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 The labor negotiations between the NFL, the owners and the NFLPA are on track and finally building steam and headed in the right direction. The 2011 free agency period is nearly upon us.
And when it comes, the New York Jets could be derailed by several key departures. None of this would be a big deal in any ordinary offseason, but as we all know, the 2011 lockout has provided anything but an ordinary offseason. With training camps less than a month away, that could really spill over into the free-agent signing period. When it comes to what the free agency period will look like, NFL.com senior writer Steve Wyche was very candid in his comments. "Some team officials and agents continue to project that a deal will be consummated by mid-July and that teams will be able to sign, cut and trade players within a week of a deal being finalized. The immediate frenzy to sign free agents could be like nothing we've seen because of the condensed period teams will have to shape their rosters before training camps are scheduled to open in late July or early August."
These aren't your run-of-the-mill washed-up free agents, either. Almost all of them are guys who had major contributions to the team in their time as a Jet. Antonio Cromartie gave the Jets a physical, athletic cornerback to put opposite Darrelle Revis. Without Cromartie, rookie cornerback Kyle Wilson may have been the starter on the other side. He underwhelmed in playing time earned while Revis was injured. Wilson made strides toward the end of last year, but doesn't appear ready to assume a starting role just yet. Then there's Brad Smith, the pistol formation wizard whose speed and athleticism would make him an asset to any team. Someone will be intrigued by his versatility and will make him an attractive offer, despite the neutered 2011 version of the NFL kicking game. It's hard to believe Shaun Ellis could be on his way out, after 11 years of ups and downs with the Jets. He has become less productive in terms of sacks, as his role has changed from a 4-3 rush end to a 3-4 two-gap end. Ellis has changed for the better, too, and has become a veteran leader for the defense. A team in contention for a Super Bowl that needs a boost to their pass rush could cough up a good chunk of change for Ellis. Saving the best for last, it must be hard to swallow that both Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes could potentially walk away in free agency. The Edwards-Holmes train didn't stay in the station very long, but it appears that the two engines that make this offense go could be headed to separate destinations. Mark Sanchez is in a key stage of development in his career and can still use all the help he can get. Edwards and Holmes are perfect for his inaccurate throws, because they can do a lot of damage on short throws by creating yards after the catch. Edwards ranked in the top 25 in average yards after catch with 5.66 per catch, and Santonio has always been known as one of the best in the league after the catch. So what does this all mean for the Jets? The Collective Bargaining Agreement is nearly settled, and the free-agent market will be open sooner than later. However, there is very little time before the start of training camp, so it could be sort of a "shotgun wedding" where teams aren't given very much time to negotiate with their own FAs before it officially begins. With so many big-name free agents, the Jets are at a sizable disadvantage because it could be nearly impossible for them to keep all their free agents.
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