The Marcus Maye situation took an acrimonious turn when his agent criticized the Jets on social media. It's unusual for an agent to do that, an indication the frustration runs deep.
Here's my take: Maye is a good, not elite free safety who should get somewhere between $10 million to $12 million per year, an APY that would allow him to crack the top 10 at safety. (The franchise tag is projected at $11.2 million.) He's a good soldier, respected in the locker room -- a captain. If you can't re-sign a player like Maye, who can you re-sign?
What makes me think the situation will continue to fester is Douglas doesn't like to pay premium dollars at the safety position. (See: Jamal Adams.) He also has Ashtyn Davis waiting in the wings. Davis is a Douglas draft pick, a natural free safety and a player held in high regard despite a nondescript rookie season.
As for Maye, the Jets have the leverage. It's called the franchise tag, and they likely will use it by Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline. That would give the sides until July 15 to work out a long-term deal.
Since the 2010 draft, the Jets have re-signed five picks to second contracts -- Muhammad Wilkerson, Bilal Powell, Brian Winters, Quincy Enunwa and Jordan Jenkins. That explains a lot. They never will be contenders until they catch up with the rest of the league in the draft-and-develop area.
Here's my take: Maye is a good, not elite free safety who should get somewhere between $10 million to $12 million per year, an APY that would allow him to crack the top 10 at safety. (The franchise tag is projected at $11.2 million.) He's a good soldier, respected in the locker room -- a captain. If you can't re-sign a player like Maye, who can you re-sign?
What makes me think the situation will continue to fester is Douglas doesn't like to pay premium dollars at the safety position. (See: Jamal Adams.) He also has Ashtyn Davis waiting in the wings. Davis is a Douglas draft pick, a natural free safety and a player held in high regard despite a nondescript rookie season.
As for Maye, the Jets have the leverage. It's called the franchise tag, and they likely will use it by Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline. That would give the sides until July 15 to work out a long-term deal.
Since the 2010 draft, the Jets have re-signed five picks to second contracts -- Muhammad Wilkerson, Bilal Powell, Brian Winters, Quincy Enunwa and Jordan Jenkins. That explains a lot. They never will be contenders until they catch up with the rest of the league in the draft-and-develop area.
