The idea of longing for what once was is completely natural in all areas of human life, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have it right when you romanticize about what you once had. Everyone has done it, you start think about an old girlfriend and immediately you start to remember all the fun and good things about her. You conveniently gloss over all the bad, the drama and the headaches, that caused you to break up in the first place. It’s not that you want her back, it’s that you’re not happy with where you’re at. So you start romanticizing, tricking your brain into thinking things were better than they actually were. Which is exactly what I maintain is happening with the Jets fans that are banging their drums letting the world know they want Braylon Edwards back (original analogy courtesy of @LilMissNYJet).

I understand the logic, I just think the logic is flawed. The logic of the Bring Back Braylon movement is simple, he’s a cheap option that won’t eat up much cap room, he had good chemistry with Sanchez who needs all the good chemistry he can get right now and he can stretch the field to go along with his downfield blocking skills. However there are better/healthier/more talented options available for relatively cheap, yes he and Sanchez had a solid connection, but it’s being overstated and overrated as their “success” doesn’t warrant this type of reaction. If you don’t believe me just go back (or below) and look at the numbers. Edwards was a solid receiver for the Jets, but he was hardly irreplaceable. (more…)

Over the past few weeks you have been hearing about the Jets cap space problem, the problem being they had no cap space. What you also likely heard was that Mike Tannenbaum would work his magic and free up cap space by cutting some players (like Eric Smith) and restructuring the large contracts of others. Well it seems Tannenbaum has already started this process as D’Brickashaw Ferguson’s contract being restructured is the first domino to fall.

According to the NY Daily News, Ferguson and the Jets have agreed to convert, “$9 million of Ferguson’s $9.985 million base salary in 2012 to a signing bonus to give the team more cap space.” With this move the Jets can spread the signing bonus over the course of the remaining six years on Ferguson’s contract which will free up $7.5 million in cap space for this season, according to the Daily News. (more…)

Yesterday we took a look at the free agents the Jets should target on offense and while the lack of big names may have been disappointing to fans that don’t understand the concept of limited cap room, we went over some very realistic and affordable names the Jets should target to improve their offense. Not every hole could be filled perfectly through free agency so the Jets will have to get what they can there then turn to the draft to finish improving the roster. Today it’s the defenses turn, but as with the offense money is still just as tight so Mike Tannenbaum will have to spend whatever money he can free up wisely and sorry that still means no Mario Williams. (more…)

After the failure that was the 2011 season Jets fans are clamoring for the team to make a big splash in free agency. A portion of the fan base is in all out attack mode, circling the free agent market with the ferocity of a pack of rabid wolves (on Twitter anyway). As I went to get breakfast at a local bagel shop the other morning I overhead a group of Jets fans that apparently live in a fantasy world. These fans were somehow convinced that not only was Peyton Manning completely healthy, he was already coming to the Jets and the team would still keep Sanchez. And oh yeah, Sanchez would have no problem with it. I didn’t have the heart to break the news to them that this could never happen for any number of reasons.

See those are the types of fans that enjoy living in blissful ignorance, if you’re reading this your feet are likely much closer to the ground. You are probably hopeful and have a few wishful thinking ideas floating around in your head, but chances are you’re more interested in hearing realistic ideas that could improve this team and get them back on track to competing for a championship than strictly football fairy tales (and if you want to skip me waxing poetic and just get to my suggestions at each position, just scroll down to the bold positions listed below). (more…)