So both Maclins are better than Harvin? The problem with Cobb, Maclin, DT, and Bryant is that there is a good chance they all get resigned before free agency starts. I might just give Harvin a year to see what he could do with a new coaching staff before throwing guaranteed money at Crabtree. Even if we did want to get Crabtree there are 31 other teams that might want him too.
He has run up the middle. You're making it like he has to walk on water, he can handle a hand off just fine. Can he do it 10-15 plays a game? That is where it becomes iffy, but he doesn't have to do that. By that same token, he has to be paid attention to where ever he is lined up, which burdens the defense to loosen their game on something else. As for running routes, the guy caught 13 balls against the Chiefs, and 120+ against Minnesota. Those are staggering numbers for any WR on that team with the QB situation. Keep in mind he barely knew the playbook. Spiller is a nice back, but he's no guarantee (not even a guarantee to sign). I'm also over Ivory getting his carries cut into. Every time Ivory was lighting it up, he was yanked for some other jabroni to "get his carries". The window on Ivory will be closing sooner than we know it, and I'd really enjoy seeing him get 70% of the carries this season. Sadly, he will need to learn to catch better for that to happen, and I just don't see it under Gailey.
You need to look a little deeper and realize Harvin had Christian Ponder and washed up Donovan McNabb throwing to him. His first year in the league was his only year with Favre playing at an elite level and that was accompanied by Sydney Rice as a 1300+ yard receiver and was on a roster with 4 players of 500+ yards receiving and 6 players of 350+ yards. They're all going to command around the same for Harvin but all of those receivers would need to be our big free agent acquisition which would command a high signing bonus that would require a higher cap hit for this season. Not to mention we can afford to pay Percy this year and cut him literally whenever we want without repercussions. Do we want to delegate our time, energy and money to trying to sign one of the big 5 free agents everyone's going to be all over and throwing dollars left and right at? I'm thinking with Gailey as the coordinator the answer is going to be no. He likes "gadget" players like Harvin.
+ Maybe I'm underestimating Harvin. I know that he's fast, and I saw him play a lot in college, and know what a weapon he was then. It's just that with the exception of that one year with Favre, he hasn't done much in the NFL, and for $10 million the Jets could sign the top FA CB or two really good FAs. I just don't see him touching the ball that many times per game to justify his contract. I don't like re-negotiating contracts, either. They always bite the Jets in the butt. They get stuck with an injured/unproductive player that they can't cut.
If I'm not mistaken, Crabtree has had his problems with injuries and not being able to stay on the field as well.
We'll see! I feel you on the injury history thing, that scares me the most. His return game is also insanely good. I kind of doubted him making a huge difference until I saw him peel off some big returns. Also, extremely beneficial!
Before re-signing any players, the new regime needs to get a good feel for which players are buying into what they are building. They won't want to keep any players around who aren't 100% IN, regardless of how good they are. Their top priority is to build a winning culture.
