NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

March 6, 2015

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Table of Contents

ASSOCIATED PRESS ................................................................................................................................................ 1

AFC East Free Agency Capsules ................................................................................................................................. 1

NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 2

Jets have money to spend on top free-agent cornerback (Kimberley Martin) ......................................................... 2

THE RECORD .......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Jets GM Maccagnan inherits enviable salary-cap situation (J.P. Pelzman) ............................................................... 3

Jets: 3 story lines headed into free agency (J.P. Pelzman) ........................................................................................ 4

ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................... 5

Breaking down the Jets' Percy Harvin decision (Rich Cimini) .................................................................................... 5

Jets' free-agent targets: Quarterback (Rich Cimini) .................................................................................................. 7

NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................... 7

Maccagnan’s on the clock — but that doesn’t mean Revis is a must (Steve Serby) ................................................. 7

Jets free agency preview: So much cap space, so many holes (Brian Costello) ........................................................ 9

NFL free agency preview: Suh, Revis and be wary of Raiders (Bart Hubbach) ........................................................ 11

NJ.COM ................................................................................................................................................................ 14

Jets (to try) to meet with ex-Eagles cornerback Cary Williams, sources confirm (Dom Cosentino) ....................... 14

Andre the Jet? A checklist to see if Jets should pursue disgruntled Houston Texans receiver (Dom Cosentino) ... 15

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ...................................................................................................................................... 16

Jets could turn to familiar faces in cornerback market (Seth Walder) .................................................................... 16

THURSDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS .................................................................................................................. 17

ASSOCIATED PRESS

AFC East Free Agency Capsules Associated Press March 5, 2015

http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/afc-east-free-agency-capsules

BUFFALO BILLS (9-7)

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DEs Jerry Hughes and Jarius Wynn; RB C.J. Spiller; LBs Brandon Spikes, Larry Dean and Stevenson Sylvester; S Da'Norris Searcy; WR Marcus Easley; TE Lee Smith; OG Erik Pears.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: OT Chris Hairston, WR/KR Marcus Thigpen, WR Deonte Thompson, P Jordan Gay.

NEEDS: The Bills, under new coach Rex Ryan, have already been busy addressing needs by acquiring RB LeSean McCoy in a trade with Philadelphia and QB Matt Cassel in a trade with Minnesota, while also signing free agent OG Richie Incognito. They still have needs in the defensive backfield, at offensive tackle

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and tight end. And don't rule out Buffalo adding yet another quarterback to compete with Cassel and EJ Manuel for the starting job.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-8)

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: QB Matt Moore, S Louis Delmas, RB Knowshon Moreno, DT Jared Odrick, G Daryn Colledge, C Samson Satele, TE Charles Clay (transition tagged), S Jimmy Wilson, LB Jason Trusnik, LB Kelvin Sheppard, RB Daniel Thomas, RB LaMichael James, CB T.J. Heath.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DE Derrick Shelby, LB Jonathan Freeny, S Michael Thomas, S Jordan Kovacs, CB R.J. Stanford.

NEEDS: The Dolphins are expected to make a run at DT Ndamukong Suh, and if they win bidding likely to top $100 million, they might have little cap room left. Other positions needing to be addressed on an aging defense include linebacker, cornerback and safety. To free up cap space, the Dolphins released receivers Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson and might part with Mike Wallace, leaving them short on targets for Ryan Tannehill.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (15-4)

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: PK Stephen Gostkowski (franchise tagged), LS Danny Aiken, LB Akeem Ayers, DT Alan Branch, LB Jonathan Casillas, G Dan Connolly, S Devin McCourty, RB Stevan Ridley, RB Shane Vereen, LB Chris White.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

NEEDS: Pass rusher, linebacker. DEs Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich have been productive getting to the quarterback, but there is little depth behind them. And Jones was sidelined for six games last season. Injuries also forced Jerod Mayo, the Patriots' best linebacker, to miss most of the past two seasons. LB Dont'a Hightower was sidelined for four games in 2014 and could miss the start of next season after having shoulder surgery following the Super Bowl victory.

NEW YORK JETS (4-12)

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB David Harris, QB Michael Vick, G Willie Colon, RB Bilal Powell, DL Leger Douzable, CB Kyle Wilson, S Dawan Landry, DT Kenrick Ellis, LB Nick Bellore, T Ben Ijalana, CB Phillip Adams, FB John Conner, WR Greg Salas, LS Tanner Purdum, LB Jermaine Cunningham.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: NT Damon Harrison, S Jaiquawn Jarrett.

NEEDS: The Jets have more than $51 million in salary cap space to work with, and figure to be active spenders. Help at cornerback is a top priority for new GM Mike Maccagnan after former GM John Idzik struck out in free agency and the draft. CBs Dee Milliner (Achilles tendon), the team's No. 1 draft pick in 2013, and Dexter McDougle (ACL), third-rounder last year, are coming off major injuries. The Jets could look for a veteran QB to compete with Geno Smith if Vick doesn't return, which is likely. New York could focus on drafting a top prospect — Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota — with No. 6 overall pick should they fall. Pass-catching running back could be another spot New York tries to add because Chris Johnson won't be back and Powell could draw attention in free agency. Offensive line depth also is likely to be addressed, and the team might need to replace a starter if RG Colon is not re-signed.

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NEWSDAY

Jets have money to spend on top free-agent cornerback (Kimberley Martin) Newsday

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March 6, 2015

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/jets-have-money-to-spend-on-top-free-agent-cornerback-1.10021829

Give John Idzik credit.

The former Jets general manager had a vision of sustainable success he thought he could achieve with shrewd spending and deliberate negotiating tactics. But in the end, his flawed logic and faulty practices cost him his job. Now it's up to new GM Mike Maccagnan to see his own plan through.

