Charleston, part 3

Mom wanted to go to a black church downtown. We got dressed nicely, drove to the crowded downtown, and... it was closed

Still a lot of churches meeting online only

We went to the First Presbyterian Church instead and it felt so much like the one I went to growing up in New Jersey

Mom had a 1pm timeshare meeting at a Hilton hotel. 

With a little bit of time for lunch, we went to North Charleston to the Tattooed Moose, which was featured on DDD. I mean I didn't know when my next chance would be to try a duck confit club sandwich.

We sat at the bar, it was mostly the brunch crowd, but wow, it was really packed. It's good thing they had a really long bar that holds about 50 people. The garage door was open so we needed our jackets to keep us warm.

So the duck club was really good. The sweetness of the Hawaiian bread really made this the perfect bread for this kind of sandwich. The duck confit was tender, though I thought it got a little overwhelmed with all the other ingredients. The bacon had a nice smokiness, and the garlic aioli was nice and strong. The smoked cheddar, lettuce, and tomato rounded it off very nicely. It's a little messy, but it was fun.

Mom got the Thanksgiving sandwich and this is an underrated gem. That turkey tasted roasted, it was not generic in the slightest. Cornbread stuffing, a little cranberry, crispy onions with gravy on the side. Thankfully, they held the mayo.

And the duck fat fries, well they're duck fat fries. What else needs to be said, other than that you've never had french fries until you've had them cooked in duck fat.

One of the funkiest atmospheres I've ever seen in a restaurant, this is a great place to go.

While mom went to get meeting, I explored King St, one of the 3 main streets of the city. The shopping is top level, akin to Fifth Avenue in New York or Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. 

Heros Donuts

Sugar n spice, one of the best I have ever had. 

Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, ground coffee in the spice blend.

Charleston Beer Works

Met a couple of girls who had been in town for a Bachelorette party

One works for the NJ Devils

Went back to the hotel to clean up

Husk 

I had made a reservation two months in advance, during my one week in Charleston, I wanted to visit one of the more iconic restaurants in town and I was able to get a spot.

We started with the hearth baked skillet cornbread, which had the tiniest crumbles of Broadbent’s bacon. It was so hearty and satisfying, I could tell that cast iron had been covered with bacon grease! It was more of a savory cornbread, less sweet than what I'm used to, but I liked it.

We split the lettuces with cornmeal fried oysters, radishes, pickled onions, and buttermilk dressing. Six oysters are never enough! they were super crispy and nicely flavored. The lettuces were super fresh and vibrant.

For our main course, we both had the TN Beef Strip with new potatoes, broccolini, mushrooms, and jus. First of all, props to the staff for the beautiful presentation. The beef was cooked to a perfect medium, that faded light pink, and was well seasoned. It wasn't a very large portion, it was five or six decently thick cut pieces of steak, it wasn't a getting a whole steak and cutting as you go. And there wee maybe 4 or 5 baby potatoes on the plate, all of which were bite sized. I could've definitely eaten more, but I was satisfied at then end.

I was looking forward to a real southern dessert like chess pie or cobbler, but they only had two options and I believe both had chocolate, so I had to pass. I really thought they should have offered more options.

I'm not going to say I was totally blown away or it was the best food I ever had in my life. But it was southern food done with some class and I'm glad I got to go.

Back to the hotel

The Beyond Borders crowd was still there

The lobby reeked of packeted parmesan cheese

Bar was closed

Marble slab for ice cream

Got to the airport at 3:45 am. 

Bumped 3 times

I landed at Newport News around 330, drove straight to the office, and worked 4 hours before finally driving home

Charleston-Part 2

Saturday

Morning Kayak in Shem Creek

So many huge birds, herons

Grit Counter for lunch in Mt Pleasant

Our hotel was a few minutes down the street from this place and when I saw they were only open 4 hours a day, 5 days week, I figured they must be pretty good.

After a morning of kayaking, we headed over to create some shrimp and grits bowls. I still struggle with what to add to apple pie grits, but that's neither here nor there. I went with jalapeno cheddar grits with caramelized onions, heirloom tomatoes, local shrimp, and a green tomato bacon jam. Of my goodness, what an amazing combination. The tomatoes were so ripe, the onions added the sweetness, there was the slightest hint of heat from the jalapeno, and the shrimp were maybe the freshest I could remember eating. I think if anything I would have added some bacon just for a little extra meat and flavor!

I like that they have a small counter and you can watch them prepare your dish. And they have a variety of iced teas and lemonade as well as alcohol, along with outdoor seating.

I'm not a grits lover, but if I'm back in Charleston, this is one of the few places I would absolutely return to. Definitely try this!

