Chris Baker Thread: All information regarding his whining HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Chris Baker isn't happy with his contract, and he made sure everyone knew it on the first day of the New York Jets' mandatory minicamp Thursday. Imagine if Coach Mangini were the third-highest paid coach on the staff. You think he would be happy about that? You think he would allow that to happen? I mean, that's how I feel. Jets tight end Chris Baker "If the situation was better, of course I'd want to be here," Baker said, "but the way things are right now, I really don't have the desire to be out here right now at this moment." Baker, who has asked to be traded, is disgruntled because he insists the Jets told his former agent, Cliff Brady, before last season that they would look into redoing his contract. His deal currently has two years remaining and pays him about $1.65 million a year. "It's just being fairly compensated," he said during a 16-minute meeting with the media. "That's what it's all about. I've been here a long time and always done what they've asked me to do, and then they indicated to me that I'd be taken care of and that hasn't happened." The Jets have refused to budge on Baker's contract, despite the tight end registering career highs with 41 catches and 409 yards last season. "This is my seventh year," he said. "They know what I can do by now. It's not like I just got here. I've been here for seven years. It was promised to me and it hasn't happened, so what else am I going to do?" General manager Mike Tannenbaum thinks part of the issue is a misunderstanding on Baker's part. "I would just say that, based on my understanding of what Chris said this morning and the conversations I had with Chris' agent last year, Cliff Brady, I was part of those conversations and I know what was said," Tannenbaum said. "I think Chris and I have a difference of opinion about those conversations." Baker, who said he asked for a trade before the draft, went to his agent before last season and expressed his dissatisfaction with his current deal. He said Brady spoke to Tannenbaum, who said the team would discuss the tight end's contract after the season. "If he doesn't feel I'm playing up to his expectations or whatever, he can trade me or release me," Baker said. When told of Baker's comments, coach Eric Mangini tried to downplay the situation. "It's part of the business," Mangini said. "It's nothing that's unique to us. It's nothing that hasn't been experienced by pretty much everybody in the room, whether it's players or coaches. It's the business side. That's what it is, and everybody understands that." Baker's current contract would rank him in the bottom half among NFL starting tight ends and possibly third on the team at the position behind Bubba Franks and first-rounder Dustin Keller. "I've got a question for you: Imagine if Coach Mangini were the third-highest paid coach on the staff," Baker said. "You think he would be happy about that? You think he would allow that to happen? I mean, that's how I feel." During the late practice, Baker was on one knee and staring out at the practice field for a few moments -- away from his teammates -- before owner Woody Johnson struck up a short conversation. The situation has taken on an eery resemblance to what occurred last summer with guard Pete Kendall. "I don't find it a coincidence," Baker said. "I mean, obviously, that's the practice here. If you don't get something in writing, then you might as well take it with a grain of salt because, obviously, those things aren't held up." Kendall sulked throughout minicamp and training camp last year, repeatedly expressing his desire to be traded if his contract wouldn't be redone. Kendall was eventually dealt to Washington before the season. "His situation was ridiculous and it basically tanked our season last year," he said. "His situation was not a good one and last year wasn't a pretty situation, and hopefully I don't get put into that same situation. Like I've said, I've been here and I want to be here, but at the same time, it looks like we're going down the same road." Baker has been a standup guy in the locker room throughout his career, regularly making himself available to the media after practice and games. He has also been a team player, something he mentioned repeatedly Thursday. "I've asked for the ball quietly for the last five or six years," he said. "That hasn't happened, and that has nothing to do with me. Last year, they asked me to stay in for blocking and I did that, so as far as that goes, I mean, it is what it is. ... I try to be an all-around tight end and I do what they ask me to do." Baker had a few difficult receptions in the late practice, showing off the hands that have made him a reliable receiver -- when he's been asked to catch passes. He isn't sure what he'll do when training camp starts but doesn't see himself as a member of the Jets when the season opens. "If things stay the way they are, then, no," Baker said. "I don't see how that's possible. I don't want that to be the case, but I don't see how that is possible." http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3428230
well i agree about not acquiescing to Baker's demands; but guys like Johnson, Winslow, and Taylor are not guys you simply let go, whereas, Baker can be expendable (though i'd rather keep him). the aforementioned 3, you'd want to get value for because you can get value for them because they've produced, and they're superstars. Baker hasn't accomplished anything close to them, and therefore, it would be expected to receive less value for him. but like i said, given the right situation (good OL, good QB, running game, other receiving threats) Baker can flourish and put up numbers because he has the skill to do so.
[QOUTE] circle one [/QOUTE] I pick Jason Taylor! all the rest are straight, he is a whiny little gay bitch who dances on tv in tights.
haha that was my next thought: Taylor because none of the rest dance on a crappy reality show. ya know, this game could be kind of fun, using other sets of players. any ideas?
These are the points I thought were worth mentioning before I started drinking: 1) He started this BS before his "career high" season when he was represented by an agent who wasn't extremely hostile to this team. 2) "They know what I can do." Exactly, that's why they asked him to stay in and block more instead of giving him more looks in the passing game. The guy just can't get seperation on plays! That's why the CS wants to make him part of the o'line! 3) When Tanny was talking to the guy/guys who told Ken-Doll to hold that media sh*t-storm he probably realized what Baker was: a good blocking TE that had good hands but couldn't get seperation and ranked average among the league's TE's. That's why he has the contract he signed. Here's the rest: 4) As many on this board have said, it's not the same as the Kendall situation because we actually have depth at that position! 5) He really shouldn't be trying to get any sympathy for the upfront money. Try and convince me that he would have turned that down in any situation. He did the team a favor by accepting more cash now? BS! His contract wasn't even worth that much. That's the Jets doing him a favor by rewarding him around $6K for a decent...DECENT...job. If the FO wanted to save some real money they would have asked Ellis or Pennington to take the up-front hit.
There is really no mystery here. A precedent has been set. If you complain long and hard about your contract to the media, disparage management, knock the coach, and make a royal pain in the ass of yourself, you will force the team to trade you. That is all that is going on here. Baker was not "promised" anything, nor did he earn a raise. Meanwhile, the Jets brought in two tight ends to replace him. If Baker doesn't get his money now, he will never get it because he is about to become a back up and is expendable. So he and his agent are pulling a /Keyshawn/TO/Kendall. This should be crystal clear to all Jet fans. And any Jet fan who thinks that the team should give in and pay him is out of his or her mind. The Jets should tell him to shut up and play or he will be suspended without pay.
Awe Poor baby! Try playing lights out for the next 2 years. If Franks doesnt work out , then you have a chance at a long term deal.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha ... Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha --------------------------------------------------------------- So Chris Baker is the only TE in the entire NFL, right? The only way Chris Baker gets to the Pro Bowl is to have a one-man race, and no other way.
I don't know - I'd pay him. Let me see... this is what I will do: I'll slap Special Team tag on him, and make him a backup long snapper. (1) Then he will practice holding the ball for kicks (2) and finally he will learn how to punt. Keep doing that for a year. No receiving training or blocking training. Just snap, hold and punt. He's going to be real useful at the end of the year, right? Have fun with your fantastic career, Chris.
Baker deserves a new contract, he's a good player. He's underrated and underutilized. He's an excellent blocker and he's got good hands and route running.. with the moves we made this offseason, he could be very useful and he might not even have to babysit the qb now that we've got an O-Line. You can all rag on him for being the 3rd best TE on the team, but that doesn't make him a bad player. On top of that, if Keller isn't all he's cracked up to be, we WILL need him. so LEAVE CHRIS ALONE! Seriously though, I vote new contract for Baker.
