NEW YORK JETS: Jets Get Lito

Just what we needed — a solid CB to go opposite Darrelle Revis. The Jets completed a trade today for Philly CB Lito Sheppard:

“Sources told ESPN.com Friday night that the Eagles are believed to be receiving a middle-round choice in the 2010 draft and conditional 2011 draft choice. The level of the 2011 choice will be determined by a number of factors, including Sheppard’s 2009 playing time.”

While 2008 may not have been his best year it is certainly an upgrade and I’m happy to see him in a Jets uniform.

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NEW YORK JETS: Re-sign Brandon Moore

Nope, not a typo. I’ll just let Daily News writer Rich Cimini tell it:

“A shocker: The Jets, spurned by Steelers free-agent G Chris Kemoeatu earlier in the day, have re-signed RG Brandon Moore, the Daily News has learned.

Moore agreed to a four-year, $16 million contract, including $10 million in guarantees.

This is a smart move by the Jets, who cut Moore yesterday because they didn’t want to pay a $7 million roster bonus. They quickly came to their sense and re-signed their best run blocker, keeping their line in tact.”

P.S. Sheppard visits Jets HQ tomorrow.

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NEW YORK JETS: Roundup

Well, after releasing Brandon more, the Jets attempted to sign Steelers guard Chris Kemoeatu. Problem is: he resigned with the Steelers.

Cornerback Cory Ivy visited Jets’ headquarters today in Jersey, possibly considering an offer from them.

And in some interesting late breaking news, the Jets are apparently trying to work out a trade to bring Eagles CB Lito Sheppard to the Jets. While Lito had an off 2008, he’d still be an upgrade over rookie Dwight Lowery.

We’ll see how it all shakes out.

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NEW YORK JETS: Free Agents and Cuts

NFL Free agency started this morning at midnight, and the Jets are obviously going to be heavy players. The following is the list of the “cap casualty” cuts the Jets have issued so far:

David Bowens
Brad Kassell
Brandon Moore
Chris Baker
David Barrett

The following are the free agents of note:

Eric Barton
Ahmad Carroll
Jesse Chatman
Laveranues Coles
Jay Feely
Mike Nugent
Bubba Franks
Ty Law
C.J. Mosley
Hank Poteat
Tony Richardson

Some will get resigned, some will be let go, and big names (or small) will replace them — and I’ll be here every step of the way to update everyone on those moves.

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NEW YORK JETS: Jets Sign LB Bart Scott

What a great pickup. To replace the departed (see upcoming post) David Bowens sand Brad Kassell, the Jets today signed former Ravens Linebacker Bart Scott to a 6-year, $48 million deal. According to the ESPN.com article:

“Scott has played seven seasons with Baltimore amassing 433 tackles and 16 sacks in his career. His best season was in 2006 when he made the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro team. In that season, he had 103 tackles and 9½ sacks.”

This should be great — first of all he knows new Head Coach Rex Ryan — but especially because he will work great in the 3-4 system.

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TIGER WOODS: My Take

Tiger made the right decision. He was ready to play, he wanted to play, and he did. He was beat by an opponent who played the best golf of his life against the world’s #1 that was a little bit off. Tiger’s back, golf can take a mini-sigh of relief waiting for his probable next appearance on the PGA Tour, at Doral.

People also may have forgotten that this was a new course to everyone this week, and that the extreme undulating greens caught many off guard and were tough to learn. Tiger will next play at Doral and Bay Hill, most likely, where he knows the golf courses like he does his house. That should take one variable out of the equation and play right into Tiger’s hands — scary right?

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MLB: Manny Being Manny

It looks like Manny Ramierez, who like that other player named A-Rod tends to make more news off the diamond then on, has rejected the Los Angeles Dodgers newest offer to him of a one year deal with deferred money and an option for 2010. I’m going to make a prediction right now and I truly, honestly believe it:

Manny will start the season on 0 rosters.