Drove to some of the local Beach towns

Folly Beach

Couldn't park at all

Sullivan Island

Dunleavy pub

This is the ultimate dive. Tons of license plates and Boston sports memorabilia. As a New Yorker, I can't say it sat well with me, but so be it.

We took seats at the bar and were given a bowl of free popcorn, nice of them to do. For beer, they didn't have a ton of draft options, but I wanted something local and I did get a Park Circle Pale from Commonhouse, which was pretty good. We ordered a bunch of grilled wings, half honey mustard, half medium. they were cooked well, very juicy, I did want the skin a little crispier.

Mom is not a big Buffalo wings fan, so I wound up eating about 75 percent of them. With inflation, wings are just getting crazy price was. I think it was about 16 dollars for 12 wings.

The clientle was definitely regulars, this is the kind of bar where people probably come several days a week. And damn, they drink hard. There was a group of about 15 at the communal table in the middle and two of the women were so loud and obnoxious, even the bartenders started glaring at them. So if you're looking for a bar to have a quiet conversation with someone, look somewhere else.

And remember, cash only!

Philips shoes 

Very upscale shoe store

I helped people figure out On shoes

The store should've hired me right then!

Topsail for dinner 

Thankfully, we got the last parking spot in the lot, behind the restaurant, right next to the dumpster and walked by an employee smoking a cigarette. Not the best first impression, I don't care if you're on break or not.

We walked in and were sat in the side room, it was like the addition room to a house. I guess space is a little tight around that area. We started with bowls of she crab soup, and I wasn't impressed. It had too much sherry. I finished mine but mom asked for a Caesar salad instead, and it was covered with way too much dressing for her taste.

Our entrée was one of a kind, a two pound whole red snapper, I think we got the second to last one. It came grilled and served with potatoes and vegetables. It tasted great, super fresh, and it cost $55, which isn't terrible for two people.

I guess I took it personally

My fault

Led to a fight with mom and a terrible finish to the night

Read my new Merle Haggard biography 

Charleston-Part 1

After getting three three hours of sleep,  the alarm clock woke up at 3:28 am. I had never seen such a long security line at Newport News airport. I believe the line opened right at 4 am, and there were already about 35 people in front of me, and within ten minutes, another 15 had followed behind me. And of course, there's only going to be one security lane at this tiny airport which only has 5 outbound flights a day. It was tight and I think the flight went out full, but I still scored an exit row seat. 

And my goodness this may have been the most turbulent flight I've been in possibly a decade. In one hour, we had three separate periods of severe bumps. But we landed just fine, and I was happy to see my next flight was one gate over from where I landed. I was never even called by the gate agent, my boarding pass was emailed to me. So the flight that was expected the be the hardest to get on turned out to be one of the easiest standby experiences I've ever had. 

Quick footnote. The busyness of life caught up with me too quickly. A month later, I still haven't finished chronicling my travels. So I will instead use bullet points and write brief statements where details are worth mentioning. 

City tour downtown

So many horse drawn carriages

Remarkable classic architecture on the Battery

Lunch at Hyman's 

Shrimp po'boy
I checked in on Yelp, so we got a free Wadamalaw Special (and it's the first time I have ever typed that word). Fried green tomatoes over cheesy grits topped with parmesan cream sauce and cheddar cheese.

City Market walkthrough, tight foot traffic

Lionel Richie cutting board- Hello... is it me you're cooking for?

Citadel campus

Mt Pleasant was the Eastern suburb where we stayed

Those darn side service roads

Drove to Shem Creek

Lunch at Crab House 

We came in just wanting apps and drinks. We ordered the crab dip. I like warm fish dips spread on some saltines.

This was not what I was hoping for. What we got was a scoop of chilled crab salad. We could barely see any crab meat, I don't know if it was even real crab. It was mixed with way too much mayo along with cream cheese and Old Bay. Two bites and I was done. At least we

I can't even remember which cocktail I had, but I remember it had pineapple, rum, and some nutmeg added to it. Pretty good, but still a bit sweet.

Maybe we just ordered the wrong menu item, and it's nice to dine near a spot that's close to the water, but I can't say I was satisfied with my experience.

Checked into Hilton Garden Inn

Confusing hotel arrangement,  the back of the building was facing the entrance road

Bricco Bracco at 4pm

One of the best happy hours

We arrived at 430 and the 30 or so seat bar was already full

$4 Red blend

Huge bowl of Parmesan

$2 Bread and olive oil

Our entree was the Chicken Giambotta. Chicken breast with sweet Italian sausage, peppers, onions, mushrooms, hot and sweet vinegared peppers, and fried Yukon gold sliced potatoes. I'm a sucker for those kinds of peppers, especially with all that oil and garlic. It just makes you feel so good and side, you know? I felt like there wasn't a ton of meat in the platter, or maybe we just took too much too soon. But wasn't long before we had just potatoes and peppers to finish.

