Future Free Agents

Rich Cimini today in his article, listed the free agents the Jets need to concentrate on during training camp to prevent them from becoming restricted or unrestricted free agents after this season.  Let's review them one by one, in order of importance:

1. Chad Pennington.  How can you put your franchise quarterback anywhere but on the top of this list?  Critics may argue that he had only one full great season, and that his injury prone season last year can not be used to judge his future quarterback potential.  They will also point to his weak arm.  I can't buy the critics arguments.  This team hasn't had a franchise type quarterback in decades.  The worst thing this front office needs is to have a mess on their hands next offseason because Chad isn't under contract yet.  He needs to be first, and then move on from there.
2. Shaun Ellis.  Last year was really Shaun's breakout year.  He has been hampered by his inexperience and mistakes by the coaching staff trying to turn him into something that he was not - a tackle.  He excelled last year at his end position opposite John Abraham.  The most important thing is that he is not as injury prone as Abraham.
3. Jason Ferguson.  I had a hard time picking between Ellis and Ferguson for #2 and #3.  I can end up calling Ferguson 2a.  However, I put Ellis ahead because of one major problem with Ferguson's game.  He didn't help the Jets stop the run last year.  In 2002, the Jets missed Ferguson desperately and finally started to settle down without him.  After his return in 2003, he was supposed to solidify a defensive line that the Jets touted as scary to opponents.  It turns out the entire defense was scary to the fans.  However, linebackers and secondary was the major problem.  Fergy was solid with a bad supporting cast last year.  He obviously couldn't do it on his own, but he will be needed in the future.
4. Kareem McKenzie.  I don't think the Jets will sign him.  He is a solid offensive lineman, and I would argue that they really NEED to sign him, but some team out there will overpay for him.  Teams do that, and other desperate things, when they need O-line help.  Proof?  Teams actually signed Jeff Criswell and Jeff Cadigan after they left the Jets.  If that isn't desperate, I don't know what is.  McKenzie, is unfortunately, probably gone.
5. John Abraham.  The Jets should have traded him for T. Owens last year.  This year I hope they trade him for a slice of pizza.  Injury prone and a whiner.  Get the heck out of here.  (Of course, I'm hoping that I will be able to eat my words.)
6. LaMont Jordon.  Give the kid a break, let him go somewhere else and play.  Trade him for something.  Curtis Martin can still run with the football, and it's not difficult to find quality backup running backs.  Look at Denver.  They cultivate running backs in their back yard.  (By the way, I think the Redskins made an awful trade in the offseason.  Daniel Snyder can suck my....  John Hall.)
7. Anthony Becht.  Get out.  I will pay you out of my own pocket if you would just leave.

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Interesting structure  to the Vilma contract.  According to the NY Daily News there was NO signing bonus, but a $1.2 Million "reporting bonus", and a $6 Million option bonus in 2005, which he would certainly collect.  As I said, the Jets know the salary cap very well, and this must have been done for a reason.  Possibly also to save Woody Johnson some money upfront to pay to Pennington and others (see above) in the form of a signing bonus.