Jets’ Busy Offseason

          At the beginning of the 2009 season, few people had much trust in the New York Jets. The biggest turnoff was what seemed to be a poor offense in the air. Yes, they had Thomas Jones to run the ball, but a team can’t win by just running. The Jets had traded up in the 2009 draft and selected quarterback Mark Sanchez out of the University of Southern California who became their starting quarterback. Not only did they seem to be weak at the QB position with a rookie starter, but it didn’t really seem like Sanchez had anyone to throw to either. But what the Jets lacked on offense they more than made up for on defense, which consisted of, but certainly was not limited to, shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis. As a result, they made it all the way to the AFC Championship game, 
eventually losing to the Indianapolis Colts. Despite their surprise success last season, the Jets have been one of the busiest teams this offseason.

A Pair of Ex-Chargers

Two players from the 2009 San Diego Chargers will be playing for the team this season that upset them in the playoffs. First was the trade for cornerback Antonio Cromartie who went to the Jets in exchange for a 2011 conditional 3rd round pick. The same day, the Jets released starting running back Thomas Jones with hopes of resigning him to a new contract. After he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Jets found themselves with a gaping hole in the backfield that seemed too big for 2nd year running back Shonn Greene to fill. In response, about a week and a half later they signed running back LaDainian Tomlinson. These are two big moves that should make an immediate impact on both sides of the ball. Cromartie should be a great Robin to Revis’ Batman in the secondary because now the top 2 receivers on any team they play will for sure be very tightly covered. On the offensive side, although Tomlinson seems to have lost a step after significant drop-offs in rushing attempts, rushing yards, catches, and receiving yards, he will be playing not only with a better offensive line to help block for him, but also a massive chip on his shoulder where he has a lot to prove not only to himself, but to all of the NFL.

Super Bowl Hero

The other major transaction made by the Jets was the acquisition of 2009 Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 5th round pick in this years NFL Draft. Yet another threat on the offense, Holmes adds a clear primary receiver to the Jets, who was lacking a big time wideout and legitimate threat downfield. They tried to solve this problem mid-season last year with the trade for Braylon Edwards, but Edwards was not as successful as everyone had hoped. Holmes will definitely cause problems for opposing defenses in addition to making Sanchez’s second year much more manageable as well as taking some of the pressure off Edwards by making him the number two reciever.

A Question of Character

I hate to say it, but there is one problem with the Jets getting Cromartie and Holmes and it’s not on the field play us fans should be worried about. The off field issues of both trade acquisitions should definitely be of concern for the New York Jets. Coming off one of the best seasons of his career, the Steelers traded Holmes as a response to a lawsuit Holmes is facing in Florida from a women who claims that he threw a glass at her in a nightclub. The NFL responded to the lawsuit by suspending Holmes the first 4 games of the 2010-2011 season. In terms of Cromartie, the problem is that he has 7 kids in 5 states. No you didn’t read that wrong. 7 kids in 5 states. This leaves major legal liabilities in terms of child support because even though he signed a $12.5 million deal in 2006, it’s not like he gets that all at once, thus still making it difficult to pay child support. He hasn’t even played a game for the Jets, yet he has already asked for an advance in his salary, receiving $500,000 to fulfill his legal obligations. In the end, if the Jets can survive their first 4 games without Santonio Holmes and if both Holmes and Cromartie can be as good off the field as they are on the field there is no reason the Jets can’t be Super Bowl champions by the end of the 2010-2011 season.