It is stupid to treat your players like this... I don't care how different the two are, something is not right. You don't have 3-4 players bitch this much in two years, unless you are not coming through with the established agreement between both parties. Baker has been the best TE we have had in awhile, and his hands are probably the best on the team. He does everything else well, losing him would be a mistake.
^ How about if you don't get it in writing it's your own god damn fault. If this FO is making all these empty promises, what kind of fuck stain doesn't get the promise in writing? durr. Worse yet, these guys pay agents who are supposed to be pros with these deals. Why aren't the agents getting shit in writing? Yeah, something stinks alright. Baker also has the same agent as Kendall now - WEIRD. http://www.nypost.com/seven/04272008/sports/jets/in_a_tight_spot_108406.htm Sound to me like this particular agent is trying to take advantage of an inexperienced FO. He was successful last season with Ken Doll, hopefully they stick it right up his ass this season. Fuck this guy right in the arse. I cannot believe any Jets fan would be on his side. They should not trade or cut Baker or this scumbag agent will be showing up every season trying to get a player out of town that doesn't want to put in the work. Let him bitch all he wants - do not give in!
Trusting this organization to follow through on things should be a showing of good faith, and loyalty. Doing what is asked of you without asking any questions, and doing whatever is needed to be done for your team is showing just that. Following suit as a FO should be a given. I just don't get how you can be so sure that CB's agent is the one "trying" to take advantage of this inexperienced FO because I personally think it is the other way around. I think the inexperienced FO (who have no credibility towards their players) are the one's who are trying to sneek a bunch of shady verbal promises towards their already trusting players. I just think CB has every right to be pissed off. If you put yourself in his shoes, with his exact understanding of what truly is being said, I think most of you would be taking the exact same approach. Trust and respect are huge with me in life, both of which seem to be neglected, so I think this is why I am so taken by the situation. So... 1) Having two other TE's come in after all your good faith in this team, only to be seemingly sold out, is shady. His point with Mangini is valid. You know damn well that would never stand, so why should Baker be the exception? He hasn't done anything wrong, except finally speaking out on being mistreated, which is not all that crazy in my eyes. 2) I think CB is worth some money, and I don't believe he is as terrible as everyone is making him out to be, skillwise. I highly doubt he is asking this team to break the bank over him, he is just looking to be rewarded for being a team player. A good football player, who has shown his loyalty to this team, up until this point and someone who has contributed where this FO has required him to do so. 3) Having no sense of resolve and extending the issue like some mental game, is surely only increasing his frustration, and they have to know it is. 4) Making "empty promises" in good faith, from both parties perspective, should be carried out, regardless if it is in writing or not. Especially when that player fulfill's his obligation up until this point for the team. 5) This is a job, so why should he be getting so much crap when he has only been productive for this team. He is not a Kellen Winslow Jr. or Gates caliber palyer, I agree, but he is still very productive. He is a veteran who has done everything that was asked from him, including improving his numbers each year, even though he was asked to block the majority of the time because of our crap OL, yet he gets demoted? Where is the logic in that? My points may not be very valid to a lot of you because I know the mutual consensus on these boards are the complete opposite of mine, my points might just be awful. I just have a hard time swallowing shady business, and it is very frustrating to me. I put myself in that situation and I feel like I would react in the exact same fashion everytime. I have very strong feelings in respect and trust related issues, and this is no exception. These are only my opinions, everyone has them, this is just the way I feel.
^Good faith and doing what is asked of you doesn't mean a thing in this league. If that were so than Troy Brown would be wearing a Patriots jersey this season instead of waiting for his 1 day contract so he can retire on the ony team he's ever played for. If this agent was worth half his weight than he would have a promise in writing instead of going on what Baker's previous agent said as canon. The only thing that smells fishy is the fact that this agent's previous Jets clients created a media sh*t storm and held out of the same offseason, and now this assclown is trying to do the same, at least with respect to the former. Trade or cut this asshole now. I really don't care what he did for us last year, he's 29 and is only getting slower which was his original knock. As far as I'm concerned, we're better off without the distraction.