Chatted with some neighbors at the bar

One guy was from Germany

Fruitflies showed up

Hotel bar

NCAA tournament on TV, good to see St Peter's make their run

Sports Stadium Lists

Top 10 Baseball Stadiums I Have Visited

10) Yankee Stadium (New York)

9) Wrigley Field (Chicago)

8) US Cellular Field (Chicago)

7) Miller Park (Milwaukee)

6) Fenway Park (Boston)

5) Busch Stadium (St. Louis)

4) Citi Field (New York)

3) Pac Bell Park (San Francisco)

2) PNC Park (Pittsburgh)

1) Camden Yards (Baltimore)

Top 5 Baseball Stadiums I Would Like To Visit

5) Comerica Park (Detroit)

4) Kaufman Stadium (Kansas City)

3) Target Field (Minneapolis)

2) Petco Park (San Diego)

1) Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles)

Top 5 Hockey Arenas I Have Visited

5) Prudential Center (New Jersey)

4) Capital One Arena (Washington DC)

3) Amalie Arena (Tampa Bay)

2) United Center (Chicago)

1) Madison Square Garden (New York)

Top 10 Hockey Arenas I Would Like To Visit

10) American Airlines Center (Dallas)

9) Rogers Arena (Vancouver)

8) SAP Center (San Jose)

7) Little Caesar's Arena (Detroit)

6) Xcel Energy Center (St Paul)

5) Canada Life Center (Winnipeg)

4) Scotiabank Arena (Toronto)

3) Bridgestone Arena (Nashville)

2) T-Mobile Bank Arena (Las Vegas)

1) Bell Center (Montreal)

When a Break Is Needed

I am coming off two consecutive six day work weeks. As Saturday night is about to dissolve into Sunday morning, let's take a moment and try to untangle this cluttered brain.

The Jets draft is now behind us. After four months of heavy anticipation, they had by all accounts, a fantastic draft. I have stayed up till 3 am and 2 am on Thursday and Friday nights, respectively, to absorb content and broadcast. 

I wish I could play guitar or keyboard. As I find and re-discover so much good music from days gone by, I wish I had a way to share it. I'm getting more open to YouTube and podcasting. But honestly, I'm worried about doing something that isn't unique. Sure, there are the sports options. I'm certainly opinionated about that. But there is so much content out there from such smart people, I really don't see what I can do that would be unique. Ah there it is, the fear of being ordinary. Because here's the pivotal question, what makes me one of a kind? Forty years later, I guess I'm the white single conservative Christian from New Jersey who loves real country music, good food, an unusual combination of NY sports, and American travel. As if anyone cares about that combination. 

One thing that I'm smarter than most at is that golden era of country music from the mid 70s to the early 2000s before the pussies like Underwood, Bryan, and FGL fucked everything up. I have one friend I can talk to about this, and she gets it. Other than that, it's like my own secret. And what can I do about it? I don't want to keep it to myself. But I kind of have no choice.

Sunday is coming, as the great SM Lockridge once preached. I have this real desire to get away, yet of course, the weather forecast is calling for rain. I could use a hike in the mountains and a lot of that craft mountain beer. And I'll barely be able to take advantage of it, even if I wanted to. 

Can I do a staycation? I guess. Although I think the only way to get through it would be to stay off social media. And being home alone, it's the easiest distraction in the world. If I'm stuck on a phone all day, I know seeing certain kinds of posts will just rile up my already sensitive emotions.

I guess I feel trapped by my own sins and shortcomings, and some of them I still cannot overcome even after four decades. And these flaws are an essential part of my makeup, so I guess I just have to embrace those fleeting moments of temporary joy and happiness that I may get to experience. But as far lasting joy...I can't imagine living in that way. It's not that I don't want that, it just no longer seems realistic.

Jets Draft Targets I Would Avoid

We are just days away from the NFL draft. Those of us who watch little, if any college football during the fall, suddenly have become draft experts. Guys we didn't know 2 months ago, we could now tell you where they went to high school, their favorite dog's name, and their favorite movie. We get fascinated with certain prospects, then a new name comes along, and we're onto the next name. So with the Jets needing an influx of talent at so man positions and with an abundance of premium picks, it's not just about knowing who to pick. Just as important is knowing who not to pick. With so many players on our radar, who should we beware of? Here are a few well known prospects I do not want to see the Jets draft and my reasons why.

