Everyone on the Jets Offense Stinks, It's Not All on Sanchez

The train wreck known as the 2011 New York Jets will mercifully come to an end this Sunday. A season that started out with so much promise and optimism has quickly turned into a nightmare that Jets fans have seen too many times. The Jets have gone from being the only team in the NFL to make the postseason final four two years in a row to being a team that could finish 9th in the AFC after Sunday.

Mark Sanchez has shouldered the majority of the blame for the team's shortcomings. Going into year three, he was expected to make a big leap in his progression as a viable NFL quarterback. Unfortunately for the Jets and their fans, Sanchez has not made the huge leap that the organization expected. However, he has gotten better while the pieces around him have gotten worse. In other words, Sanchez does deserve some blame, but he is not the main reason for the team's shortcomings.

Statistically speaking, 2011 has been a pretty good year for Sanchez. He has 24 touchdown passes (good for 8th best in the NFL) and 6 rushing touchdowns (only Cam Newton has more rushing touchdowns among quarterbacks.) His quarterback rating, passing yards, completion percentage, and yards per game are all better than his first two years. While statistics do not tell the whole story, Sanchez does deserve credit for his 2011 resume.

All of these statistical accolades have happened with a supporting cast that ranks among the worst in the NFL. Thanks largely to Right Tackle Wayne Hunter, Sanchez has been the 2nd most sacked quarterback in the entire NFL. Pro Bowl Left Tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson has had the worst season of his six year career and All Pro Center Nick Mangold missed games earlier this season and came back before he was really ready. In 2009 and 2010, Sanchez was sacked 26 and 27 times. This season he has already been sacked 37 times with one game to go against a very good Miami defense. The sack total could very well be above 40 by the time week 17 is over.

How about the vaunted "Ground & Pound" New York Jets running game? After finishing with the #1 rushing attack in the league in 2009 and the #4 ranked running game last year, the Jets have fallen all the way to 22nd in 2011. Even more pathetic is that the Jets rank 30th in the league in yards per carry. While Shonn Greene is a solid change of pace back, 2011 has proven once and for all that he is not a viable starter. Through 15 games, Greene has had only two 100 yard games. He has topped 70 yards rushing in only seven games. While LaDainian Tomlinson has been a reliable 3rd down back, he has averaged only 3.5 yards per carry this season and has not had more than 38 yards rushing in any game.

The wide receivers are not without blame either. Santonio Holmes has been a letdown after signing a 50$ million dollar contract over the offseason. Through 15 games, he has only 654 yards. By comparison, Holmes had 746 yards in only 12 games last season. His longest reception is only 38 yards. Plaxico Burress has been phenomenal in the red zone but has done virtually nothing between the 20s. Burress is averaging less than 3 receptions a game and has had only one game with more than four catches. Anyone that has watched the Jets this year knows that Burress has had a lot of trouble separating from cornerbacks. He simply can't get open the way he used to. The only other wide receiver option has been 5th round rookie Jeremy Kerley. While Kerley has shown flashes of being a productive slot receiver, he is still an inexperienced 5th round rookie. The Jets wide receiving core, which last year was one of football's best, has been negated to Santonio Holmes, a soon to be 35 year old Plaxico Burress, and a 5th round rookie. Far from impressive. Over the last three seasons, the Jets have never given Sanchez any continuity in his wide receiving core. In the 2009 AFC Championship, his starting wide receivers were Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery. Neither of them are on the team anymore. In 2010, his top four receivers were Edwards, Holmes, Cotchery, and Brad Smith. In 2011, he lost 3/4 of his 2010 core. Out with Edwards, Cotchery, and Smith. In with Burress, Kerley, and Patrick Turner.

Sanchez is being forced to work with a bad offensive line, below average running game, and a wide receiving core that is average at best. However, the Jets offense is 9th in the NFL in scoring and they are the #1 red zone offense in the league. Sanchez deserves credit for that.

No one deserves more blame for the Jets offensive woes than offensive coordinator Brian Shottenheimer. He has been under fire for years and 2011 may have been the last straw. He has been inconsistent all season and it is becoming apparent that Sanchez will never reach his full potential in his offense (funny to think that former Jet quarterbacks Chad Pennington and Brett Favre had the best seasons of their careers the year after they left Shottenheimer's system.) His week 16 game plan against the Giants was one of the worst games an offensive coordinator has ever had. Even though the Jets were averaging over four yards per carry, Shottenheimer called 68 pass plays (59 passes, 5 sacks, 4 scrambles.) 68 pass plays against a Giants defense that rushes the passer better than any team in football. To put that into perspective, the NFL record for pass attempts in a game is 70 by Drew Bledsoe in 1994.

