there is more fiction than fact making the rounds.

Despite rampant speculation that the Jets are considering any number of draft-day trades, a person familiar with their strategy said yesterday that Tannenbaum is inclined to keep the fourth pick and select either North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams or Virginia tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

According to one NFL personnel man and several agents who have spoken with the Jets, that makes sense, because the team has made it known that it does not like any of the top three quarterbacks enough to trade up for one.

Yesterday, the rumor du jour had the Jets involved in a possible draft-day trade with the Ravens, who would be interested in moving out of the 13th spot if they can't land Oregon defensive tackle Haloti Ngata. Most observers don't believe Ngata will get past the Browns at No. 12, and some even are projecting him as a top-10 pick.

That's where things get murky. If Ngata is off the board when the Ravens pick and Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler is still available, the Jets would trade their 29th and 35th picks to Baltimore and select Cutler 13th, according to this scenario.

The 29th and 35th picks are fair value for the 13th, according to the trade chart most teams use. But one person who's had dealings with both the Jets and Ravens said yesterday the Jets don't like Cutler enough to make such a move, even though owner Woody Johnson headed the Jets' contingent that met with Cutler in Nashville, Tenn., two weeks ago.

Then came a report yesterday that the Jets like USC's Matt Leinart more than people know and would take him with the fourth pick if he's available.

Confused? There's more. Another Jet-related rumor addressed in a published report yesterday had Tannenbaum potentially involved in a three-way trade purportedly involving the Raiders and Saints. That one is so convoluted, and probably so far off base, that it's not even worth addressing.

Several people involved in the pre-draft wrangling still believe it's more likely that the Jets will address the quarterback position in the second round with Alabama's Brodie Croyle or Oregon's Kellen Clemens. Croyle worked out for the Jets last week in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

With the 29th and 35th picks, as well as two third-rounders, the Jets have the flexibility to move up in the bottom of the first round, for example, and select N.C. State outside linebacker Manny Lawson. He would be an ideal replacement for John Abraham as a 3-4 rush end if they can't get Williams with the fourth pick.
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New York Mick · Apr 27, 2006

That cleared up a lot, from what I gather we are either going to pick someone at #4 or make a trade. Thanks for the news updates now I can go to bed even more confused. Only 54 hours till the draft.

Bomber · Apr 27, 2006

New York Mick said:

. Only 54 hours till the draft.
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At least we know that is not a smokescreen.......or is it?

vilmatic · Apr 27, 2006

God I hope Cimini is right about the Ferguson smoke screen. It's always made sense to me, they NEED a LT, they HAVE two DEs. What I wouldn't give for Mario at 4. Lawd have mercy.

NYJalltheway · Apr 27, 2006

D'Brick, Williams, Davis, they all seem like good picks.

We really can't go wrong...unless we take Marcus Vick.

Mr Electric · Apr 27, 2006

I saw Vernon Davis on the Hot List the other day and they asked him what team was going to draft him.

He said, "I don't know, but any team will be fine"

PennyandtheJets · Apr 27, 2006

MrElectric29 said:

I saw Vernon Davis on the Hot List the other day and they asked him what team was going to draft him.

He said, "I don't know, but any team will be fine"
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His agent probably told him to shut the hell up...

Coach K · Apr 27, 2006

vilmatic said:

God I hope Cimini is right about the Ferguson smoke screen. It's always made sense to me, they NEED a LT, they HAVE two DEs. What I wouldn't give for Mario at 4. Lawd have mercy.
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preach on! cuz im hoping the exact same.

JetFighter · Apr 27, 2006

Not a good sign that Davis said "and I'm not trying to knock anyone - but who do they (Jets) have now (at tight end)?"

That would not create a happy training camp locker room if for some reason we did pick him.

jets21027 · Apr 27, 2006

i can tell you right now we are definatly going to draft someoen you can count on it

WhiteShoeWillis · Apr 27, 2006

jets21027 said:

i can tell you right now we are definatly going to draft someoen you can count on it
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Do you care to back this up? Do you have a link? Maybe some reasoning behind your statement? christ!

fenwyr · Apr 27, 2006

I would be happy with Mario or Vernon at #4. If Mario is off the board, try to trade down a few spots or take Vernon. Please, oh please, do not take Brick at #4.

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