The Baker Debate

by John B on Jul 16, 2009 2:51 PM EDT

Our friends at The Jets Blog think the team made the right move dropping Chris Baker.

In the wake of the Jets’ recent personnel moves, a common question that seems to be troubling Jets fans is this: Why did they cut Chris Baker in the first place? Some have even gone so far as to criticize the front office for not retaining his services.

However, I am not here to opine on that same thought. Instead, I will be demonstrating why the Jets not only did the right thing in releasing Baker, but that it was, in fact, kind of a no-brainer.

Bent goes on to make a number of good points about the financial implications, his productivity, and his role. I agree with a lot of what he has to say. I don't think the issue is with cutting Baker. It's more what the team did afterwards to address the position, namely nothing. Most fans would be fine with a less distinguished but cheaper option provided such an option could block well and at least keep defenses honest as a pass catching threat. Now that Bubba Franks is gone, nobody is proven to fill that role. In a vacuum, I think there's argument Baker would be too expensive as a backup. Given what's taken place, a lot of fans are stuck wondering why the team didn't just keep Chris if there was no Plan B.

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I don’t see a problem. The Jets have never really been a team to throw a lot to the TE. Even Baker’s best seasons he only had 409 yards receiving and 3 TDs. The Jets have almost always used the TE position as a blocking back, and I think the rookies can handle blocking at least.

by Mark D on Jul 16, 2009 3:30 PM EDT reply actions

What makes you think the current TE's can handle blocking?

I have yet to hear a single positive thing about any of our TE’s and their blocking abilities….so what makes you so confident??

Xander is a staff writer for AFCBeast.com - The Best Damn Jets Fan Site Ever!

by Xander Diaz on Jul 16, 2009 4:22 PM EDT reply actions

Just seems to be a run of good luck for the Jets with No Name TEs producing or at the very least being dependable enough to block.

The last time I remember the Jets having a really Spectacular TE would have to be Johnny Mitchell. And it seems like whenever the Jets draft a first round TE he ends up being nothing but a blocker anyway, might as well waste a later pick.

It just seems to me that the Jets have always been a team which relies on the TE to block. Going through all the TEs on the Jets roster, they are all 6’4 or over and at least 250 Pounds. One of them has to be able to block halfway decently.

by Mark D on Jul 17, 2009 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions

You can only guess Kareem Brown is impressing them to make the move of cutting Bubba Franks.

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by John B on Jul 16, 2009 9:44 PM EDT reply actions

Baker debate

Bent for the most part supports decisions of management and uses stats as does his favorite pet blogger Sackdance 99 to twist the truth. He is also very pleased with the front office decision to get rid of Coles.

So now we have no Baker and no Coles…Bent somehow only includes baker’s stats for last season and no the previous 2 seasons. Hey Bent…you can’t catch the ball if nobody throws it to you….got a statistic for that?

Baker has soft hands, can block and was good in the red zone till Favre showed up and Shottenhimer changed the entire game plan to suit him.

So to save a few bucks we lost Coles and Baker without locating any replacement for them before getting rid of them…smooth move Bent. Lets see here we lost 2 good offensive weapons over chump change…had no replacements, never drafted a WR to replace Coles….but those that run the Jets Blog think we did well to get rid of both Coles and Baker.

I fail to see the wisdom of either move.

by originaljetchick on Jul 17, 2009 12:54 AM EDT reply actions

Your only as good as your last season. Just look at Farve.

by Mark D on Jul 17, 2009 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Even better, Shockey.

by Mark D on Jul 17, 2009 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Whew!

Scalding! I do agree though. Seemingly not having a plan B is nerve-wracking.

Xander is a staff writer for AFCBeast.com - The Best Damn Jets Fan Site Ever!

by Xander Diaz on Jul 17, 2009 6:07 AM EDT up reply actions

I think Coles was a cap cutting move. It gave the team plenty of room to make the moves it wanted (Scott, Leonhard, Sheppard, Sanchez). Plus you have to remember that we were going into the last year of his contract. Coles had been pretty vocal about wanting a new deal, but considering his age and relative drop in production, that probably wasn’t going to happen. I see both sides on that one.

I liked Baker. Originally I thought dropping him was a good move, but the Jets have been looking for a guy just like him to be Keller’s backup. I tend to agree that’s one decision I wish the team had back.

Editor-In-Chief
Gang Green Nation
SB Nation's Jets Blog
http://www.ganggreennation.com

by John B on Jul 18, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions