[ESPN]18301316[/ESPN]
Todd Bowles delivered a rather succinct state-of-the-team Sunday. He did it in 15 words:
"Special teams have been disappointing. The defense has been disappointing. The offense has been disappointing."
Yep, that pretty much covers the New York Jets' season.
One of the big reasons why they're 4-10 is because their high-priced veterans have disappointed, setting the stage for what promises to be a bloody offseason. It's time to rebuild, which means parting ways with some household names.
The 10 highest-paid players (based on 2016 earnings) combined for only five touchdowns, four sacks, one interception and 10 touchdown passes. Total bill: $93.4 million. Of the 10, only two are locks to return next year -- Muhammad Wilkerson and Darron Lee.
Here you go:
1. Wilkerson ($22 million): He has gone six straight games without a sack, his longest slump since his rookie year, 2011. His total is only 2.5, one less than run-stuffer Steve McLendon, who hasn't played in four weeks. It's an understatement to say Wilkerson hasn't lived up to his $86 million contract, but they can't cut him because his 2017 salary ($14.75 million) is fully guaranteed and the cap hit would be prohibitive. Plus, he's still only 27; it would be premature to give up on him.
2. CB Darrelle Revis ($17 million): Thanks for the memories. No longer capable of being a shutdown corner, Revis, 31, has to go. The economics aren't great -- they owe him $6 million guaranteed in 2017 -- but football overrules the money in this case. Write the check and move on. His inability to play press-man has had a sweeping impact on the defense. During Saturday night's telecast, NBC analyst Tony Dungy seemed taken aback by how much cushion Revis was giving to receivers. Revis has said he's willing to play safety. Why would they move him to safety if he doesn't tackle as a corner? Look at the bright side: They'd save $9.3 million on the cap by cutting him.
3. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick ($12 million): He has 15 interceptions, the same number as last season. The problem is, he reached 15 with 210 fewer attempts and there are two games to go. His contract automatically voids after the Super Bowl and he will be a free agent. Fitzpatrick, 34, held the organization hostage for six months, finally getting the money he wanted. There's no way to determine whether the contract dispute made an impact on the season, but it certainly set a bad tone. He'll be playing elsewhere next year.
4. WR Brandon Marshall ($9.5 million): His season hit rock bottom Saturday night. He was targeted 11 times and had only one reception, the lowest receiving percentage in the league this season (minimum: 10 targets) and the lowest by a Jets receiver in 10 years, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Don't forget: The Miami Dolphins played without their top corner, Byron Maxwell, for almost the entire game. Marshall might be able to help a contender next year, but a 33-year-old receiver doesn't fit a rebuilding program, not with a $7.5 million salary. Maybe they can trade him for a late-round pick.
5. LB David Harris ($7.5 million): Like Revis, Harris is a future Ring of Honor member. He's still a factor as a box linebacker, but he doesn't have the pass-coverage skills to be a three-down linebacker anymore. Still, he's worth keeping at a reduced salary because he's the kind of player you want in your locker room.
6. LT Ryan Clady ($6.6 million): He lasted eight games before breaking down, so the final tab was $825,000 per game. There's a $10 million option for next year, money he'll never see from the Jets.
7. CB Buster Skrine ($6.5 million): They took him out of his comfort zone -- slot corner -- and tried to make him an every-down player. The result: A sub-par season. Skrine has two years left on his deal, but his $8.5 million cap charge makes him vulnerable.
8. WR Eric Decker ($6.5 million): The Jets got only three games out of Decker before he went down with shoulder and hip injuries. His cap charge next year is a pricey $8.75 million and he turns 30 before next season. Age, injury and a high cap number usually spell doom, but it wouldn't make sense to cut him and Marshall. Decker stays, assuming his rehab goes well.
9. C Nick Mangold ($6.2 million): This is a tough call. He, too, will have his name in the ROH some day, but his $9.1 million cap charge next year is prohibitive. Mangold, who turns 33 in a few weeks, must take a pay cut or be gone. It wouldn't be a shock if he retires.