No player on the 2011 Jets has been criticized more than Mark Sanchez. Everyone loves to dump all the blame on the quarterback. People forget that in six road playoff games, Sanchez has posted a 95 quarterback rating with 9 touchdown passes and 3 interceptions. Since entering the league in 2009, Mark Sanchez has more game winning drives and 4th quarter comebacks than any quarterback in the league. He has shown plenty of flashes of one day being an elite quarterback. He only started one year in college and he is playing in the toughest media market in the country. He deserves another year with a new offensive coordinator and a better supporting cast.

Jets and Giants Need Sanchez and Eli to Carry Them to Postseason

If the season ended today, neither the Jets or Giants would be going to the postseason. For the Giants, it would represent a third straight season of collapsing in the season's 2nd half. For the Jets, it would be a colossal disappointment to not make the playoffs after two straight AFC Championship appearances. Lucky for New York, there are four games left and each team largely controls their own destiny.

Though the Giants are 6-6 as compared to the Jets 7-5, it is the Giants who have the better shot at making the postseason. Whether it be as a wild card or division winner, the Giants fate will be right in front of them in the month of December. It all starts this Sunday night in Dallas. The Cowboys have been unimpressive all season and are coming off a loss to the hapless Arizona Cardinals. The Giants, losers of four straight, are coming off perhaps their best game of the season, albeit a 38-35 loss to the undeafeted Packers. With teams like Detroit and Chicago falling apart down the stretch, the Giants are also in good shape for a wild card spot.

All season long the Giants formula for success has been simple. Put Eli Manning on the field with Nicks, Manningham, and Cruz and watch him go to work. Unlike previous years, Eli has not had a running game to rely on. The Giants are dead last in the NFL in rushing yards and yards per carry. In other words, the running game is horrible. With Ahmad Bradshaw being injured for a portion of the season, the onus has fallen on Brandon Jacbos. Jacobs has been ineffective, averaging only 3.4 yards per carry. Everyone knew that Jacobs would have a short shelf life in the NFL as a 6-4 running back. It appears that his years of dominance are behind him.

The New York Giants defense has not lived up to expectations either. Through 12 games they are 28th in points allowed and 29th in yards allowed. The pass rush has been inconsistent and the secondary has underachieved. The only constant has been Jason Pierre-Paul. The Giants have more elite pass rushers then anyone in the league but only Pierre-Paul has stayed healthy and consistently contributed.

This brings us back to Eli. The running game and defense have underachieved and Manning has stepped up, having his best season of his career. He has been clutch, hasn't turned the ball over, and has done it all with a plethora of injuries on the offensive side of the ball. If the Giants want to be NFC East Champions, it will be up to Eli to go into Dallas this Sunday and give the Giants sole possession of first place.

Mark Sanchez and his New York Jets are in a similar predicament. Since he entered the league the perception has been that the Jets win with a dominant running game and defense. This year that has not been the case. After finishing in the Top 5 in both categories the last two years, the running game has fallen to 24th in the league while the defense has dropped all the way to 16th. With a below average running game and an average defense, Sanchez has elevated his game. Like Eli, Sanchez has been at his best when it matter most. He has led numerous 4th quarter comebacks and several game winning drives this season. The Jets offense is currently 8th in the NFL in points scored. That is due to Mark Sanchez's play this season, especially in the red zone, where the Jets are one of the NFL's best offenses.

The main problem for the Jets is that they are just one of several teams sitting at 7-5 in the AFC. To make matters worse, the Jets do not have any tie breakers against their competition. It appears that the Jets are going to have to win out just to grab the 6th and final playoff spot in the crowded AFC. The Jets have only themselves to blame. They lost head-to-head to Oakland and Denver and got swept by the division rival Patriots. The good news is that the Jets have the easiest final four games of all of the 7-5 wild card contenders in the AFC. The combined records of the Jets final four opponents is 19-29.

Sanchez has already thrown 19 touchdown passes (a career high) while only throwing 11 interceptions. He has a chance in the next four games to silence many of his critics. If the Jets can pull this off then Sanchez and Ryan would be the first Head Coach-Quarterback tandem in the New York Jets history to lead the team to the playoffs in three consecutive seasons.

