Cutting Alan Faneca: Bad Move

by John B on Apr 24, 2010 7:40 AM EDT

The decision to cut Alan Faneca puts something of a damper on the Draft for me. I was very excited to land Kyle Wilson and Vladimir Ducasse. By taking Ducasse in the second round, the Jets added something they have lacked for a long time, offensive line depth. Now that is gone.

Part of the reason I liked taking Ducasse was the insurance he provided. The thing about insurance, though, is you don't want to need to use it. Now he will be pressed into a starting role at left guard. He certainly has potential to be excellent there. Why couldn't the Jets have let him get a year of NFL experience in practice and spelling Faneca before making the move, though? Why take the risk of playing him before he is ready?

What worries me the most, though, is what the Jets are losing. I understand he is in decline, but it's also no accident D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold have played their best football since he arrived in 2008. He may not be a great pass blocker, but he is very valuable in the run game. Ducasse has virtually no experience pulling, which Faneca has made into an art form.

I trust Mike and Rex. If they say Ducasse is ready, I guess I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he will be great. I just do not see the wisdom in dumping the proven commodity at this point. If the Jets are really intent on saving money, cut Vernon Gholston, have adequate depth on the line for one, and groom Ducasse to take the starting role in a year.

Poll

Do you approve of cutting Alan Faneca?

Yes

116 votes

No

628 votes

744 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Maybe this was just a money move. They could have cut him because his contract was too pricey. As they did with Brandon Moore 2 years ago, they cut him, let him test the FA waters then they resigned him. It seems like they are going the same route with Faneca.

Now if we draft Wootton or Arthur Jones today could we see the same fate for Ellis? Does anyone know what Ellis’ contract numbers are?

by chrebetsthebet on Apr 24, 2010 7:46 AM EDT reply actions

If it wasn’t a money move then I think it was a bad move. Another leader in the locker room being cut. Who better to mentor Ducasse than one of the best guards in the game?

by chrebetsthebet on Apr 24, 2010 7:47 AM EDT up reply actions

The team will not be set back without Faneca...

Money and declining play determined this move. Faneca wasn’t delivering enough bang for the buck to warrant a return this year. Although Faneca is guaranteed $5.25 million this year, what I’m hearing is that that number will come down if he signs with another team, similar to the contract they made with L. Coles’.

We lose Faneca’s intangibles and leadership, but let’s be honest it’s time for Mangold and Ferguson to step up and take more of that role.

While I feel disappointed to lose Faneca like many other fans, I also feel like the team is prepared to handle the loss and will not be set back by it.

by rick34125 on Apr 25, 2010 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Its a money move for sure

I do agree with the depth factor, as John pointed out.
Thats bothers me the most.

Curtis "my favorite" Martin - 1 of the best!

by jcgamble on Apr 24, 2010 7:50 AM EDT reply actions

If it is a money move, how quickly would they be able to resign him?

by Vaughn Parker on Apr 24, 2010 9:40 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Still doesnt make any sense to me even if it was about money. Our oline played how many games together? Why break up that chemistry?

I dont know, I just think that now that Faneca is gone, the expectations on Ducasse to perform have gone up considerably. Especially if Ducasse is starting.

by jimmy_d on Apr 24, 2010 8:29 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Got a funny feeling they’re gonna cut either Meat or Big Wood or both. Then you’ll have Brick, Nick, Slauson, Ducasse and another rookie on the O-line.

and the home of the... JETS!!!
www.ganggreennation.com
I've tried to email Revis, but it just shuts down my computer.

by dvdvil on Apr 24, 2010 8:42 AM EDT reply actions

Also, Sanchez seemed to really like Faneca. They even had this thing going on in the season where Alan shaved off his facial hair, and Mark grew the moustache.

and the home of the... JETS!!!
www.ganggreennation.com
I've tried to email Revis, but it just shuts down my computer.

by dvdvil on Apr 24, 2010 8:47 AM EDT reply actions

Man Im really disappointed

Puts a damper on the draft for me too… Seems like we want to move towards a predominantly passing offense. No one will be able to pull and blow someone up like faneca did. This team is losing its identity

Shit or get off the pot!

by Mass Jets Fan on Apr 24, 2010 8:50 AM EDT reply actions

Very good Long Term move. Unfortunately the Jets are geared towards winning a Super Bowl THIS season. If Bill Callahan says he Slauson is ready or Ducasse, then I can’t disagree with him. If its a finance move, than they are only saving 2.5 million.

