For the second straight year, the Jets will begin the off-season with a disgruntled veteran player on their squad.
Laveranues Coles claims that the Jets have lied to him regarding a
long-term deal and have "strung him along" the past two seasons. LC,
who has two years left on his current contract, wants a lengthier deal
and has said that he would not report to the team's off-season workout
program set to begin in March. Sound familiar? It should.
Last season, Pete Kendall and the Jets were embroiled in an ugly
contract dispute that ended with Gang Green shipping the left guard to
the Washington Redskins for a mid-round draft pick. Kendall claimed that the Jets had promised him a raise
after he agreed to take a pay cut in 2006. New York didn't see it that
way and refused to give Kendall the extra cash.
On the one hand I understood the Jets' stance on Kendall. Why set a precedent (a Jets precedent, anyway) and give an aging offensive lineman more money? But on the other, if a promise was made then it should have been honored (but maybe I'm just being naive). In any event, the offensive line never recovered after Kendall's departure.
The Coles situation also has two sides. Here's what No. 87 told The Star-Ledger:
"I don't want to seem like another greedy player, but I feel I've earned the
right to know where I'll finish my career. I've
done everything this organization has asked me to do and I'm asking them to do
this for me. I think I've earned that much. I've put it all on the line every
Sunday for this organization."
The Jets countered by offering to guarantee the final two years of Coles' contract ($5 million in 2008 and $6 million in 2009). If I were Coles, I'd make sure I get that offer in writing.
Coles is coming off his worst season (production-wise) since his rookie year in 2000, but he more than made up for it in the way he helped keep the team together during a 4-12 campaign. LC also battled through injuries that limited his season to just 12 games and showed heart by trying to play even when the Jets had nothing to play for. Yet when Coles approached the team about an extension, he was told that his production was down. That's the typical response from organizations that want it both ways. Teams praise a guy for being tough and unselfish and then punish him when his numbers suffer because of it.
The Jets should do everything in their power to make Coles happy. Not only would Gang Green benefit on and off the field, but it would also send a signal to other players out there (and in house) that the New York Jets take care of their guys. How would it look to big-time free agents out there if the Jets constantly jettison respected players? Players that spit blood and make sacrifices for the good of the team?
Time will tell if the Jets come to their senses and make the right decision.
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