NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS March 8, 2015 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS ................................................................................................................................................ 1 AFC East Free Agency Capsules .................................................................................................................................1 NEWSDAY .............................................................................................................................................................. 2 Todd Bowles could have his hands full with Brandon Marshall (Kimberley Martin) ................................................2 Former Eagles DB Cary Williams talking with Jets, source says (Kimberley Martin) .................................................4 ESPN NEW YORK .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Sunday notes: Can the Jets keep Brandon Marshall happy? (Rich Cimini) ...............................................................5 NEW YORK POST .................................................................................................................................................... 6 ‘Most absurd thing’: Analysts bash Jets haters for Marshall rips (Brian Costello) ....................................................6 NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Brandon Marshall just latest troubled wide receiver Jets take chance on (Seth Walder) ........................................8 SATURDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS .................................................................................................................... 9 ASSOCIATED PRESS AFC East Free Agency Capsules The Associated Press March 8, 2015 http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/ap-source-jets-agree-acquire-brandon-marshall-bears BUFFALO BILLS (9-7) UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DEs Jerry Hughes and Jarius Wynn; RB C.J. Spiller; LBs Brandon Spikes, Larry Dean and Stevenson Sylvester; S Da'Norris Searcy; WR Marcus Easley; TE Lee Smith; OG Erik Pears. RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: OT Chris Hairston, WR/KR Marcus Thigpen, WR Deonte Thompson, P Jordan Gay. NEEDS: The Bills, under new coach Rex Ryan, have already been busy addressing needs by acquiring RB LeSean McCoy in a trade with Philadelphia and QB Matt Cassel in a trade with Minnesota, while also signing free agent OG Richie Incognito. They still have needs in the defensive backfield, at offensive tackle and tight end. And don't rule out Buffalo adding yet another quarterback to compete with Cassel and EJ Manuel for the starting job. MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-8) UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: QB Matt Moore, S Louis Delmas, RB Knowshon Moreno, DT Jared Odrick, G Daryn Colledge, C Samson Satele, TE Charles Clay (transition tagged), S Jimmy Wilson, LB Jason Trusnik, LB Kelvin Sheppard, RB Daniel Thomas, RB LaMichael James, CB T.J. Heath. RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DE Derrick Shelby, LB Jonathan Freeny, S Michael Thomas, CB R.J. Stanford. NEEDS: The Dolphins are expected to make a run at DT Ndamukong Suh, and if they win bidding likely to top $100 million, they might have little cap room left. Other positions needing to be addressed on an aging 1|Page Daily Clips Cont. defense include linebacker, cornerback and safety. To free up cap space, the Dolphins released receivers Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson and might part with Mike Wallace, leaving them short on targets for Ryan Tannehill. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (15-4) UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: PK Stephen Gostkowski (franchise tagged), LS Danny Aiken, LB Akeem Ayers, DT Alan Branch, LB Jonathan Casillas, G Dan Connolly, S Devin McCourty, RB Stevan Ridley, RB Shane Vereen, LB Chris White. RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None. NEEDS: Pass rusher, linebacker. DEs Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich have been productive getting to the quarterback, but there is little depth behind them. And Jones was sidelined for six games last season. Injuries also forced Jerod Mayo, the Patriots' best linebacker, to miss most of the past two seasons. LB Dont'a Hightower was sidelined for four games in 2014 and could miss the start of next season after having shoulder surgery following the Super Bowl victory. NEW YORK JETS (4-12) UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: QB Michael Vick, G Willie Colon, RB Bilal