Larry Brown #43 Posted March 16, 2003 Share Posted March 16, 2003 I take this is as good news. Sunday, March 16 Jets looking beyond Coles while waiting for resolution -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com While Jets officials await the outcome in the NFL's investigation of the Washington Redskins' offer sheet to Laveranues Coles, the team continues to explore possible replacements for the veteran wide receiver. Jets coaches and personnel officials will meet this week with two more free agents -- restricted veteran Tai Streets of San Francisco and unrestricted veteran Antonio Freeman, ESPN.com has learned. The Jets also have scheduled a tentative meeting with Curtis Conway, who was recently released by the San Diego Chargers. Freeman and Conway are proven commodities, both of them with extensive resumés, but Streets, who was scheduled to fly to New York on Sunday, is an intriguing possibility. A former University of Michigan star, Streets was originally thought to be an unrestricted free agent this spring but, because of a technicality, the NFL ruled that he has accrued only three seasons of league tenure. Thus, he instead is a restricted free agent. The 49ers retained a right of first refusal on Streets, 25, by making a qualifying offer of $1.318 million. That means the 49ers would receive a first-round draft choice as compensation if Streets signed an offer sheet with another franchise, and San Francisco opted not to match it. But a Jets-49ers trade, one in which New York would agree to contract terms with Streets and then send him to San Francisco for less than a first-round choice, has also been discussed, ESPN.com has learned. The 49ers, however, would insist on receiving more than just a middle-round choice. It is uncertain how high the Jets would go to secure Streets' services. Streets enjoyed a breakout season with San Francisco in 2002, with 72 catches for 756 yards and five touchdowns. After starting only four games the previous three seasons, Streets started 13 last year and proved to be a productive complement to fellow wideout Terrell Owens. Streets averaged 10.5 yards per catch in 2002 but flashes some explosiveness and run-after-catch ability. He is, in the eyes of some scouts, an emerging player and that is clearly why the Jets have expressed an interest in him. Among New York's other options: Newsday reported Sunday that the Jets have indicated "casual interest" in trading for Minnesota Vikings star Randy Moss. But an inquiry by the Jets concerning Moss' possible availability was rebuffed by the Vikings, who aren't likely to trade the immensely talented but often controversial wide receiver. Moss' value to the Vikings on the field means he won't be dealt. But there would also be a large cap price to pay if Minnesota dealt him. The club would absorb a $13.523 million cap charge in 2003 if it traded Moss, or $5.63 million more than his current '02 cap value. The Vikings certainly have sufficient room to cover that, but tying up 18 percent of your salary cap in a player no longer with the team would be imprudent. Freeman, 30, is scheduled to have dinner with Jets coach Herm Edwards and offensive coordinator Paul Hackett on Monday. The eight-year veteran, who spent last season with Philadelphia after playing his first seven years with Green Bay, had 46 catches for 600 yards and four touchdowns in 2002. Always an impressive slot receiver, Freeman has an opportunity to return to the Eagles but wants to consider his options first. Because he is an unrestricted free agent, he could cut a much "cleaner" deal with the Jets, one that would not include an offer sheet and would have finality to it. While he is not the player he was a few years ago, Freeman has received high grades from Mike Giddings, an independent talent evaluator whose rating services are subscribed to by many NFL teams. Freeman's receptions total has decreased every season since 1998, but he still has a career average of one touchdown every 7.6 catches, one of the highest marks in that area in the last 10 years. The 32-year-old Conway, released for salary cap reasons and because the Chargers planned to pursue free agent David Boston, also comes with no strings attached. The 10-year veteran is said by most scouts to have lost a step, but he still had four receptions of 40-plus yards in 2002, his best total since 1995. Conway has fought through some injuries lately but has 510 career catches for 7,587 yards, with 47 touchdowns. He had 57 receptions for 852 yards and five touchdowns last season. The Seahawks' Darrell Jackson, a restricted free agent receiver who visited with Jets officials for two days last week, apparently has been apprised that New York will not attempt to sign him to an offer sheet. Jackson reportedly is prepared to sign the one-year, $1.318 million qualifying