But there is one benefit to Idzik's stingy ways. Maccagnan and new coach Todd Bowles have about $50 million in available cap space. The question is: Will they know what to do with it?

There are several issues the front office needs to address this offseason, but none bigger than cornerback. Among Idzik's biggest miscalculations were assuming Dee Milliner (Achilles) could stay healthy in 2014 and that journeyman Dmitri Patterson was starter material.

The new Jets regime can't make the same mistake when it comes to Milliner. He and Dexter McDougle (ACL) are coming off injuries, so it's unclear how productive they'll be this season. For that reason, the Jets must find upgrades. The good news is there's plenty of cornerback talent available, starting with former Jet Darrelle Revis and former Seahawk Byron Maxwell.

Revis, a four-time All-Pro, is coming off a Super Bowl championship with the Patriots, but he'll likely play for the highest bidder in 2015. New England still controls his rights for this season, but there's no chance it will bring back Revis at a $25-million cap hit. The Patriots, however, could try to renegotiate Revis' contract to try to keep him.

As the marquee free-agent corner, Maxwell is sure to fetch top dollar. If the Jets get priced out, they could turn their focus to former Jet Antonio Cromartie, who spent 2014 playing for Bowles, the Cardinals' former defensive coordinator.

The Jets also are interested in former Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson, according to a source. If there's one person who knows Houston's roster, it's Maccagnan, who spent the previous 15 seasons with the organization. Jackson may not have as high-profile a name as some of the other cornerbacks, but he has youth (26) and versatility on his side. He can play outside and in the slot, qualities that could be attractive to the Jets, who are looking to part ways with Kyle Wilson.

According to a source, the Jets also plan to meet with former Eagles cornerback Cary Williams.

Of course, there also are major questions at quarterback, centering around whether Geno Smith should remain the starter in Year 3. But it's even more crucial that the Jets find an experienced lineman to help protect their quarterback and clear holes for their running game. With free-agent guard Willie Colon unlikely to return, Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson a year older (both are 31) and instability at left guard, Maccagnan can't afford to walk away from free agency empty-handed.

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THE RECORD

Jets GM Maccagnan inherits enviable salary-cap situation (J.P. Pelzman) The Record March 6, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-gm-maccagnan-inherits-enviable-salary-cap-situation-1.1283784

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Mike Maccagnan hasn’t given much indication of what his philosophy will be since taking over in January as the Jets’ general manager. Whenever he has been asked a question in that vein, he has tended to give a vague answer.

That’s OK, considering there was no reason to tip his hand. But Maccagnan will start to show players, fans and the rest of the league in the next few weeks what he is all about. His moves during free agency, which begins Tuesday, also will reveal part of his plan to rebuild a roster in serious need of a talent upgrade at many positions.

Maccagnan will benefit from the cautious approach of predecessor John Idzik, who refused to enter the high-stakes bidding for big-ticket free agents during his two years as general manager. The salary-cap dollars saved by the cautious Idzik have put Maccagnan, the former scouting director for the Houston Texans, in an interesting position.

Not only does Maccagnan inherit about $55 million in salary-cap space, according to ESPN, but he and the Jets must spend money these next two years to satisfy the agreement between the NFL’s owners and the NFL Players Association. Teams must spend at least 89 percent of their salary-cap money for the four-year period from 2013-16, per the agreement between the NFL and NFLPA.

According to the NFLPA, the Jets’ payroll the past two seasons was 81.16 percent of capacity. So they must spend these next two seasons to get to the 89-percent level, or else the NFLPA will distribute the shortfall after the fact to players who were on the roster during the 2013-16 seasons. The money must be spent by the Jets anyway, so it makes sense to allocate it the way they want to.

The impending Jets free agent who is most likely to draw interest from other teams is inside linebacker David Harris, a stalwart since being drafted in the second round in 2007. The 31-year-old Harris is durable and still productive, so it would be wise for the Jets to keep him in the fold, and Maccagnan has said he would like to do so.

Harris was a favorite of ex-Jets coach Rex Ryan, and Ryan’s new team, Buffalo, is expected to have plenty of interest. The Bills have reached an agreement to deal inside linebacker Kiko Alonso to Philadelphia for running back LeSean McCoy, making it even more likely that the Bills will pursue Harris.

In the same draft in which they got Harris, the Jets selected cornerback Darrelle Revis, who quickly blossomed into a superstar. A reunion is possible if New England cannot renegotiate a deal with Revis, who will become a free agent if the Patriots don’t pick up his $20 million team option for 2015. But Revis will command a huge salary if he hits the open market, and Seattle’s Byron Maxwell would be a younger and cheaper option.

Buffalo’s impending acquisition of McCoy would seem to indicate the Bills are about to move on from free agent C.J. Spiller, who would be a good fit with the Jets and new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, who coached him in Buffalo. But sources say the Jets are interested in re-signing Bilal Powell before he hits the market. The Jets also need a veteran quarterback who could compete for the starting spot. Cleveland’s Brian Hoyer will be available.

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Jets: 3 story lines headed into free agency (J.P. Pelzman) The Record March 6, 2015

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/jets-3-story-lines-headed-into-free-agency-1.1283748

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Blank checkbook? Predecessor John Idzik’s ultra-frugality should benefit new GM Mike Maccagnan, who inherits about $55 million in salary-cap space. The Jets also must dole out a lot of money these next two years to get to the level of spending at least 89 percent of the salary cap for the four-year period from 2013-16, per the agreement between the NFL and NFLPA.

Inside job: Among the team’s own unrestricted free agents, the highest priority should and will be ILB David Harris, a core player since being drafted in 2007. Harris isn’t spectacular but is steady, and will have plenty of suitors if the Jets don’t get a deal done before Tuesday. Buffalo coach Rex Ryan likely would be first in line.