Powell, DL Leger Douzable, CB Kyle Wilson, S Dawan Landry, DT Kenrick Ellis, LB Nick Bellore, T Ben Ijalana, CB Phillip Adams, FB John Conner, WR Greg Salas, LS Tanner Purdum, LB Jermaine Cunningham. RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: NT Damon Harrison, S Jaiquawn Jarrett. NEEDS: The Jets have more than $51 million in salary cap space to work with, and figure to be active spenders. Help at cornerback is a top priority for new GM Mike Maccagnan after former GM John Idzik struck out in free agency and the draft. CBs Dee Milliner (Achilles tendon), the team's No. 1 draft pick in 2013, and Dexter McDougle (ACL), third-rounder last year, are coming off major injuries. The Jets could look for a veteran QB to compete with Geno Smith if Vick doesn't return, which is likely. New York could focus on drafting a top prospect — Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota — with No. 6 overall pick should they fall. Pass-catching running back could be another spot New York tries to add because Chris Johnson won't be back and Powell could draw attention in free agency. Offensive line depth also is likely to be addressed, and the team might need to replace a starter if RG Colon is not re-signed. New York traded for Brandon Marshall to be its No. 1 receiver. Back_to_Top NEWSDAY Todd Bowles could have his hands full with Brandon Marshall (Kimberley Martin) Newsday March 8, 2015 http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/todd-bowles-could-have-his-hands-full-with-brandonmarshall-1.10030612 Brandon Marshall -- and his baggage -- soon will be Todd Bowles' responsibility. There's a gamble with every roster move made in and around free agency, but the Jets' decision to trade a fifth-round pick to the Bears in exchange for Marshall potentially comes with even greater risks. His football skills are undeniable. His passion for the game is unquestioned. But Marshall has been labeled everything from a malcontent to a head case. And if you're inclined to believe everything you read, his antics make Santonio Holmes look tame in comparison. 2|Page Daily Clips Cont. Marshall's act and his outspokenness wore thin after three seasons in Chicago, paving the way for his departure. And, as in the case of the 2014 Jets and Percy Harvin -- another controversial receiver they traded for to boost their offense -- Bowles and his staff will have to make sure the 6-4, 230-pound Marshall doesn't become a divisive force in the locker room. More importantly, they have to ensure that his checkered history is a thing of the past. Marshall's run-ins with the law date back almost a decade. In 2009, he was arrested after being involved in a fight with his then-fiancee, Michi, now his wife. Two years later, Michi stabbed him in the stomach during a domestic-violence incident, according to police. Shortly thereafter, Marshall was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. His criticisms of his teammates also helped create a wedge between him and management. Marshall was overheard shouting his frustrations at teammates last season, including kicker Robbie Gould, after their Week 7 home loss to the Dolphins. And when he addressed reporters in his postgame news conference, Marshall made it clear that their offense's production and their 3-4 record were "unacceptable." He also didn't mince words when it came to his former quarterback, Jay Cutler. Though he credited Cutler as "more than capable of getting it done" during a December radio appearance, Marshall conceded that no one could fault the Bears' front office for regretting the quarterback's sevenyear, $126-million deal. "As a businessman, I would have buyer's remorse too," Marshall said at the time. According to reports out of Chicago, the relationship between the two became strained as the season wore on. Now, just imagine what Marshall might be tempted to say about Geno Smith, the Jets' young incumbent. While he shouldn't be considered a me-first player, Marshall demands plenty of catches on game day. Cutler averaged 37 pass attempts per game last season. Smith averaged 26. Marshall also expects his quarterback to be able to deliver the football. Smith, however, has had accuracy issues during the past two seasons. He's 11-18 as a starter with a 57.5 completion percentage, 25 touchdown passes and 34 interceptions. His propensity for turnovers cost the Jets several games, and even his former quarterbacks coach, David Lee, admitted as much shortly after joining the Bills' staff. So if the new Jets regime entrusts Smith with the starting job, they'll need to be certain that he'll be improved in 2015. Marshall, who's guaranteed a $7.5-million base salary this