FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Shaun Ellis is uncertain about his future with the New York Jets after asking for and being denied a contract extension. The 32-year-old defensive end, the Jets' longest-tenured player, tells The Associated Press on Thursday he's unsure if he'll even be with the team when the season begins in four months. Ellis, entering the last year of his current deal, said the team cited its policy of having its older veterans play out their deals. After seeing players such as Alan Faneca and Thomas Jones let go this offseason, Ellis wonders if he might be next. He made his second Pro Bowl appearance last season and ranks third on the team's career list with 68 sacks. Ellis said the idea of not being part of the team "kind of hurts." http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5187256
Sad but I can see why... with his knee not in very good shape and after 10 years in trenches I can see why they want him to play out his deal.
He'll be 33, and if he asks for a big contract he certainly won't get it. I really hate to say this about Ellis, but he might hit the wall at 33 and it would be smart to let him go... but next draft they need to address the DL position
I think you are referring to next year.... I don't think so, and I definitely hope not Ellis is definitely a favorite among many Jet fans, but lets see how he plays this year and before we are positive it's smart to bring him back. I think he is the type of guy that would be give a hometown discount if he proves to still be productive. Compared to the thread size and dissatisfaction this board showed for Leon Washington getting pushed out of town, it should be 10 fold for Ellis.
Shaun Ellis is a pretty good 3-4 DE. He was a pretty good 4-3 DE also. He's the only player on the Jets defense who was part of the 2004 crew that did so well from the 4-3 and also part of last season's great defense. If he declines there's nothing much the Jets can do but look for a replacement. If they let him go without the replacement before he declines they'll regret it. 3-4 DE's don't grow on trees, and the NFL has a lot of teams looking for them right now. The one really valid point about not giving him an extension right now is that 3-4 DE's tend to decline earlier than other defensive linemen. They take a lot of double-teams in the run game and that wears them down. Cutting Ellis would be very risky, not extending him is much less so.
If we cut him, it will be a terrible move. Not just for our defensive line but for future relations with our players. But I'd be shocked if we ended up going there.
We need to get younger at DL. I love Ellis but keeping around a 33 year old player without any idea of how he will perform at that age isn't really the smartest investment the team can make.
I have a bad feeling about the way things are going. Sounds to me like the whole PSL fiasco is making Woody pretty damn cheap.
With a lack of depth this year I think Ellis is safe. However, with his age and the fact that the Jets have to sign some really good young players, Ellis is a goner next year, for sure.
ellis will be here this season, no reason to worry there. Its his future past this season thats in jeopardy. In the next offseason, I think that if his play does not decline terribly this season, we should offer him a cheapish deal in the 1.5 range, then let him test the market, if he can get better, so be it, if not then bring ellis back if he wants to return
Per Rotoworld: If you're going to take the bolded line above for granted, Ellis is going to be here this season.
I don't see the value in moving ellis with no one on the roster to play his spot... Unless of course he is traded for an up and coming 3-4 DE... Which of course would be retarded of whatever team would be willing to trade us an up and coming 3-4 end for an aging good-great vet on his next to last legs...
Not surprised at all, he has looked better at times but he is 33 and has sort of an underachiever. But I never disliked the guy and I hope the Jets are classy about this and not throw him on a bad note
I have a feeling Ropati Pitoitua and Rodrique Wright will get a lot of playing time this year. If Wright is finally healthy, he's got a chance to make an impact on this defense. Before he injured his shoulder, he was considered a first round talent. UDFA Mick Williams out of Pitt is listed as a defensive end. I think he's got a shot to make this team.
We definitely need him here right now, he was pretty important last year and we have absolutely no depth at DE.