Revis reunion? Owner Woody Johnson already has stated his interest in bringing back former Jet Darrelle Revis, but the superstar CB will have plenty of options if he isn’t re-signed by New England, which is unlikely to pick up his $20 million option. A less-costly possibility to help fill this need would be Seattle’s Byron Maxwell.

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ESPN NEW YORK

Breaking down the Jets' Percy Harvin decision (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York March 5, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49595/breaking-down-the-jets-percy-harvin-decision

John Idzik’s "potential coup" -- last season’s acquisition of Percy Harvin -- has left his successor, Mike Maccagnan, with a fascinating and complex decision, one that will require input from different branches of the New York Jets' organization.

Before we jump into the pros and cons of keeping Harvin, let’s review the facts:

Harvin has four years, $41.5 million remaining on his contract, none of which is guaranteed. That includes a $10.5 million base salary for the coming season. If Harvin is on the roster March 19, the conditional draft pick owed to the Seattle Seahawks escalates from a sixth-round choice to a fourth rounder. If they cut him before the 19th, the compensation is simply a sixth rounder in next month’s draft.

Basically, the Jets have three options. Let’s examine, looking at the positives and negatives in each scenario.

1. Keep him under his current contract

You could argue that the Jets, with a dearth of playmakers on offense, should do whatever they can to keep talented players, not toss them out. Because the salary isn’t guaranteed, they would essentially be signing up for one year, with the ability to cut him if, say, he reverts to his disruptive ways of the past. There is no long-term commitment, which might be the way to go with a player who wore out his welcome with two teams previously.

The Jets also must consider how Harvin might fit into Chan Gailey’s scheme. This is where Maccagnan must lean on his coaching staff for input. If Gailey installs a spread offense, as many suspect, it would be a nice fit with Harvin’s skill set. He’s at his best in a short-passing game, making yards after the catch. He could line up anywhere in the formation, creating matchup problems for the defense.

With more than $50 million in cap space, the Jets can easily swallow the salary.

Analysis: At $10.5 million, Harvin would be the highest-paid player on the team in terms of 2015 compensation. That’s out of whack.

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2. Keep him with a restructured contract

Harvin wants no part of a pay cut, presumably because he believes he can fetch at least $10.5 million on the open market. He would be amenable to a simple restructuring, meaning the conversion of salary into signing bonus.

In other words, they could cut his base pay to $870,000, the veterans’ minimum, giving him the difference ($9.63 million) in the form of a signing bonus. That would allow them to pro-rate the bonus over the four years of the contract, lowering his cap number this year to a palatable $3.28 million.

There’s a downside, though. By doing this, the Jets would be sinking money into Harvin beyond 2015 (with regard to the cap) and that could come back to bite them. If they decide in a year to cut Harvin, they would get hit with his bonus acceleration in 2016, a cap charge of $7.2 million (pre-June 1).

By then, he will have cost the Jets a total of $17.6 million (salaries for ’14 and ’15) and a fourth-round pick for 24 games (assuming he plays every game). That’s not a cost-effective way of doing business.

To Harvin’s credit, he was a model teammate last season, as he tried to squash his reputation for being a divisive influence. He played hurt and he adapted nicely to a new environment and a new offense. Cynics will say he was on his best behavior because of the financial motivation. Will he revert to the old Percy if he scores the $10.5 million salary? That, no doubt, will be part of Maccagnan’s decision.

One thing to remember: The Jets have two forms of leverage. Under the current contract, they can cut Harvin with no salary-cap ramifications. They also can benefit from the timing of the deadline -- March 19, one week into free agency. By then, the big money will have been spent on other receivers. The Jets can hurt his negotiating position in the open market by holding on to him until March 18.

Analysis: If the Jets guarantee $10.5 million, which is what they would be doing by restructuring the remaining four years, they would be looking at least a two-year commitment because of the cap situation. That would be risky, considering his checkered background.

3. Release him

Unless Harvin is willing to take a straight pay cut, this probably will be the outcome. They would lose a starting receiver with tantalizing skills, but we’re talking about a player who has never had a 1,000-yard receiving season.

His recent production (52 catches over the past two seasons) doesn’t justify an exorbitant cap charge ($10.5 million) or his average per year ($10.4 million). The Jets have the cap space, but they evidently don’t feel he’s worth the big number, as Maccagnan hinted recently that they might ask him to restructure. Teams don’t like to overpay if they can help it.

The other layer to the decision is the draft-pick compensation. For a rebuilding team like the Jets, a fourth-round pick has value. It’s a potential starter, a cost-effective player whose rights they would own for four years. If the Jets have concerns about Harvin’s long-term viability, they should cut bait, surrender the sixth rounder and call it a day. It wouldn’t make sense to part with a fourth-round pick for what could be a one-year proposition.

What’s more, they could replace him via the draft. It’s another terrific draft for receivers, and there is a good chance they would get one of the top two receivers -- Amari Cooper or Kevin White -- with the sixth overall pick.

Analysis: The Jets should try to sign a starting-caliber receiver during the first week of free agency. If they find one, the Harvin decision is academic. It probably would cost more than $10.5 million, but they would feel more comfortable in the long term and would still have their fourth-round pick.

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Jets' free-agent targets: Quarterback (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York March 5, 2015

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/49579/jets-free-agent-targets-quarterback

With the signing period set to begin March 10, we'll preview the New York Jets' biggest needs and likely free-agent targets:

Position: Quarterback

Overview: The Jets are prepared to give Geno Smith another crack at it, but they'd like to make it a competitive situation. There's no panacea in the free-agent market, but they hope to sign (or trade for) a veteran. Then, of course, there's always the draft (Marcus Mariota?).