season, is expected to jump-start the Jets' stagnant offense, which finished last in passing yards per game (184.1). He has gained more than 1,000 receiving yards in seven of his nine NFL seasons and ranked second in the league in catches (692) and receiving yards (8,741) from 2007-13. The Jets will be the fourth team for Marshall, who has yet to make the playoffs. And if they struggle this season, it'll be interesting to see if Bowles will be able to keep the peace with him. Marshall did rehabilitate his image as an out-of-control hothead during his time in Chicago, and his advocacy of mental health awareness took center stage. Bowles has a reputation for being a no-nonsense guy but also a players' coach. Plus, he formed a bond with Marshall during their time together with the Dolphins. So maybe this can work. 3|Page Daily Clips Cont. Back_to_Top Former Eagles DB Cary Williams talking with Jets, source says (Kimberley Martin) Newsday March 8, 2015 http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/cary-williams-former-eagles-db-to-talk-with-jets-sourcesays-1.10029292 The Jets are looking to corner the market on defensive backs. Eagles free agent Cary Williams flew into New York late Friday night and plans to remain in town until Sunday morning, a source told Newsday. Williams was scheduled to meet with "everyone" in the building while in town. It's no secret the Jets are desperate for cornerback help. And on Saturday, they lost out on one of their free-agent targets. Kareem Jackson re-signed with the Texans, getting a four-year, $34-million deal that includes $20 million guaranteed, a source confirmed. The Jets had their eyes on the versatile cornerback, a first-round pick of the Texans in 2010. New Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan was a member of Houston's organization at the time. The Houston Chronicle reported that Jackson also drew serious interest from the Eagles. According to a source familiar with the situation, it wouldn't have mattered if Maccagnan & Co. had matched the Texans' offer. Jackson wanted to remain in Texas. "To get something done and to get it done here in Houston. My heart was definitely here," he told ESPN.com Saturday. Now, with Jackson officially off the market, the Jets will have to turn their focus elsewhere. Though Williams, 30, spent several hours at their facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, it's too early to know whether they'll be able to land him. He already has met with the Seahawks and is scheduled to visit the Titans after he wraps up his meetings with the Jets. According to the Baltimore Sun, Williams also is interested in possibly returning to the Ravens, the team with which he won a Super Bowl in 2012. In an attempt to clear cap space, the Eagles released him Tuesday. He had two interceptions and nine passes defensed in 2014. The Jets also have their eyes on former Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell and former Jets Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. As the most sought-after free agent of the group, Maxwell is expected to break the bank, and he's sure to use Jackson's deal as leverage. The Eagles reportedly are making a strong push for him. Cromartie has the most familiarity with new Jets coach Todd Bowles, having spent the 2014 season playing for him with the Arizona Cardinals. Though Revis isn't scheduled to become a free agent on Tuesday, there's a good chance he is headed that way. The Super Bowl champion Patriots won't bring him back at a $25-million cap hit, meaning they'll release him if Revis' representatives don't agree to a contract renegotiation. Brandon Flowers also has drawn interest, but he's expected to re-sign with the Chargers. Back_to_Top 4|Page Daily Clips Cont. ESPN NEW YORK Sunday notes: Can the Jets keep Brandon Marshall happy? (Rich Cimini) ESPNNewYork.com March, 8, 2015 http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/49664/sunday-notes-can-the-jets-keep-brandonmarshall-happy A look at what's going on with the New York Jets: 1. Center of attention: I like the Brandon Marshall trade from a value/risk-reward standpoint, but there's one concern: How will he react if (when?) the ball isn't coming his way as often as it did in the past? Marshall is what the analytics folks like to call a high-volume receiver. Fact: From 2007 to 2014, he was targeted a league-high 1,241 times. The next closest receiver was Larry Fitzgerald (1,172). For the most part, Marshall has been part of pass-oriented offenses. In nine seasons, with the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears, he played on only two offenses that finished with as many (or more) rushing attempts than pass attempts. In case you didn't notice, the Jets emphasized the run under Rex Ryan, and it's hard to imagine them straying too far from that personality as long as Geno Smith is the quarterback. So what happens when Marshall doesn't see his usual 10 balls per game? He has a reputation for being a "me" guy and we know he's not afraid to call out his quarterback. Should be interesting. 