Ironically, it is the Christmas Eve matchup between the two New York franchises that will likely decide each team's playoff fate. The game will likely be more crucial to the Jets but the Giants are going to need the win as well. Again, that game will come down to the two Quarterbacks.

It's crunch time for both the Jets and the Giants. Tom Coughlin's job might be on the line while Rex Ryan's credibility dangles by a thread. It will be up to Mark Sanchez and Eli Manning to get the job done.

2011 NFL Predictions

AFC

AFC East
New England Patriots 12-4 (2)
New York Jets 10-6 (6)
Miami Dolphins 7-9
Buffalo Bills 5-11

AFC North
Baltimore Ravens 11-5 (3)
Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5 (5)
Cleveland Browns 6-10
Cincinnati Bengals 3-13

AFC South
Tennessee Titans 9-7 (4)

Everyone is buying Houston in the South, I'm not

Houston Texans 9-7
Indianapolis Colts 6-10
Jacksonville Jaguars 4-12

AFC West
San Diego Chargers 12-4 (1)
Oakland Raiders 7-9
Denver Broncos 7-9
Kansas City Chiefs 6-10

AFC Championship San Diego Chargers over Pittsburgh Steelers


NFC

NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles 11-5 (3)
Dallas Cowboys 9-7 (5)
New York Giants 8-8
Washington Redskins 6-10

NFC North
Green Bay Packers 13-3 (1)

McNabb is back

Minnesota Vikings 9-7 (6)
Detroit Lions 7-9
Chicago Bears 6-10

NFC South
New Orleans Saints 11-5 (2)
Atlanta Falcons 9-7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-9
Carolina Panthers 2-14

NFC West
St. Louis Rams 9-7 (4)
Arizona Cardinals 7-9
San Francisco 49ers 5-11
Seattle Seahawks 4-12

NFC Championship Green Bay Packers over Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl
Green Bay Packers over San Diego Chargers

2011 College Football Preview

Conference Winners

Most underappreciated player in college football?

Big East-West Virginia

Big 12-Oklahoma

Big 10-Wisconsin

ACC-Virginia Tech

Pac 12-Oregon

SEC-Alabama

BCS Games

Could be better than Mark Ingram

Rose Bowl-Stanford vs Wisconsin

Sugar Bowl-LSU vs Boise State

Fiesta Bowl-Oklahoma vs Ohio State

Orange Bowl-Virginia Tech vs West Virginia

National Championship-Oregon vs Alabama

National Champion-Alabama Crimson Tide




Heisman Trophy Winner
1. Kellen Moore
2. Trent Richardson

Barring injury, should go down as the winniest Quarterback in College Football history

3. LaMichael James
4. Landry Jones
5. Andrew Luck

Tebow Hatred Has Become Ridiculous

Prior to the 2010 NFL Draft, no prospect had ever been more dissected or talked about than Tim Tebow. Whether it be his throwing motion, accuracy, mechanics, or fundamentals, Tebow had become the most interesting and controversial draft prospect of his generation. As we all know, Tebow became a Denver Bronco. His rookie season came and went and his 2011 potential was one of the key storylines of the lockout offseason. As things currently stand, Tebow appears to be the 3rd string Quarterback in Denver---maybe even the 4th string, depending on which source you believe is the most credible.

From a distance, the every day fan would say that Tebow is struggling so far in his second season. That person would be correct. Dig a little deeper, however, and one will see that not only is Tebow fighting an uphill battle on the field, he is facing an overwhelming hatred off of it. Whether it be his coaching staff, the media, or the national fanbase, the anti-Tim Tebow summer of 2011 has become one of the most biased and disrespectful endeavors in recent memory.

It is widely understood that rookie quarterbacks are usually not successful during their first year in the NFL. While the game has become more passer friendly, rookie quarterbacks have seen a greater deal of success and the developmental process has been revolutionized. Young stars like Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Mark Sanchez, Josh Freeman, Matt Stafford, and Sam Bradford all had different levels of success as rookie starters during their first season.

Even though his sample size was not nearly as big as the Quarterbacks mentioned above, Tim Tebow experienced similar levels of success during his rookie season, or so one would think.