Players under contract: Smith, Matt Simms.

Free-agent targets: Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, Jake Locker, Ryan Fitzpatrick (trade).

Why Hoyer is a fit: The Hoyer-led Cleveland Browns were off to a 6-4 start when the wheels came off. Maybe the Johnny Manziel circus got to him or maybe the lack of a NFL-worthy receiving corps did him in. Either way, Hoyer hit a miserable slump and was benched. He became expendable recently when the Browns signed career journeyman Josh McCown, who received $6.25 million in guarantees. Hoyer isn't the most accurate passer, but he has won games in the league (10-7 record as a starter).

Why Mallett is a fit: GM Mike Maccagnan came from the Houston Texans, so he's familiar with Mallett -- as familiar as anybody could be with him, considering his small body of work. He has only two starts and 79 career pass attempts, nearly all of which came last season. Prior to that, he was the New England Patriots' clipboard carrier. The smart money is on Mallett re-signing with Houston, where he could be the opening-day starter. If he somehow gets away, the Jets will be intrigued by this 6-foot-6 pocket passer with a strong arm.

Why Locker is a fit: He's risky because of his durability issues, but the former first-round pick is an athletic quarterback with some upside. He's only 9-14 as a starter, including two wins against the Jets. They have some intel on Locker because new quarterbacks coach Kevin Patullo was on the Tennessee Titans' staff last season.

Why Fitzpatrick is a fit: Fitzpatrick, 32, played three seasons under offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, from 2010 to 2012 with the Buffalo Bills, so he knows his system. In a transition year, which is what the Jets are experiencing, it's always good to have at least one quarterback with a background in the system. Thing is, Fitzpatrick is under contract to the Texans for 2015 (cap charge: $3.875 million). If they sign another quarterback (Hoyer?) to compete with Mallett, it will make Fitzpatrick expendable. The Texans could try to hold out for a late-round draft pick. Hey, if the Minnesota Vikings can trade Matt Cassel ...

Prediction: The Jets have to add a veteran quarterback and we know it won't be Michael Vick, who knows the gig is up in New York. Understandably, the Jets are wary of spending big money for a Band-Aid, but the going rate is at least $4 million a year. The Jets will explore possible trades (maybe Mike Glennon, if he's available), but the feeling here is they will end up with Hoyer.

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NEW YORK POST

Maccagnan’s on the clock — but that doesn’t mean Revis is a must (Steve Serby)

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New York Post March 6, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/03/06/maccagnans-on-the-clock-but-that-doesnt-mean-revis-is-a-must/

He is Money Mike Maccagnan, holding Woody Johnson’s $55 million in one hand, the hopes and dreams of long-suffering Jets fans in the other.

This is his personal Super Bowl, authorized by the owner to spend all the greenbacks John Idzik opted to keep under lock and key inside Fort Hard Knocks.

This is his dream job, after all the miles traveled scouting and evaluating prospects around the country, after all the bleary-eyed nights studying the tape, his chance to rebuild the Jets in his image and show the NFL he has the chops to be the miracle worker alongside fellow rookie Todd Bowles that Giants GM Jerry Reese was alongside Tom Coughlin immediately after taking over from Ernie Accorsi.

As free agency beckons, Money Mike will have his honeymoon, albeit a short one if, heaven help him, Jets fans suspect he is nothing close to the young Ron Wolf and a plane flying a “FIRE MACCAGNAN” banner becomes a Pavlovian response.

Idzik trumpeted the draft as the lifeblood of his ill-fated plan, and with 12 picks waiting for him, only stuck his toe in the free-agent waters last March with the likes of Eric Decker, Breno Giacomini, Chris Johnson and — gasp — Dimitri Patterson, compounding his penny-pinching with a two-bit draft.

Money Mike similarly believes in building through the draft, but all avenues will be in play, and when the clock strikes 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Money Mike must show up with an innate feel for the proper market value for the players he and Bowles covet, because he who hesitates is often lost.

“You have to strike when you can,” Reese said two years ago, “but other times you have to sit back and wait and let the market settle down a little bit. … I think there are three levels of free agency. I think of the first level, you get the guys out there that are going to get the money right away. Then there’s a second level, and then you can bottom feed on the guys left at the end.”

Money Mike must be prepared to strike on every one of the aforementioned levels.

Because, you see, Money Mike’s thankless mandate is to close the forever gap on Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, without a franchise quarterback or shutdown corner or free safety or No. 1 receiver. In other words, he cannot afford to make a mistake. In other words, he has no margin for error.

Money Mike has to put Johnson’s money where Rex Ryan’s mouth was. He isn’t going to have $55 million in his pockets again, and his new fans have grown tired of waiting for Brady to grow old.

Reese’s free-agent prize as a rookie GM in 2007 was linebacker Kawika Mitchell, but a home-run draft and an emerging Eli Manning had him hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

Giants fans railed that Reese was asleep at the switch while the Eagles were adding Nnamdi Asomugha to their 8-8 Dream Team, but then that season ended with Reese hoisting a second Lombardi Trophy.

Reese himself authored a cautionary tale on the merits of spending like a drunken sailor a year ago when a surprise $116 million plunge resulted in 6-10, even with first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr. becoming quite the catch.

And sometimes, you can think you’re making a splash with a big name — think LaVar Arrington (Giants), Super Bowl quarterback Neil O’Donnell (Jets) — and end up all wet.

Three years before DT Albert Haynesworth became the worst free-agent signing in NFL history, the Redskins in 2006 trumpeted the signing of safety Adam Archuleta (six years, $30 million) while also

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introducing DE Andre Carter and WRs Antwaan Randle-El and Brandon Lloyd. “I think it’s a big day for the Redskins,” Joe Gibbs said at the time. That would be the 5-11 Redskins.