offer made by the Seahawks last month. They would then continue to work toward a long-term contract, and if those efforts failed he would become an unrestricted free agent in 2004. Meanwhile, the Jets continue to press the NFL in its investigation of the manner in which the Redskins signed Coles last week to a seven-year, $35 million offer sheet that included a $13 million signing bonus. The contention by the Jets is that the deal was struck Sunday night but not filed until Wednesday and, in essence, took Coles off the market for three days. In reality, that delay afforded New York an extra three days to begin the process of evaluating Coles' importance to the team and to start contacting potential replacements. While the league takes the charges seriously, it is not likely to void the offer sheet. And one NFL official termed "ridiculous" a published report the Redskins could forfeit a first-round choice because of their handling of the Coles signing. The consensus is that the league might fine Redkins owner Daniel Snyder and uphold the offer sheet Coles signed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TC4 Posted March 16, 2003 Share Posted March 16, 2003 Well, the most importaint part of the column was this at the end: Meanwhile, the Jets continue to press the NFL in its investigation of the manner in which the Redskins signed Coles last week to a seven-year, $35 million offer sheet that included a $13 million signing bonus. The contention by the Jets is that the deal was struck Sunday night but not filed until Wednesday and, in essence, took Coles off the market for three days. In reality, that delay afforded New York an extra three days to begin the process of evaluating Coles' importance to the team and to start contacting potential replacements. While the league takes the charges seriously, it is not likely to void the offer sheet. And one NFL official termed "ridiculous" a published report the Redskins could forfeit a first-round choice because of their handling of the Coles signing. The consensus is that the league might fine Redkins owner Daniel Snyder and uphold the offer sheet Coles signed. That tells me that all the Jets are trying to do is blow smoke up someone's a$$. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stricknine Posted March 16, 2003 Share Posted March 16, 2003 Basically, it boils down to the Jets trying everything they can think of to keep Coles at a lesser deal. If they somehow keep Coles I don't think he is going to be willing to play nice for them. If Snyder gets fined big deal Im sure he'll be smiling an smoking a cigar as he hands over the cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted March 16, 2003 Share Posted March 16, 2003 And one NFL official termed "ridiculous" a published report the Redskins could forfeit a first-round choice because of their handling of the Coles signing I see Lenny Pasta-Belly reads the Washington Times Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted March 16, 2003 Share Posted March 16, 2003 In continuing to pressure the league to take some kind of action on what now appears to be a very narrow argument about very little, the Jets look like a fiancee that doesn't want to return the engagement ring after the wedding has been cancelled :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inmate running the asylum Posted March 16, 2003 Share Posted March 16, 2003 Since when do Bulldogs have a sense of humor? :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skins26 Posted March 17, 2003 Share Posted March 17, 2003 I think the only reason the Jets did this was to draw attension away from the thing they did to Morton. Not matching the one part of the contract. They hoping the NFL will say the two cancel eachother out that way they get away with what they did! the *******s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinsblitz Posted March 17, 2003 Share Posted March 17, 2003 The only thing that burns me up about this whole thing, is the fact that everyone claims that the 'Skins "raided" the Jets roster. Like they stole players from them or something. HELLO!! NEWSFLASH!!! The players we got were FREE-AGENTS. If the 'Skins didn't get them, then some other team would. Did the Jets expect everyone to sit back and wait for the Jets to try and re-sign the FA's on their team. GIMMIE A BREAK!!! They are like a little kid who takes his ball and goes home when they don't get their way. BOO HOO!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted March 17, 2003 Share Posted March 17, 2003 They should be happy we are giving them a chance to sign Pennington next year. But if they want to be jerks it would be funny if we give them our 30 something pick for Abraham in 2k4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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