2. One man's treasure ...: The Marshall trade involved two first-time general managers with two different visions for their team. The Bears' Ryan Pace was so eager to unload the talented, but controversial Marshall that he conducted a fire sale, giving him away for a fifth-round pick. The Jets' Mike Maccagnan was more than happy to bring the volatile receiver into his new program. Each team had its reasons for doing the deal. The Bears, coming off a dysfunctional season, are looking to improve their locker-room chemistry. The Jets have good chemistry, but they need playmakers. So there you have it. 3. Houston, we've got no room: Before the trade, the Jets were considering Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson, but only as a late free-agency option, perhaps post-draft. Marshall's arrival changes that. Johnson, on the trading block, is expected to be released. 4. On thin ice: This hardly qualifies as a revelation, but the Jets are expected to release Percy Harvin as soon as the Marshall trade becomes official, which won't be until 4 p.m. Tuesday at the earliest -- the start of the league year. If they didn't want to pay him $10.5 million this year to be a starting receiver, there's no reason to think they'll pay it to a No. 3. From all indications, he's not interested in a pay cut. Harvin is a terrific kickoff returner and a dangerous situational receiver, but he's not a traditional No. 1. They'll save $10.5 million in cap space by cutting him. 5. Bronco alumni: Marshall will join another ex-Bronco in the Jets' receiving corps, Eric Decker. (They never actually played together in Denver, missing each other by a year.) The popular school of thought is that Marshall's arrival will allow Decker to return to his familiar No. 2 role, where he's supposedly better suited, but the folks at numberFire.com did some number crunching and have a different viewpoint. They consider both top-25 receivers. 6. Waiting on Darrelle: The NFL, especially the New York and Boston markets, will be held hostage in the coming days by Darrelle Revis, who likely will return to the New England Patriots or sign a mega-deal with the Jets. If the Patriots fail to renegotiate with him by Tuesday, they'll probably cut him to avoid a cap5|Page Daily Clips Cont. busting, $20 million option for 2015. And then he'd be a free agent, setting the stage for a Jets-Patriots battle. One AFC executive predicted Revis will fetch a three-year, $50 million contract. He probably won't get that much from the Patriots, who don't deflate when it comes to negotiating contracts. They're hardball all the way, expecting their stars to accept less than market in exchange for the joy of being part of the Patriot Way. By contrast, the Jets, perhaps motivated by their desire to stick it to their archrival and win the offseason, probably will overpay for the almost-30 cornerback. Will Revis take Woody Johnson's millions or accept a lifetime membership to Robert Kraft's fraternity? 7. Draft plan: With Marshall in the fold, the Jets probably won't draft a receiver with the sixth pick, so scratch Amari Cooper and Kevin White. Assuming they sign a cornerback or two in free agency, the draft focus will be on a pass-rusher or maybe a quarterback, if they fall in love with Marcus Mariota. This is a deep draft for edge-rushers; you could see five in the top 10 picks. One of them, Nebraska's Randy Gregory, made some news at ESPN. While taping a "Sports Science" segment with John Brenkus, Gregory became the first defensive player to knock the head off the tackling dummy. So there's that. 8. Stat of the week: This will help explain why the Jets traded for Marshall. They haven't had a 1,000-yard receiver since Jerricho Cotchery in 2007, tied for the third-longest active drought in the league. The Oakland Raiders (Randy Moss) and Jacksonville Jaguars (Jimmy Smith) haven't had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2005. 9. Tall tales: With Marshall (6-foot-4) and Decker (6-foot-3), the Jets will have one of the bigger starting tandems in the league. In 2014, only three teams had two 6-foot-3 receivers start at least 12 games -- the Bears (Marshall and Alshon Jeffery), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson) and the Arizona Cardinals (Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd). 