Johnson getting weepy over a reunion with Darrelle Revis must not deter Money Mike from cornering a more reasonable and younger option such as Byron Maxwell, and besides, the smart money has The Island standing Pat and pursuing back-to-back championships. And Belichick isn’t the only bloodthirsty shark endangering Money Mike. Rex Ryan up in Buffalo has LeSean McCoy for his Ground and Pound and will soon be wooing David Harris.

And Mike Tannenbaum in Miami — Trader Mike — will be looking to beat Money Mike to one of the coveted cornerbacks.

Of course, should Money Mike decide to bring a free Revis home, even at any cost, he’ll be hailed as an instant hero.

“To my mother, who used to type my reports when I first started scouting for the Washington Redskins — because I wasn’t a very good typer at the time — she was my biggest fan,” Money Mike said at his introductory press conference.

Money Mike has spent a football life in the shadows, and loving every second along the way. But now he stands front and center on Broadway, on the biggest and brightest stage there is. With as big a job as any. A daunting job that will demand he be Miracle Mike once he finishes being Money Mike.

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Jets free agency preview: So much cap space, so many holes (Brian Costello) New York Post March 5, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/03/05/jets-free-agency-preview-so-much-cap-space-so-many-holes/

Woody Johnson has his checkbook ready.

The Jets and their owner enter free agency ready to spend and eager to upgrade a roster that went 4-12 last season. New general manager Mike Maccagnan is set to begin rebuilding the Jets for new head coach Todd Bowles. Their plan will begin to take shape over the next week. Teams are permitted to begin negotiating with agents on Saturday at 4 p.m. and then may begin signing players at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

The Jets have more than $50 million in salary cap space, and they must spend most of that because of minimum-spending rules in the collective bargaining agreement. The Jets expect to make few splashy signings in the early days of free agency when price tags and profiles are high. Then, they will systematically try to address holes on the roster in the hopes that next month’s NFL Draft can be about taking the best player available and not reaching to fill needs.

“We will be active in free agency,” Maccagnan said at the NFL Scouting Combine last month. “Whether that’s with the high-dollar guys, the first wave of free agency, I would think we’d be potentially in that market, but we’ll be in the middle- and lower-tier market, too … We have a lot of cap space. Our thing is, we want to maximize the return from the opportunity costs on that cap space.”

In many ways this year is similar to 2008 for the Jets. Like now, they were coming off a 4-12 season. Then-GM Mike Tannenbaum went on a spending spree, adding Alan Faneca, Calvin Pace, Damien Woody and Tony Richardson in the early days of free agency. He also traded for Kris Jenkins. The cherry on top was trading for Brett Favre during training camp.

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Those additions resulted in immediate improvement, and the Jets started the 2008 season 8-3 before Favre’s arm gave out and they finished 9-7. Those additions, minus Favre, were key pieces in the playoff runs in 2009 and 2010.

Now, Maccagnan faces a similar challenge. Former GM John Idzik, who was fired in December, left behind a ton of salary-cap room, but also holes all over the roster.

The No. 1 need for the Jets is cornerback. Bowles’ blitzing system is only effective with strong man-to-man cover corners on the outside. Maccagnan figures to add two corners in free agency. The Jets currently have no healthy, starting-caliber cornerbacks on the roster. Dee Milliner is recovering from Achilles surgery and is not expected to be ready until the summer.

Old friend Darrelle Revis could be the top cornerback on the market if the Patriots do not re-sign him. Revis has a $20 million option the Patriots must exercise before Tuesday or he becomes a free agent. The Patriots are not expected to pick up the option, but could work out a new deal to keep Revis off the market. If he hits free agency, the Jets will have to explore bringing Revis back.

If Revis is too expensive or unavailable, the Seahawks’ Byron Maxwell is the top option. The biggest question around Maxwell is what his price tag will be. The Texans’ Kareem Jackson, whom Maccagnan knows from his days in Houston, and former Jet Antonio Cromartie are other top targets.

Other than cornerback, the Jets need to add a veteran quarterback to compete with Geno Smith, a guard, a pass rusher, a speedy running back to complement Chris Ivory and a safety.

Among their own free agents, linebacker David Harris is the priority to get re-signed. The 31-year-old is the nerve center of the Jets defense and will be coveted by the Bills and Rex Ryan if he hits free agency.

At wide receiver, the Jets must decide if they can upgrade from Percy Harvin with a Randall Cobb or Jeremy Maclin. If not, they may decide to hold onto Harvin, who is due to make $10.5 million this year. They have until March 19 to make a decision on Harvin. If he is on the roster on that date, the sixth-round pick they sent to the Seahawks in the trade becomes a fourth-round pick.

Ready, set, sign those checks, Woody.

Five who could be Jets

Byron Maxwell, CB

The least-heralded member of Seattle’s “Legion of Boom,” Maxwell is the best corner on the market (unless Darrelle Revis gets cut).

Devin McCourty, S

The Patriots are trying to keep both McCourty and Revis, which will cost a lot. The Jets could steal a very good player from their rival.

Jake Locker, QB

The quarterback market is underwhelming, but Locker has shown flashes when healthy.

Orlando Franklin, G

Guard is a huge area of need for the Jets, and Franklin is at the top of the free-agency class along with Mike Iupati.

Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB

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The 26-year-old has had 10 sacks in each of the past two seasons for the Bills. The Jets have not had a true pass rusher since John Abraham.

Key free agents

David Harris, LB

He is fourth all-time in tackles in franchise history and has been a steady force in the middle. The 31-year-old will be coveted by Ryan in Buffalo if he hits the market.

