Before the signing of Jay Feely becomes official, the Jets are going to have to make a roster move. The team needs a kicker on Sunday so the signing will definitely go through. The question is who the casualty will be. Here are some of the candidates.
Erik Ainge: No team needs four quarterbacks (except maybe the 2005 Jets). Ainge might have to go to free up Feely's roster spot. He may have all of the physical tools, but he was a major disappointment in training camp and the preseason. Fellow rookie Brett Ratliff thoroughly outplayed him. He could easily be heading out of town.
Brad Smith: Smith is a nice gadget player and a special teams standout, but those things are luxuries. The former college quarterback's development as a wide receiver has been somewhere between slow and non-existent. His routes are not crisp, and he drops way too many passes. At this point of his career, he should at least be playing at the level of an adequate slot receiver. If it has not happened by now, it may never. With six receivers active and David Clowney due back in a little over a month, Smith probably should be on the chopping block.
Marcus Henry: The rookie wideout from Kansas is still a work in progress. His only real asset right now is his height in goal line situations. Players like this come a dime a dozen, and the current roster jogjam at wide receiver cannot help his chances.
Ahmad Carroll: The potential return of Justin Miller puts the number five cornerback on the roster in a precarious spot. Making it even more precarious is the reality that David Barrett can move back to corner from safety if the team needed him to do so.
Mike Nugent: The Jets did invest a second round pick in Nuge a few years back, but that was another regime. This regime is not pleased with its kicker after a shaky 2007 and a shanked chip shot that cost the Jets a preseason game. It would not be the most stunning news in the world to see Gang Green bring in Feely for the long haul. Even so, this probably would not be the right move. Nugent is two years removed from a near flawless season. At his best, he is better than Feely. In a big spot, Nugent is the more trustworthy of the two, although that may say more about Feely's ability in pressure spots.
Prediction: Henry gets released and signed to the practice squad. He needs time to develop and is the least likely guy on the list to make any sort of impact on the field this year.