For day 3, one hour away, I still say they take at least one on the DL, perhaps the punter Zoltan or even a kicker, and now an offensive lineman AGAIN or another TE who can block effectively with offensive upside

by jets47 on Apr 24, 2010 9:00 AM EDT reply actions

Heard 7.5 mil

I read on profootballtalk that it was 7.5 mil.

Also I think they really want trade value. I hope its a money move that works out great for the team. But why “say” you are gonna cut someone on Mon. Just cut them. The reason I think is more-so because they want a team to say ok I will give you a 5th or 6th or something, to make sure I get him before someone else.

by Vaughn Parker on Apr 24, 2010 9:46 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

The Jets owe him like 5 million in guaranteed money so they really only save 2.5

by jets47 on Apr 24, 2010 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions

had to be

this entire off-season has been about “how do we beat the colts”. We need the ability to throw for 350 yds if necessary. (does anyone remember JETS football prior to Chad Pennington)? We finally have a long-ball QB again. There is no longer room on the Jets for the worse pass blocking guard in football….no matter how much we like the guy….Mark needs time to throw…

by Himwithopinion on Apr 24, 2010 9:37 AM EDT reply actions

WOW

I can’t believe we dont keep Faneca at least another year and letem teach Vlad to become Vlad the Impaler. We allready have a pass blocking/runblocking TE in Ben Hartsock so i done see them going there in the later rounds. Id like to see a DL and OT and then a Kicker/Place Kicker in the 7th. What do you guys think

by Lazarus187 on Apr 24, 2010 9:38 AM EDT reply actions

You guys are too sentimental

at your job, if they find someone who is better than you and does the job at a fraction of the cost, how fast do you think you’d be fired? That is the case here. The Jets tried to trade Faneca and found no takers. Why? Because nobody wanted to pay an older declining player 7.5 million dollars. Guess what? Neither did the Jets. They feel that Ducasse can do the job cheaper, and they’ll probably also sign a cheaper veteran in case he can’t. This is a business and the Jets run it as such. As for the argument that he’s a leader in the locker room, (called the Thomas Jones argument) you might pay an extra million to a guy because he’s a leader and the others respect him, but 7.5? I don’t know the price of leadership, but it’s a lot lower than that. The players complained for five minutes when Thomas Jones was cut, and you haven’t heard a peep since. What kind of leader would Faneca be if Ducasse comes in and takes his job? He’d be just another unhappy veteran. And finally the argument that Ferguson and Mangold played better when he got here is just silly. They played better because they were young players who gained experience.
The name of the game is putting together the best offensive line to protect our QB and keep that running game elite. If replacing Faneca with Ducasse does just that, it’s a great move. I can’t believe the Jets, in the position they’re in, would compromise their chance of winning by saving money. They must really feel that Ducasse right now is better than Faneca. They wouldn’t risk Sanchez’ health otherwise.

Dumped Edgar Renteria and adopted Buster Posey. Biggest upgrade since George Jefferson moved up to a deluxe apartment on the east side!

by rxmeister on Apr 24, 2010 9:48 AM EDT reply actions

I can’t believe the Jets, in the position they’re in, would compromise their chance of winning by saving money.

Actually, it’s happened before. Remember 2007? It’s not about sentimentality. There’s a risk involved.

and the home of the... JETS!!!
www.ganggreennation.com
I've tried to email Revis, but it just shuts down my computer.

by dvdvil on Apr 24, 2010 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

I think of it this way too if Faneca is as bad as they say in pass protection, then having Ducasse in btwn Mangold, and Brick cant be any worse than Faneca there. So lets just hope Ducasse is a great run blocker at the start.

by Vaughn Parker on Apr 24, 2010 9:57 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

An article in the post said callahan spent a lot of time with ducasse prior to the draft. He clearly knows what he’s doing with coaching up the oline so hard to argue that the jets don’t know what they are doing. If ducasse pans out we have 3/5 of our line as young guys. And apparently they are high on slausen too. I think we draft another oline guy today…depth and development of oline most important facet of football.

by Ryan243 on Apr 24, 2010 10:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I can see why they did this; Faneca quietly had his worst season last year and he’s getting older. While I would have liked to see him stay one more year to mentor Ducasse, I don’t think this will kill the Jets at all.

Plus, if someone signs Faneca, we can go sign Darren Sharper.

by Jaime S on Apr 24, 2010 10:59 AM EDT reply actions