Michael Vick, QB

After one forgettable year with the Jets, there are questions whether Vick will find another team.

Willie Colon, G

The 31-year-old was a strong locker-room presence over the past two seasons, but his play has slipped. It’s time to move on.

Kyle Wilson, CB

The 2010 first-round pick was a huge disappointment. The Jets desperately need cornerbacks, but not enough to hold onto Wilson. Will Rex Ryan bring him to Buffalo?

Dawan Landry, S

He is viewed by some as a goner at 32 and the team needing to upgrade at safety, but he is a respected veteran and could return at a cheap rate.

Bilal Powell, RB

Powell is a priority for the Jets, who feel he can be a strong complement to Chris Ivory. He was a forgotten man last year with Ivory and Chris Johnson getting most of the work, but he is a solid back.

Other Jets free agents:

Chris Johnson, RB

Nick Bellore, LB

Ben Ijalana, OT

Leger Douzable, DE

Tanner Purdum, LS

Phillip Adams, CB

Jermaine Cunningham, OLB

John Conner, FB

Kenrick Ellis, DT

Greg Salas, WR

Jaiquawn Jarrett, S (restricted)

Damon Harrison, NT (restricted)

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NFL free agency preview: Suh, Revis and be wary of Raiders (Bart Hubbach)

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New York Post March 6, 2015

http://nypost.com/2015/03/06/nfl-free-agency-preview-suh-revis-and-be-wary-of-raiders/

The frustrating wait is almost over for a lot of NFL veterans.

After three years of wondering when their share of the sport’s revenue gusher that was promised during the 2011 labor battle would ever start to kick in, that time finally appears to be now.

Not only do a lot of teams have a lot of money under the salary cap, but a minimum-spend provision in the collective bargaining agreement will require them to start using gobs of it on veteran talent this offseason and next.

Teams can begin negotiating with representatives of unrestricted free agents on Saturday. When the free agency signing period begins at 4 p.m. Tuesday, don’t be surprised by wild spending binges, a potentially historic payday for headliner Ndamukong Suh and contracts so big for some mid-level players you’ll wonder if they’re being paid in Monopoly money.

“We’re in pretty good health [cap-wise], and I think we’ll be able to do what we need to do for the offseason as far as free agency goes,” Giants general manager Jerry Reese said at the NFL Scouting Combine last month.

Reese could have been speaking for virtually every other GM in the league this year, because the combination of rising revenue and a skyrocketing cap in large part has kept the number of teams in dire cap circumstances to a minimum this year.

With the NFL’s announcement last week the cap would increase almost 10 percent to $143.3 million this season, an eye-popping seven teams — the Jaguars, Raiders, Jets, Browns, Titans, Colts and Eagles — had at least $40.3 million available as of Thursday afternoon.

The focus is on Oakland after the Raiders nudged ahead of Jacksonville ($68.5 million) as the league leader in cap room at almost $70 million after a flurry of moves Thursday and Maurice Jones-Drew’s retirement.

The Jets are third at $53.3 million and can boost that to $61 million if they release wide receiver Percy Harvin, but it sounds as if Gang Green — and everyone else in the league, for that matter — will have to keep one eye peeled on the Raiders.

First-year Oakland coach Jack Del Rio practically cut a commercial for free agents when asked at the scouting combine about the Raiders’ plans for the veteran market.

“It’s important that the prospective [free-agent] players out there understand that things have changed,” Del Rio said. “Our practice fields are being redone. Our weight room is being expanded. We have a steam room going in. There is a freshness going on.

“As you go into this phase of free agency and acquiring players, we have cap space and we have a new staff full of teachers. The things that we need to get started, we have. So now we have to start adding good, quality people that are fired up to be part of the Raiders.”

The only downside to free agency for the teams this year is the quarterback position is almost totally barren (Brian Hoyer or Mark Sanchez, anyone?), and the two other marquee positions — left tackle and pass rusher — will be threadbare, too.

But just five players were taken off the market with the franchise tag this week, one of whom was a kicker (Stephen Gostkowski), and the top of this year’s class is surprisingly star-packed.

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Not only is Suh the most dominant defensive lineman to be allowed to hit the market since Reggie White in the 1990s, but the overall class also likely will include an All-Pro safety (Devin McCourty), an All-Pro guard (Mike Iupati), a perennial Pro Bowl tight end (Julius Thomas) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Randall Cobb). And a Canton-bound cornerback (Darrelle Revis) could join them if the Patriots aren’t able to re-sign him.

Even more startling is the expected availability of former Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray, who just so happens to be the NFL’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year. According to the league, Murray is the first player ever to become a free agent the same season in which he won a league rushing title.

All of them and many more veterans can expect to cash in, in some cases with lottery-sized contracts.

League executives are starting to predict Suh could eclipse J.J. Watt as the highest-paid defender in league history. Watt’s six-year, $100 million deal with the Texans last year included $51.8 million guaranteed, the most ever for a defensive player.

“I’m excited about the part of that process that we’re just getting into,” Del Rio said of free agency. “It’s going to be fun.”

Come Tuesday, Del Rio won’t be the only one saying that.

Top 10 free agents to watch

1. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Lions

Hall of Fame players almost never hit free agency while still in their prime, and Suh could hit the jackpot in historic fashion.

Signs with: Raiders

2. Devin McCourty, S, Patriots

New England looks ready to let its All-Pro safety walk, and there’s a spot waiting for him in Indianapolis.

Signs with: Colts

3. Julius Thomas, TE, Broncos

Denver can’t afford to keep both him and Demaryius Thomas, and teams will be lining up to grab one of the NFL’s best pass-catching tight ends.