His asking price and wants are too high, he’s too selfish, and he’s going to be forced to have to live through not being in baseball before he gets desperate, takes someones offer, and returns to baseball. It’s the only way it’s going to happen. Hopefully Scott Boras and Manny learn their lesson here, because they are two of the most bizarre people in all of baseball right now.

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GOLF: Sobel Blasts PGA Tour

Many of you know how much I love the ESPN.com golf writers, and Jason Sobel is their chief one. Yesterday, during a chat, he absolutely BLASTED the PGA Tour with pure honesty. Take a look:

“Silky Johnson (St. Augustine, FL): How does a place with greens so ridiculous that they have to keep them this slow get ahold of the Match Play Championship? Seems silly to me. Obviously, there’s real estate money involved, but this is a prestigious event and the venue should be taken more seriously. Am I right?

Jason Sobel: You couldn’t be more right. Let me be frank: The location of this tournament is an absolute joke. First of all, it’s ridiculous that the three WORLD — stress that word — Golf Championship events are all played in the U.S. But the fact that the most unique of those three is played in a small town north of Tucson, originally at one generic resort course and now moved to another generic resort course down the road? The PGA Tour should be ashamed of itself. Have a little self-respect. There are 1,000 courses worldwide that deserve to host this event before this place. But yes, you’re right — it’s all about the Benjamins.”

Yowsa. Yes I agree to an extent but the fact is the US players want to be on US soil this time of year because of where the tour is in the schedule. If you move it to some place around the world it’s going to be at a different time of year that the players won’t like. It’s a fact of life, and in the end the United States is the best place for it.

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JAMES TAYLOR: “til our few atoms blow to dust or form…”

Someone searched that and got landed on this blog. Welcome.

Those are the great lyrics of a song called “New Hymn,” which can be found on JT’s fantastic “LIVE” album from 1993.

Lyrics:

“Source of all we hope or dread
Sheepdog, jackal, rattler, swan
We hunt your face and long to trust
That your hid mouth will say again
Let there be light
A clear new day

But when we thirst in this dry night
We drink from hot wells poisoned with the blood of children
And when we strain to hear a steady homing beam
Our ears are balked by stifled moans
And howls of desolation from the throats of sisters, brothers, wild men
Clawing at the gates for bread

Even our own feeble hands
Ache to seize the crown you wear
And work our private havoc through
The known and unknown lands of space

Absolute in flame beyond us
Seed and source of Dark and Day
Maker whom we beg to be
Our mother father comrade mate

‘Til our few atoms blow to dust
Or form again in wiser lives
Or find your face and hear our name
In your calm voice the end of night
If dark may end
Wellspring goal of Dark and Day

Be here
Be now”

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NEW YORK JETS: Baker, Nugent, and Coles All Leave

While I’ve been doing a lot of work and Tiger returned, my New York Jets made a lot of news.

1) Chris Baker, who I’ve previously called the most underrated tight end in football, was let go by the team. With the emergence of Dustin Keller and Bubba Franks as the second stringer, Baker’s role was diminished and he was unhappy last season. While a new quarterback is coming to town, possibly, for the 2009 season, it is clear that his role was to be permanently diminished for some seasons to come.

2) Mike Nugent and the Jets parted ways last week, as it was clear the Jets enjoyed Jay Feely and his kicking after they signed him early in the 2008 injury when Nugent got hurt. Even though Feely was a little spotty at times, I don’t mind this removal as he did make his last 14.

3) And then there’s the letting go of Laveranues Coles — the Jets save around $6 million in cap space by restructuring his contract and letting him go — it was on good terms (Coles hasn’t ruled out coming back to the Jets). According to both sides there is a possiblilty of Coles returning to the Jets but they needed the added money and they wanted to let Coles, who has been disgruntled recently, test the free agent market.

It’s a sad day for Jets fans as we’ve come to know and love Coles, but hopefully this all works out for the better.

On a completely unrelated NFL topic there’s a new blog to check out: The Grey Hoodie

P.S. Free agency started at midnight, so we’ll see what the Jets do. Stay tuned to this blog for all the latest on NFL Free Agency and the Jets’ expected numerous moves.

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