• More touchdown passes than interceptions? Check

• 300 yards passing in one game? Check

• 3 touchdowns in one game? Check

• Leading his team to a 4th quarter comeback? Check

Though Tebow started only 3 games for a Broncos team that was 3-10 when he took over, he was able to accomplish all of these feats in a mere 180 minutes of playing time. The Broncos offense averaged over 5 more points per game with Tebow under center as opposed to Kyle Orton.

Did Tebow have a successful rookie season? Consider the fact that he was playing with an awful football team that ranked dead last in total defense and 31st in rushing offense. Keep in mind that he was playing under a interim head coach after Josh McDaniels was fired after 12 weeks. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Tebow was supposed to be a developmental prospect that would take 2-3 years to master the NFL game.

In three starts, Tebow compiled 654 yards passing, 199 yards rushing, 7 total touchdowns, and an 82.1 QB rating. That is an average of over 200 yards passing, 66 yards rushing, and 2 touchdowns per game. In my book, thats a successful rookie season for any quarterback.

Pro football analysts are paid to give their opinions. Some of the time their predictions and right and some of the time they are wrong. That is the nature of the business. The problem in this situation, however, is that after only one season, NFL analysts are pouncing on Tebow at an alarming rate, stating that he cannot play in this league. What has Tim Tebow done at age 24 to make anyone believe that he has no chance to be a successful NFL quarterback? Is it fine to say that he might not overcome his weaknesses and be an above average NFL starter someday? Absolutely. Is it fair to say that he has already proven that he is a failure? No chance in hell.

Whether it be ESPN analyst Merril Hoge saying that "It's embarrassing to think that the Broncos could win with Tim Tebow" or CBS analyst/WFAN radio host Boomer Esiason saying that "He can't play. He can't throw. What Josh McDaniels saw in him God only knows. Maybe God does know-because the rest of us don't." Tebow is facing the harshest possible criticisms that are all completely undeserved.

In 2009, Matt Stafford, Mark Sanchez, and Josh Freeman all threw 5 interceptions in a single game during their rookie seasons. No one said they could never make it in this league. On the contrary, people are saying Tebow will never make it in this league. There is no ground to stand on that makes that a viable opinion.

Why has everyone taken such joy in ripping Tebow? The answer may be obvious. Because Tebow was the golden boy in college and because he wears his religious beliefs on his sleeve, the majority of Americans want to see Tebow fail. That may be harsh but with every passing day that statement seems to become more true.

Even the Denver Broncos organization has gone to unethical limits to embarrass their once "franchise quarterback." He is now behind Brady Quinn and Adam Weber on the quarterback depth chart. Really? Tebow has accomplished more in one season than Brady Quinn has accomplished in four. Adam Weber is an undrafted quarterback out of Minnesota who is the all time interceptions leader in the Big Ten.

People also need to remember that it is not a big deal that Tebow is not going to open the 2011 season as the Broncos starting quarterback. He is a long way behind Kyle Orton. In the last two years, Orton has thrown 41 touchdown passes with only 21 interceptions. Most people would tell you that Kyle Orton is a top 15 NFL quarterback. It is not a detriment on Tebow that he was unable to win the starting job from Orton so soon.

The latest rumors have it that the Broncos will soon release or trade Tebow before the season begins. My hope is that they do. The Broncos married Tebow and dumped him before the honeymoon even took place. No rookie should be treated that way, especially one that played well in his limited opportunities.

For his sake, Tebow needs this summer of hatred to end soon. It has reached ridiculous levels and maybe---hopefully the American public can find someone new to hate. Ten years from now, we may remember Tebow as a bust, but let him become a bust before we declare him one.

Jets Options in Free Agency

With the lockout finally being over (thank God), teams will finally be able to shape their rosters and begin their quest to opening day 2011. Of all 32 NFL teams, no one needed the lockout to end more so than the New York Jets. Whether it be young Pro Bowl calibre players like Santonio Holmes, Antonio Cromartie, Braylon Edwards, or Brad Smith, or 2010 starters like Shaun Ellis, Brodney Pool, or Damien Woody, the Jets have more work to do in free agency than any other team before they attempt to make good on Head Coach Rex Ryan's Super Bowl Guarantee.

To keep it simple, lets outline a basic plan of what General Manager Mike Tannenbaum will be able to do with respect to the cornerback and wide receiver position.

