Jets Spending Like a Team That Wants To Win Now

Football

By MICHAEL DAVID SMITH
March 4, 2008

The Jets added two more high-price free agents yesterday as part of their radical roster overhaul — bolstering their offensive line, transforming their defense, and spending like a team that wants to win now, not build for the future. The first four days of the NFL free agency period have included a surprising series of moves from a franchise that has often shied away from breaking the bank to acquire veteran players. Following up on a big weekend of spending, the Jets made two more big moves yesterday, signing free agent linebacker Calvin Pace to a six-year, $42 million contract and free agent offensive lineman Damien Woody to a five-year, $25.5 million contract.

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Scott Boehm / Getty

The Jets inked linebacker Calvin Pace to a six-year, $42 million deal, the latest in a string of signings for New York.

Signing Pace, whose contract includes $22 million in guarantees, is the latest of four different moves the Jets have made to acquire the kind of personnel needed to effectively play the 3–4 defense that coach Eric Mangini has tried to implement since he arrived in 2006. Pace, who recorded 6.5 sacks last season, should be an improvement in the outside linebacker spot where Victor Hobson started last season, and the Jets' other outside linebacker, Bryan Thomas, should benefit from Pace's presence.

Pace is an outstanding athlete who was highly coveted by teams that run a 3–4 defense. In fact, Bill Parcells, who heads the Miami Dolphins' front office, pressed so hard for Pace that some press outlets incorrectly reported last week that Pace had signed with the Dolphins. But what Pace has in athleticism he has at times lacked in production. Those 6.5 sacks last season were a career high, and there have been times in Pace's career when he disappeared for long stretches. If the Jets' coaching staff can motivate Pace to play his hardest on every down, he could become an All-Pro in Mangini's system, but players with $22 million in guarantees aren't always easy to motivate.

Although signing Pace is the signature move in the reshaping of the Jets' defense, it's far from the only one. They also traded two draft picks to the Carolina Panthers for defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, whose 335-pound body makes him a better fit for the 3–4 nose tackle position than anyone the Jets have had on their roster since Mangini was hired. Then they traded away one player who was never a good fit for Mangini's defense, linebacker Jonathan Vilma, and tried to trade another, defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson. The New Orleans Saints gave the Jets a 2009 mid-round draft pick for Vilma, while the Cincinnati Bengals agreed to give the Jets two 2008 picks for Robertson, although Robertson might not actually get traded because he appears unwilling to renegotiate his hefty contract.

Woody, who will receive $11 million in guarantees, is expected to be the Jets' starting right tackle this season. That's the position he played with the Detroit Lions for the last five games of 2007, and he played very well there, although he is one of the most versatile linemen in the league, with experience as a center for the New England Patriots and as a guard for Detroit. Like Pace, Woody has at times been accused of lacking motivation. In 2004 he signed a big free agent contract to leave the Patriots for the Lions, only to show up to his first training camp in Detroit overweight and out of shape. But Mangini knows Woody from the four seasons they spent together in New England, and he must feel confident that he can keep Woody motivated.

The signing of Woody comes just two days after the Jets gave free agent guard Alan Faneca, formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a five-year, $40 million deal. The additions of Woody and Faneca unquestionably make the Jets' offensive line better, but just like the defensive additions, they come at a high price: The guarantees given to Pace, Woody, Faneca, and Jenkins total $74 million.

It's surprising that the Jets have spent so freely on their offensive line this year after steadfastly refusing to give guard Pete Kendall the raise he wanted last year. But the difference is that last year the Jets were basking in the glory of a surprise playoff appearance, whereas this year they're smarting from a 4–12 season. The Jets know they need to make a splash, and that's exactly what they've done. The next big splash may come during April's draft, in which the Jets own the sixth overall pick. Just a few days ago, the conventional wisdom said the Jets would use their first-round pick to bolster their defensive front seven, but the additions of Pace and Jenkins make that a lower priority. One of the draft's biggest names, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, would be an intriguing option for the Jets, and another option could be trading down with a team willing to give up multiple picks for the chance to draft McFadden.

The draft, however, is about building for the future, whereas so far everything the Jets have done in this wild start to the NFL free agency period has been about winning now. The Jets are aiming for a return to the playoffs, and they've spent millions to make sure their 2008 season looks more like 2006 than 2007.

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The Patriots agreed to a three-year contract extension with record-breaking wide receiver Randy Moss yesterday, keeping Tom Brady's favorite weapon in town for a few more years. The $27 million contract includes $12 million in guarantees, which is a great deal for the Patriots: They retain the best receiver in football and do so for a price that is relatively affordable when compared with the kinds of contracts that have been handed out in the NFL in the last few days. Although New England has lost some key players from last year's 18–1 roster, including Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel, holding onto Moss means the Patriots are still the favorites to win the AFC.

Mr. Smith is a writer for FootballOutsiders.com.