Signs with: Jaguars

4. Randall Cobb, WR, Packers

Unlikely to stay in Green Bay because the Packers can’t pay a No. 2 receiver more than their No. 1, Jordy Nelson.

Signs with: Browns

5. DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys

The NFL’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year will find plenty of suitors even though his position keeps getting devalued.

Signs with: Colts

6. Jerry Hughes, DE, Bills

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It obviously helped playing alongside Mario Williams, but a 10-sack average over the past two seasons makes Hughes attractive in a weak year for this marquee position.

Signs with: Falcons

7. Mike Iupati, G, 49ers

This isn’t exactly a glamour spot, but Iupati is one of the NFL’s best interior run blockers and will be worth his price.

Signs with: Redskins

8. Byron Maxwell, CB, Seahawks

The best cornerback available (unless Darrelle Revis is cut) will be a tempting target for a team with gobs of cap room and a glaring need at that position.

Signs with: Jets

9. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles

It’s surprising Philadelphia hasn’t locked Maclin up already, but he still is a great fit for Chip Kelly’s offense and the Eagles will have loads of cap room.

Signs with: Eagles

10. Bryan Bulaga, OT, Packers

He plays the right side but is the best of a very weak class of veteran offensive tackles.

Signs with: Jaguars

Top five teams to watch

1. Jaguars: Their projected cap room is staggering ($68.5 million), Florida has no state income tax and the pressure is on GM Dave Caldwell after going 7-25 in his first two seasons.

2. Raiders: A big spending spree last year didn’t do much good, but they are projected to have $57.4 million in cap space and have to start using it because of the NFL’s minimum-spending rules.

3. Jets: Cutting Percy Harvin would leave them with $61 million in cap room, they have needs galore and new GM Mike Maccagnan already has vowed to spend, spend, spend.

4. Browns: They are projected to have $49.6 million in cap space and will probably have to overspend like madmen to convince top-tier free agents to sign up for their cursed mess of a franchise.

5. Colts: The Titans will have more cap room ($46 million to Indianapolis’ $41 million), but money to spend combined with last season’s AFC title-game trip and Andrew Luck will make the Colts a tempting destination.

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NJ.COM

Jets (to try) to meet with ex-Eagles cornerback Cary Williams, sources confirm (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media March 5, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/03/jets_to_meet_with_ex-eagles_cornerback_cary_willia.html

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Weather-permitting, the Jets plan to meet with free agent cornerback Cary Williams on Friday, according to two people familiar with the situation. The Eagles had just released Williams on Tuesday.

Those people spoke to NJ Advance Media on condition of anonymity. One of those people said the snowy weather in and around North Jersey could prevent Williams from seeing the Jets on Friday. The source added that Williams would visit the Titans on Monday, and with the Ravens—another of his former teams—this weekend. But, again, weather.

Word of the Jets' plan to meet with Williams was first reported by Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, Williams was meeting with the Seahawks on Thursday. Wilson also reported that the Steelers have interest in Williams.

The Eagles released Williams to save $6.5 million off their salary cap number for this season. Williams had two interceptions in 2014, plus six passes defensed, per Pro Football Focus, which graded him as the league's 49th-best cornerback last year.

Cornerback is a position of need for the Jets, one they'll no doubt address in free agency or the draft in the weeks ahead. There are plenty of good options out there in free agency, possibly including some guy named Revis.

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Andre the Jet? A checklist to see if Jets should pursue disgruntled Houston Texans receiver (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media March 5, 2015

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/03/would_texans_receiver_andre_johnson_make_sense_for.html

Wideout Andre Johnson's days with the Texans appear to be over. The Houston Chronicle this week reported that Johnson—the face of the Texans franchise for more than a decade—has been granted permission to seek a trade. And if a trade can't happen—news flash: it won't, but more on that in a bit—Johnson is going to be released, making him a free agent.

But should the Jets, who still have 14 days to make a decision on wideout Percy Harvin, take a run at Johnson? Simply put, there's lots to consider. Let's run through a Yes and No checklist to figure it out, shall we?

Yes: New Jets general manager Mike Maccaganhad been with the Texans since their founding. He presumably knows plenty about Johnson.

No: Johnson will be 34 in July.

Yes: Johnson is still highly productive, and highly durable. He caught 85 passes last year, and other than his injury-shortened seasons in 2007 and 2011, he's never caught fewer than 63 passes in a given year. Some context: Eric Decker led the Jets with 74 catches last season. No other Jets receiver had more than 38.

Yes: Johnson had that kind of production last year with Ryan Fitzpatrick making 12 starts at quarterback.

No: Johnson made those 85 catches on a whopping 141 targets. Only five other receivers were targeted more, per Pro Football Focus. Johnson also managed just 936 receiving yards with all those catches.

Yes: At 6-foot-3, 219 pounds, Johnson is an inviting red zone target. This is true even if, as ESPN New York's Rich Cimini pointed out, Johnson was targeted 39 times in the red zone last season and finished

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with only three touchdowns. The Jets finished 2014 ranked 22nd in red-zone efficiency. They can use all the help they can get.

No: Johnson hasn't been getting in the end zone for a while. There are those three receiving touchdowns a year ago, but he also hasn't had more than five receiving touchdowns since 2010, when he had eight.

No: Johnson only had five catches of 20 or more yards in 2014, per Pro Football Focus.

Yes: PFF had Johnson with 1.92 yards per route run last season, which ranked 20th in the league.

No: Johnson is due to earn a base salary of $10.5 million this year, with a cap hit of $16.1 million, per overthecap.com. The Jets would be nuts to trade for Johnson. However ...

Yes: Johnson's salary and cap figures—coupled with the fact that every team knows the Texans are eager to rid themselves of him—likely mean the Texans will cut Johnson. At that point, the Jets might be willing to take a run at Johnson, without necessarily making his acquisition a priority around which to build their receiving corps.

