Coles signing not without risk
The Jets wanted to avoid having an uphappy team captain, so they extended Laveranues Coles' contract on Friday. Coles deserves the money more than say, Kris Jenkins, but the deal is not without risk.
Coles is only turning 31 this year, but his body is older. Year-after-year of playing through injury caught up with him in 2007, when he essentially missed five games and gained his fewest yards since his rookie season. As an undersized receiver (193 pounds) who relies on toughness and physical play, there has to be some concern about an early decline.
Coles was already going to be well paid: $11 million the next two seasons. It's uncertain how much "new money" Coles is getting, but this is one case where getting mouthy to the press definitely paid off. He was hardly due a pay hike.
For fantasy leaguers, Coles' value will depend largely on the quality of quarterback play in New York. Unless Kellen Clemens develops rapidly, Coles looks more like a rock solid WR3 than a WR2 with upside. His younger teammate Jerricho Cotchery remains a safer bet, and should come at a discount price.
Update:So it looks like the Post was wrong, and Coles just settled to get his next two years guaranteed. Which makes most of this post worthless. Great.
Comments
Guarenteeing the next two years is a best case scenario for Coles and the Jets.
If the Jets were to ignore him like they did Kendall, the locker room would have spiraled out of control. Finally Tangini did something right with an unhappy veteran.
He's the heart and soul of the Jets.
Posted by: endzoneview.blogspot | March 28, 2008 12:56 PM