Option A
Resign Santonio Holmes and Antonio Cromartie

-Holmes is the best wide receiver on the market and is apparently the Jets #1 target to re-sign. Cromartie was very up-and-down last season but you can't find a better #2 cornerback in football. Both guys will be looking for mega contracts. To replace Braylon Edwards, the Jets could look to sign Randy Moss or Plaxico Burress. The Jets have been the only team to be linked to Randy Moss since the season ended and Rex Ryan has always spoke highly of Moss' ability to strike fear into opposing defenses, even late in his career. Some more food for thought....Santonio Holmes and Randy Moss share the same agent. Keep an eye of Plaxico Burress as well.

Option B
Resign Braylon Edwards and Antonio Cromartie
-If the reports are true, Dan Snyder is ready to throw a boatload of cash at Santonio Holmes. In effect, this could put Holmes out of the Jets price range. Braylon Edwards has stated multiple times that he will take a hometown discount to return to the Jets next season. If the Jets were to lose Holmes, one would think that Plan B would be to lock up Braylon immediately. The Jets would also save some money by choosing Edwards over Holmes and could use the left over cash to improve the team elsewhere.

Option C

Resign Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards

-Obviously, this move would indicate that disappointing 2010 first round pick Kyle Wilson would have to step in and be a starter this season. It is hard enough to play opposite of Darrelle Revis, let alone doing it when you've never been a starter before. On the other hand, the Jets offense would be as dynamic as any in football. Holmes and Edwards complement one another as good or better then any other wide receiver duo in all of football. Both are young, super talented receivers who bring speed and play making ability to the position. Lets face it, the NFL is now a quarterback friendly league. Winning a Super Bowl now requires an above average passing game. Having Holmes and Edwards for the next 4-5 years will go a long way in making Mark Sanchez one of the games top quarterbacks.

Option D

Sign Nnamdi Asomugha and Randy Moss/Plaxico Burress

-To be blunt, Jets fans that think Nnamdi Asomugha is going to take a big discount to pair up with Darrelle Revis are dreaming. Asomugha is arguably the best free agent of the last decade and teams are going to pony up for his services. However, if the Jets were to let Holmes, Edwards, and Cromartie all leave through free agency, they would have the necessary dough to pair up Asomugha with Darrelle Revis, creating arguably the best cornerback tandem in NFL history. The downside? It seems a bit outrageous to have close to 40$ million dollars of a team's salary cap tied to two cornerbacks, not to mention the fact that Asomugha is going to be 30 years old next season. In addition, losing Holmes and Edwards would scale back the Jets offense tremendously. Signing Randy Moss/Plaxico Burress would help somewhat, but make no mistake about it, the Jets offense would take one step forward and four steps back without it's top two receiving targets from a year ago.

My prediction? Option A

What Will Jets Do With Free Agent Wide Receivers?

Once the lockout is over and the dust clears, the New York Jets will be facing more personel decisions than perhaps any other team in football. There are questions to be answered in the secondary, linebacking core, and along the offensive and defensive lines. However, no position on the Jets will be under more scrutiny and require more evaluation then the wide receivers. Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, and Brad Smith could all potentially be unrestricted free agents this summer. Together, Edwards and Holmes were one of the best receiving duos in all of football last season while Brad Smith provided a countless number of big plays as both a kick returner and Wild Cat quarterback. The Jets will be forced to make decisions concerning which of the three do indeed return, and perhaps more importantly, they must decide how they will replace those that move on to other teams.

Potential Resignees

Braylon Edwards

After a 2009 season that consisted of just as many big plays as drops, Edwards responded with an outstanding 2010 campaign that saw him average over 17 yards per catch while hauling in over 900 yards and 7 touchdowns. Even more impressive was that Edwards dropped only one pass throughout the 16 regular season and 3 postseason games in which the Jets played. Also, he made one of the biggest plays in Jets history by hauling in an 18 yard reception with less then 30 seconds to play that led to Nick Folk's game winning field goal against the Colts in the Wild Card Playoffs.

Edwards is one of the most physically gifted wide receivers in all of football. At 6-3 with tremendous speed, he is a matchup problem every week and forces defensive coordinators to take notice of his presence. In addition, he is one of the game's best blocking wide receivers, which perfectly suits a Jets team that runs the ball as much as any team in football.

Edwards has stated numerous times that he loves playing in New York and he wants to retire a New York Jet. He has even hurt himself in potential negotiations by stating that he will take a discount to remain with Gang Green. After being the 3rd overall pick in the 2005 draft, Edwards has collected his share of millions and it appears he would rather be winning in New York then collecting paychecks from a bad team.