10. Lee ($6.1 million): He's had a so-so rookie year, but he's considered part of the solution, not the problem.
Todd Bowles delivered a rather succinct state-of-the-team Sunday. He did it in 15 words:
"Special teams have been disappointing. The defense has been disappointing. The offense has been disappointing."
Yep, that pretty much covers the New York Jets' season.
One of the big reasons why they're 4-10 is because their high-priced veterans have disappointed, setting the stage for what promises to be a bloody offseason. It's time to rebuild, which means parting ways with some household names.
The 10 highest-paid players (based on 2016 earnings) combined for only five touchdowns, four sacks, one interception and 10 touchdown passes. Total bill: $93.4 million. Of the 10, only two are locks to return next year -- Muhammad Wilkerson and Darron Lee.
Here you go:
1. Wilkerson ($22 million): He has gone six straight games without a sack, his longest slump since his rookie year, 2011. His total is only 2.5, one less than run-stuffer Steve McLendon, who hasn't played in four weeks. It's an understatement to say Wilkerson hasn't lived up to his $86 million contract, but they can't cut him because his 2017 salary ($14.75 million) is fully guaranteed and the cap hit would be prohibitive. Plus, he's still only 27; it would be premature to give up on him.
2. CB Darrelle Revis ($17 million): Thanks for the memories. No longer capable of being a shutdown corner, Revis, 31, has to go. The economics aren't great -- they owe him $6 million guaranteed in 2017 -- but football overrules the money in this case. Write the check and move on. His inability to play press-man has had a sweeping impact on the defense. During Saturday night's telecast, NBC analyst Tony Dungy seemed taken aback by how much cushion Revis was giving to receivers. Revis has said he's willing to play safety. Why would they move him to safety if he doesn't tackle as a corner? Look at the bright side: They'd save $9.3 million on the cap by cutting him.
3. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick ($12 million): He has 15 interceptions, the same number as last season. The problem is, he reached 15 with 210 fewer attempts and there are two games to go. His contract automatically voids after the Super Bowl and he will be a free agent. Fitzpatrick, 34, held the organization hostage for six months, finally getting the money he wanted. There's no way to determine whether the contract dispute made an impact on the season, but it certainly set a bad tone. He'll be playing elsewhere next year.
4. WR Brandon Marshall ($9.5 million): His season hit rock bottom Saturday night. He was targeted 11 times and had only one reception, the lowest receiving percentage in the league this season (minimum: 10 targets) and the lowest by a Jets receiver in 10 years, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Don't forget: The Miami Dolphins played without their top corner, Byron Maxwell, for almost the entire game. Marshall might be able to help a contender next year, but a 33-year-old receiver doesn't fit a rebuilding program, not with a $7.5 million salary. Maybe they can trade him for a late-round pick.
5. LB David Harris ($7.5 million): Like Revis, Harris is a future Ring of Honor member. He's still a factor as a box linebacker, but he doesn't have the pass-coverage skills to be a three-down linebacker anymore. Still, he's worth keeping at a reduced salary because he's the kind of player you want in your locker room.
6. LT Ryan Clady ($6.6 million): He lasted eight games before breaking down, so the final tab was $825,000 per game. There's a $10 million option for next year, money he'll never see from the Jets.
7. CB Buster Skrine ($6.5 million): They took him out of his comfort zone -- slot corner -- and tried to make him an every-down player. The result: A sub-par season. Skrine has two years left on his deal, but his $8.5 million cap charge makes him vulnerable.
8. WR Eric Decker ($6.5 million): The Jets got only three games out of Decker before he went down with shoulder and hip injuries. His cap charge next year is a pricey $8.75 million and he turns 30 before next season. Age, injury and a high cap number usually spell doom, but it wouldn't make sense to cut him and Marshall. Decker stays, assuming his rehab goes well.
9. C Nick Mangold ($6.2 million): This is a tough call. He, too, will have his name in the ROH some day, but his $9.1 million cap charge next year is prohibitive. Mangold, who turns 33 in a few weeks, must take a pay cut or be gone. It wouldn't be a shock if he retires.
10. Lee ($6.1 million): He's had a so-so rookie year, but he's considered part of the solution, not the problem.
