http://www.nypost.com/seven/04232008/sports/jets/baker_flies_jet_coop_107655.htm BAKER FLIES JET COOP By MARK CANNIZZARO April 23, 2008 -- JetsNew York Jets tight end Chris Baker, disgruntled with his contract status and management's apparent refusal to renegotiate, has left the team's offseason strength and conditioning program in protest, The Post has learned. Baker, who's fresh off the best season of his career, having caught 41 passes and become more of a focal point in the Jets' offense, has two years remaining on his $6.6 million contract and he's clearly underpaid by NFL starting tight end standards. Without attempting to make any significant waves, the 28-year-old Baker spoke after the 2007 season about his desire to sign a new deal that would pay him more fairly and keep him in his native New York for the rest of his career. "Hopefully, we'll get something done," Baker said the day after the season. Since then, he has watched as the Jets signed a new roster full of expensive free agents to contracts in excess of $140 million. That group includes backup tight end Bubba Franks, who was given $1.65 million for the 2008 season - more than Baker's base salary this year. The Jets also recently appeased WR Laveranues ColesLaveranues Coles , who initially boycotted the offseason program until the Jets agreed to make the final two years of his contract guaranteed for the remaining $11 million. And even more recently, they ripped up the contract of S Kerry RhodesKerry Rhodes with one year remaining and renegotiated it into a new five-year, $33.5 million deal with $20 million in guarantees.
Can't say I disagree with Baker here, though I have issues with people who sign a contract and cry about it later as a rule. But in the NFL when your underpaid and contribute and they sign a backup for more than you make I think I'd walk away too for abit.
This comes because the Jets negotiated with Coles. That's exactly why they don't ever want to do that. Franks may just become the starter and they draft a late round TE or pick one up off waivers in the summer.
I like Baker and he's a good player but a career high 409 yds shouldn't get him a new deal. He had his chance at FA 2 years ago and no one wanted him, he signed a deal 2 years ago and he doesn't have leverage to get a new deal. All he is doing is becoming a distraction. Baker is a good blocker and an important guy but he's not Coles or Kendall. he became a bigger part of the O last year, if he takes another step forward then next year they can look at reworking his deal w/ only 1 year remaining but not now w/ 2 years left and coming off 409 yds receiving.
for some reason I was thinking he had more yardage than that last season, guess I am getting old...the mind has gone.
I fairly sure they don't love Baker and know he is the voice behind negative unnamed player comments in the the papers. He has a contract and isn't good enough to be renegotiated. The END.
I understand Baker being upset b/c he doesn't get the ball thrown to him, but I would not renegotiate. We should draft a TE in the middle rounds.
the guy can't show what he can do for an offense if he is'nt given many opportunities. i've always felt he was the most under used, and under rated player on the team. with so much trouble punching the ball in, in the red zone, you'd think he would have been used a lot more. bad move on the CS'S part, not getting this guy more involved, and the FO, for not paying him the $ he deserves.
I like Baker, and think he is worth a decent Renegotiation, Come on we signed his backup for more money than he is going to make this year, that is why he is pissed. Now that being said I would re-sign him so he makes more than Franks, but not much more...
Baker makes 1.65 mil a year and that's what Franks signed for. Baker had a chance 2 years ago to get more money as a FA but he couldn't and re-signed here for 4 years. I guess the article below was wrong? http://nyj.scout.com/2/710650.html
I believe Baker should get a new deal. He's shown to be a pretty good TE when utilized. He's no Antonio Gates, but he's better than many TEs out there.
He just signed a new deal 2 years ago, what has he done to earn a new one when he has 2 years remaining on his current one? I like Baker and think he should be used more in the offense but he was a FA 2 years ago, he had his chance to leave. There's no way I give him a new deal w/ 2 years left.
The only difference is Coles has been a big time player for us while Baker has not been. What Coles asked for and got should have nothing to do w/ Baker. Again, I'm not trying to bash Baker as I believe he's a good player and he has the ability to be alot better BUT whether it's him or the way he's been used he hasn't put up the #s to justify tearing up the final 2 years of his deal.
It just goes to show that when you re-do a deal with years remaining for one player, the other players will certainly notice. You hate to ever be forced into doing so, as it sets a precedent you don't want to have to follow as time goes on. Who knows how this will turn out? We can at least hope that we'll find our very own Kevin Boss-type player in the later rounds.
No I am not saying that article is wrong, but the article in the original post contradicts that, so based on that, I made my previous statement. So really I trust scout.com as opposed to the original article. But the point while not as effective, still is the same. Baker(the starter) makes the exactly same amount as Franks(the backup). Think of it this way, If you are the President of your company, how would you feel if after all of your hard work for 5+ years climbing your way up, then the company hires a janitor that makes as much money as you. You would likely be pissed, thus taking this situation into this context, Baker is still making 1.65 MILLION Dollars to play 16 games. I would like to see him happy, i think him being around helps us much more than him leaving, thus he is worth a few extra dollars... That being said, he just got some kind of a re-work in November/December (from previous thread) that was supposed to keep him happy until his deal is up. So i think if he wants a new deal Shut Up for a year, and play your ass off, and next year your will get your dues Baker...
Baker had his chance at FA 2 years ago, he couldn't get more money or else he would have left. It's a tough break that Franks will make as much but I'd also like to know the guaranteed money given to each. That is the more important # and I'd guess Baker got more plus Baket got a 4 year deal compared to a 1 year deal for Franks.
Baker is an above average pass-catcher, and a sub-par blocking TE. Why exactly does he deserve more than he got the last time he negotiated a contract? I like the guy, but he is vastly overrated by people on this site.
If they actually threw the ball to Baker more, whatever he would get even in a new deal this off-season would seem like a bargain.