Odds of returning- 7/10

Santonio Holmes

Santonio Holmes did not make his Jets debut until a week five Monday Night showdown against the Minnesota Vikings. From then on, he provided game winning plays and spectacular catches. In only 12 games, he hauled in 52 passes (only one fewer then Edwards, who caught 53 over 16 games.) When Holmes entered the lineup he immediately became Sanchez's go to guy, especially with the game on the line.

In a consecutive three week stretch, Holmes made the game winning play for the Jets. In week 9 at Detroit, he broke lose over the middle for a 52 yard catch and run in overtime that set up Nick Folk's game winning kick. One week later in Cleveland, he broke a tackle in route to a 36 yard catch and run that resulted in him scoring the game winning touchdown in overtime. In week 11 at home against Houston, he caught the game winning touchdown with 10 seconds left to bring the Jets to 8-2. According to Head Coach Rex Ryan, if the game is on the line then its "Tone Time."

Perhaps even greater then his three game winning catches was his seven yard touchdown grab against the New England Patriots in the Divisional Playoffs. It came midway through the 4th quarter on 3rd and goal with the Jets leading 14-11. On the previous drive, New England had marched down the field and scored a touchdown, bringing it to a one score game. If Holmes didn't make a spectacular catch then the Jets would have had to settle for a field goal and may not have won the game.

However, all was not perfect for Holmes in 2010. He had a number of bad moments that ended up costing the Jets victories. In week 8 against Green Bay, he dropped an easy drag route that would have led to a touchdown. The Jets ended up losing that game 9-0. A few weeks later against Miami, he dropped a wide open touchdown that would have given the Jets the lead. The Jets lost that game as well.

Holmes has stated that he is looking to cash in this offseason. In not so many words, he has said that he is going to go where the money is. Holmes has not yet made his millions. He was a late first round pick and he knows that this offseason is going to be the only big money contract he ever signs. He has a Super Bowl ring and Super Bowl MVP, the only thing left for him to collect is the nice contract.

The biggest bargaining chip that the Jets, or any NFL team for that matter, has against Holmes is that he is one substance abuse violation away from a one year suspension. Are teams going to be willing to throw nine/ten million dollars a year at a guy who is one joint away from taking a year long vacation? Only the market can indicate.

Odds of returning- 5/10

Brad Smith

Since he was drafted back in 2006, Brad Smith has been making plays all over the field for the Jets. Whether it be at wide receiver, running back, quarterback, kick returner, punt returner, or gunner, Smith has always made his presence felt. He is a smart player who rarely makes mistakes and usually makes his impact plays during the game's biggest moments.

Though Smith has done plenty of great things in his five seasons with the Jets, the odds of him returning are slim to none. The Jets are going to need to invest money in guys like Holmes, Edwards, and Antonio Cromartie way before they even think about approaching Smith with a new contract. For everything he brings in the return game and in the Wild Cat formation, Smith's biggest weakness is playing the position he is listed at...wide receiver. Over the last three seasons he has caught only 23 passes. His statistics are more indicative of a running back as he has had more rushing yards then receiving in four of his five professional seasons. Also, for all the love Smith gets as a Wild Cat player, he has only thrown eight career passes. In other words, Smith is a jack-of-all trades but master-of-none option.

In any other offseason, Smith would be a guy that any team would want to bring back. However, because of all of their other free agents, as well as the new kickoff rule (moving the kickoff location from the 30 to the 35 yard line), the Jets will be hard pressed to even attempt to resign Smith. This is going to be his first and only opportunity to cash in with a lucrative contract. The circumstances surrounding the Jets are going to make him expendable.

In a move that may indicate that the Jets are preparing for the inevitable, the team drafted TCU wide receiver Jeremy Kerley in the 5th round of the draft. Not only is Kerley a viable slot receiver going forward, he is an exceptional return man and has experience in the Wild Cat formation (he threw a touchdown pass to Cincinatti Bengals 2nd round pick Andy Dalton last year.) That selection appeared to be a direct indication that the Jets are ready to move on from Smith.

Though he will be missed, there is little to no chance that Brad Smith returns for the 2011 season. The biggest thing that Jets fans can hope for is that he does not sign with the New England Patriots or Miami Dolphins.

Odds of returning- 2/10