No: Johnson's been frustrated with the Texans' lack of a quality quarterback for quite some time. He had even been on the trading block as recently as last summer. Would he want to leave Houston to play alongside Geno Smith or [insert unproven rookie or mediocre veteran free agent here]? Probably not. But one never knows.

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Jets could turn to familiar faces in cornerback market (Seth Walder) New York Daily News March 5, 2015

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-turn-familiar-faces-cornerback-market-article-1.2139427

John Idzik’s tenure was marred by his subtraction of cornerbacks, and it showed. With a new regime in town, Mike Maccagnan has to clean up the mess at a position that will be critical in Todd Bowles’ aggressive man-coverage scheme.

The Jets’ need at cornerback is so great that it was the lone position the new GM singled out at the combine as a need. To claim otherwise would be crazy: currently the team’s best cornerback is Dee Milliner, an injury-prone former first-rounder who is coming off an Achilles injury. And he really hasn’t proved his ability anyway. Maccagnan called Milliner’s recovery a “wild card” and said he had to prepare for the “worst-case scenario” with regard to the cornerback.

The Jets, considering their vast quantity of cap space, could sign two new starters and simply take whatever they get out of Milliner as a bonus. So with that in mind, here are some potential offseason cornerback targets for the Jets:

DARRELLE REVIS, PATRIOTS

Wouldn’t it be something if Maccagnan’s first major acquisition was the man Idzik traded away? Revis, of course, isn’t a free agent yet. The Patriots won’t keep him on his current deal but they could work out a new one before Tuesday, when free agency starts.

If Revis becomes available, it would make sense for the Jets to go after him considering their need and their former star’s incredible talent. The News reported earlier this week that owner Woody Johnson has

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been involved in serious discussions with Maccagnan regarding the star cornerback. The question is: just how high is the Jets brass willing to go in order to get Revis back?

ANTONIO CROMARTIE, CARDS

The only better narrative than the return of Revis would be the return of Revis and Cromartie. Idzik and the Jets cut Cromartie a season ago, and the veteran corner signed a cheap one-year deal with the Cardinals, which paid dividends for Arizona. According to Patrick Peterson, Cromartie won’t shut up about New York and he is already familiar with Bowles.

The downside is that Cromartie turns 31 in April and has battled hip issues in the past.

CARY WILLIAMS, EAGLES

Williams, 30, is a free agent after being cut by the Eagles on Tuesday. He isn’t as well thought of as some of the other cornerbacks on this list, but he is available now, and the Jets are trying to schedule a visit with him, according to sources.

Williams is reportedly visiting the Seahawks on Thursday, and will meet with the Titans on Monday, according to the Tennesseean. He started every game in the last two seasons for the Eagles.

BYRON MAXWELL, SEAHAWKS

Widely considered the top cornerback among the current free agent crop, Maxwell, 27, has to be under consideration for the Jets, especially if they don’t end up with Revis. He’s been part of the Legion of Boom in Seattle, so he clearly has success on his résumé and boasts the press-man skills to succeed in Bowles’ system. He’ll be pricey, too, but the Jets have to come away with at least one of the top couple corners available in free agency.

PERRISH COX, 49ERS

Cox, 28, received consistent starts (14) for the first time since 2010, and fared pretty well in San Francisco. Because of his lack of experience, Cox would be one of the more affordable options on this list.

Fellow 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver is also a free agent.

KAREEM JACKSON, TEXANS

Jackson may not make it to the open market. He’s an important part of the Texans defense so Houston will presumably be working to try to retain him before free agency begins on Tuesday. But if Jackson does become a free agent, one former Texan might be looking for a reunion: Maccagnan. Jackson, 26, would be a hot commodity if Houston lets him get away.

BRANDON FLOWERS, CHARGERS

With Flowers cut by the Chiefs in June, the Chargers rolled the dice on a one-year deal with him and it paid off in a major way. He played well --and intercepted three passes in 14 games last season, including one against Geno Smith.

Flowers, 29, will be much more sought after now than he was a year ago.

With MANISH MEHTA

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THURSDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

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Chicago Cubs - Agreed to terms with pitchers Dallas Beeler, C.J. Edwards, Justin Grimm, Kyle Hendricks, Blake Parker, Neil Ramirez, Hector Rondon, Brian Schlitter, Drake Britton, Eric Jokisch, Joe Ortiz and Zac Rosscup; catcher Rafael Lopez; infielders Arismendy Alcantara, Javier Baez, Tommy La Stella, Mike Olt and Christian Villanueva; and outfielders Junior Lake and Matt Szczur on contracts for the 2015 season.

BASKETBALL

Atlanta Hawks - Signed guard Jarell Eddie to a 10-day contract.

Minnesota Timberwolves - Claimed center Justin Hamilton off waivers; waived forward Glenn Robinson III.

FOOTBALL

Carolina Panthers - Agreed to terms with tight end Greg Olsen on a three-year contract extension through the 2018 season.

Green Bay Packers - Signed linebacker Josh Francis.

Kansas City Chiefs - Released linebacker Joe Mays.

Miami Dolphins - Re-signed offensive lineman Jason Fox to a two-year contract.

San Francisco 49ers - Agreed to terms with defensive tackle Darnell Dockett on a two-year contract; signed wide receiver Jerome Simpson to a two-year contract.

HOCKEY

Buffalo Sabres - Recalled forward Mikhail Grigorenko from Rochester (AHL).

Florida Panthers - Recalled defenseman Shane O'Brien from San Antonio (AHL).

Washington Capitals - Recalled forward Andre Burakovsky from Hershey (AHL).

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