10. Weird coincidence: It's funny that the Marshall trade came down on the same day the Jets signed David Harris to a contract extension. They were linked in speculation in 2009, when the Jets were trying to trade for Marshall before the start of the season. In return, the Broncos wanted Harris. The Jets refused to part with their young middle linebacker. Now they're teammates. Back_to_Top NEW YORK POST ‘Most absurd thing’: Analysts bash Jets haters for Marshall rips (Brian Costello) New York Post March 7, 2015 http://nypost.com/2015/03/07/most-absurd-thing-analysts-bash-jets-haters-for-marshall-rips/ One of the immediate reactions to Friday’s Jets trade for Brandon Marshall on Twitter and talk radio was, “Great, but who is going to throw it to him?” The Jets’ seemingly eternal search for a franchise quarterback made some people wonder if acquiring a top receiver like Marshall from the Bears was even worth it. “It’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard. All it is, is typical Jets bashing,” former Jet and current ESPN analyst Damien Woody said. “That’s all it is. I’m like, ‘What do you expect the team to do? Oh, we don’t have a quarterback, so we shouldn’t try to improve our roster.’ What sense does that make? It makes absolutely no sense.” 6|Page Daily Clips Cont. The Jets expect to add a veteran quarterback in free agency to compete with Geno Smith, who has been underwhelming in his two seasons as the team’s primary starter. They also may end up taking Marcus Mariota with the No. 6 pick in the draft, if you pay attention to mock drafts. “I’m not ready to give up on Geno just yet,” Woody said. “I’m not ready to give him anything, but I’m not ready to get rid of him either.” Whoever is the quarterback will benefit from having Marshall on one side and Eric Decker on the other. The Jets instantly got better with this trade, which cannot officially go through until Tuesday. “I thought the trade was great,” said former Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason, who is a studio analyst for CBS and hosts the morning show on WFAN. “I thought it was a tremendous deal for [general manager] Mike Maccagnan to be able to bring in a player of Brandon’s stature for less money than they were paying Percy Harvin. It’s a terrific deal. “It gives the Jets a legitimate, big-time threat on the outside and a guy who will compete for the football. He’s a very, very physical player. I know he’s had some issues in different places, but the fact remains he is a supreme talent and a terrific, terrific competitor.” Esiason knows Marshall from working with him last season on Showtime’s “Inside the NFL.” This is the third time Marshall has been traded and he has had a checkered past, making some question if the Jets know what they are getting into. Coach Todd Bowles knows Marshall from when both were with the Dolphins in 2010-11 and is confident he can keep Marshall in line. Esiason said Marshall was a great co-worker. “I got to know him as the season went on last year. I really like him,” Esiason said. “He was really good on our show. He kind of stayed away from some of the minefields that were his own team and some other things in the league, but he was pretty forthcoming in discussions about Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson.” It was really good to have a point of view from an active player on a show like ours.” Marshall’s weekly appearances on TV drew criticism in Chicago, where people questioned his commitment to football because he traveled each Tuesday [the players’ day off] to New York to film the show. But Woody believes Marshall’s desire to be on TV could be a benefit for the Jets. Like Marshall, Woody began eyeing a career on TV while he was playing and said one of the reason he picked the Jets as a free agent in 2008 was everything the New York media market could do for his post-playing career. “Brandon Marshall is not stupid,” Woody said. “He has aspirations beyond football to be in the media. So, a move like this for him, I’m pretty sure in his mind he’s looking at it as an opportunity.” ‘I’m in the media capital of the world. If I go out here and ball out and just do what I’m supposed to do I’ll have opportunities.’ ” Cornerback Cary Williams and defensive end Chris Canty visited the Jets on Saturday. Both players can sign contracts immediately because their contracts already have been terminated by their prior teams. NFL teams began talking to agents on Saturday for players who can become free agents Tuesday. One potential Jets’ target in free agency came off the market Saturday when the Texans re-signed cornerback Kareem Jackson. Maccagnan knew Jackson from his time in Houston and was a player the Jets were considering if he hit free agency. Back_to_Top NEW YORK DAILY NEWS 7|Page Daily Clips Cont. Brandon Marshall just latest troubled wide receiver Jets take chance on (Seth Walder) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS March 7, 2015 http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-history-gambling-troubled-wide-receiversarticle-1.2141568 A look at recent Jet wide receivers with questionable pasts. SANTONIO HOLMES Played for Jets: 2010-2013 Off the field: Holmes (r.) was charged with domestic violence in 2006, his rookie season with the Steelers. The charges were later dropped. Holmes was charged with marijuana possession in 2008 and then was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season — when he was with the Jets — for violating the league's substance abuse policy. On the field: Holmes was critical to the Jets’ success in 2010, with 746 receiving yards, six touchdowns and two more in the postseason. However, after signing a contract extension in 2011, he never played at the same level and caused locker-room issues later that year, even being kicked out of the huddle during the season finale in Miami. PERCY HARVIN Played for the Jets: 2014-Present Off the field: Immediately after he was traded by Seattle to the Jets, word got out of troubling off-field incidents involving the receiver. Sources said that Harvin had gotten into a fight with then-teammate Golden Tate in the days leading up to the Super Bowl with Seattle and that Tate had ended up with a black eye. Sources said Harvin also had gotten into an altercation with Doug Baldwin and that the receiver refused to re-enter the fourth quarter of a game. On the field: Harvin occasionally flourished in his eight games with the Jets but it was too little, too late. He managed 29 receptions for 350 yards and one touchdown in his half season with Gang Green. He's still on the roster but expected to be released. PLAXICO BURRESS Played for the Jets: 2011 Off the field: In November of 2008, Burress, then a receiver for the Giants, accidentally shot himself while at a Manhattan nightclub. The receiver was released from the hospital the next day, but Burress served a 20-month sentence in prison for the incident. He signed with the Jets before the 2011 season. On the field: At the age of 34, Burress provided a red zone target for the Jets but wasn’t overly productive otherwise. He caught 45 passes for 612 yards and eight touchdowns in his one season wearing green and white. BRAYLON EDWARDS Played for Jets: 2009-2010, 2012 Off the field: Just days before he was traded to the Jets, Edwards was accused of punching Edward Givens, a club promoter and a friend of LeBron James. James called the alleged act, “childish.” Edwards was arrested for DWI in 2010, a charge which he eventually pled guilty to. 8|Page Daily Clips Cont. On the field: Edwards was particularly successful in 2010, when he caught 53 passes for 904 yards and seven touchdowns. He had a brief comeback with the Jets in 2012 but failed to make the squad in 2013. Back_to_Top SATURDAY’S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL American League KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Agreed to terms with RHP Chris Young on a one-year contract. Placed RHP Kris Medlen on the 60-day DL. BASKETBALL National Basketball Association LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS — Signed G Nate Robinson to a 10-day contract. NBA Development League IDAHO STAMPEDE — Acquired G Jared Cunningham from Delaware for F Joel Wright. FOOTBALL National Football League DALLAS COWBOYS — Re-signed OT Doug Free to a three-year contract. MIAMI DOLPHINS — Re-signed S Jordan Kovacs and DT A.J. Francis. HOCKEY National Hockey League COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS — Recalled LW Rene Bourque from Springfield (AHL). DETROIT RED WINGS — Recalled RW Teemu Pulkkinen from Grand Rapids (AHL). FLORIDA PANTHERS — Recalled D Jonathan Racine from San Antonio (AHL). Activated D Willie Mitchell from injured reserve. Reassigned D Jonathan Racine to San Antonio. ECHL ECHL — Suspended South Carolina’s Scott Ford, pending a review, and fined him an undisclosed amount after being assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for kneeing during a March 6 game against Gwinnett. FLORIDA EVERBLADES — Agreed to terms with G Anthony Peters. SOCCER Major League Soccer NEW YORK RED BULLS — Signed MF Dane Richards. Waived D Armando. COLLEGE NEW JERSEY CITY — Named Veronica Grant assistant softball coach and Lori McCluskey assistant softball coach/pitching coach. Back_to_Top 9|Page