Travon Walker, Edge

When I look at Walker, I see a 3-4 rugged defensive end, as his lower body bend is limited. Plus, he's pushing 300 pounds. In a 4-3 defense, I want my pass rushers to be quick and explosive. I do not see Walker possessing that kind of speed. Instead, I see a good 2-way player who would be good at setting the edge and playing the run effectively. He might even be more suited to play defensive tackle under Robert Saleh's defense as opposed to defensive end. He also has a bad habit of not wrapping up running backs and wide receivers and letting them elude his grasp.

Walker is a better athlete than he is football player, and as a Jets fan, I'm getting tired of guys who win the combine, because they can run fast or bench press well. Then they get to the pros and the 2 or 3 moves they used in college suddenly aren't effective anymore and the bust talk soon begins.

Jahan Dotson, WR

The 5-foot-10, 178-pound Dotson ran a 4.43 in the 40 yard dash which is quite impressive, but his measurables failed in nearly every other combine drill. Most notably, he disappointed in the three-cone with a time of 7.28 (9th percentile), which is not going to work for a small receiver. He has a great ability to make contested catches, as he proved vs Ohio St, but he is widely viewed as a finesse receiver as he will not be likely overpower NFL corners. If he can't find a way to get open space on the field, he's not a WR that will be a primary focus in an NFL offense.

Breece Hall, RB

I've been hearing a lot of arguments for the Jets to take a running back as early as the second round. Now it's no secret running backs are not the premium position they used to be 20 and 30 years ago. So if we're going to take a running back this high, he better be a difference make on the level of Dalvin Cook or Jonathan Taylor.

Breece Hall is the running back that I've seen at the top of a lot of lists of draft pundits, whether it's Chad Forbes, Daniel Jeremiah, Ryan Dunleavy, etc. I have much respect for his production. Hall led college football with 1,572 rushing yards in 2020 and went for 1,472 in 2021. So I watched some film on him and I have to say this was not a running back who left me thinking this was a running back the Jets need to target. 

What impressed me the most was his footwork. He has a very nice spin move to elude tacklers. But not once did I see him stiff arm a defender. Not once did I see him create his own space. His speed was respectable, but not what I would call breakaway speed. What I saw was a patient runner. A runner who thrives on holes being opened for him and then decides where he will run, maybe a Matt Forte. But to me, that is not a running back worth taking with a pick in the 30s when this team has such glaring needs at other positions and already features Michael Carter as a high quality running back.

 He had 800 touches in 3 years, could he be getting a little prone to injury with a such an extensive workload? Especially on our turf? With so many mid round options like Jerome Ford, James Cook, Dameon Pierce, and Tyler Allgeier available in round 3 or later, I would let Bryce remain the only Hall on the Jets.

Lewis Cine, S

Heading into the offseason, I wanted the Jets to acquire two starting safeties, preferably one in free agency and one in the draft.  After the Jets signed Jordan Whitehead away from Tampa Bay in free agency, I was very pleased to see them fil the strong safety role. And I also remain a defender of LaMarcus Joyner, despite him missing nearly the entire season last year due to an arm injury. For one year, he was a plyer worth bringing back into the fold.

So the Jets can afford to draft a safety and let him develop over the course of this season. Specifically, I'm a firm believer in drafting a free safety this year, if one is available. 

So that brings me to Lewis Cine from Georgia. When I watch Cine, there are certainly positive traits. I see hard hits, I see great speed, I see good tackling ability, when he actually does make contact.

Notice the last six words I wrote. Too often, Cine likes to blow opponents up by hitting them high and taking steep angles towards ball carriers, which sometimes leads to missed tackles. His overaggressive nature has led not only to missed tackles, but penalties as well.

But my primary concern is I do not see good coverage ability. In his three years of college, he has averaged a QB rating of 85.7. Too often he finds himself out of position when playing coverage, which is one reason he only had one interception during his senior season. And watching him backpedal, it seems his hips and feet are not moving in synchronization, the balance that we would want from a safety just isn't there. Remember in 2020 when Tyreek Hill made a double move on Ashtyn Davis, left him in the Kansas City Dust, and scored a long touchdown? The same thing would happen to Cine, except now Hill can punish his victim twice a year.

Cine sounds like a box safety who the Jets might be asking to play in coverage most of the time. Add all this up, and you know another safety that fits this description? Calvin Pryor. Hard pass, give me a Daxton Hill or Jaquan Brisker.

The Epitome of Ordinary

Growing up, I hated hearing my parents say I was special. They kept tell me I was, they would cite Mr Rogers and every time I heard him sing that song about you are my friend and you are special, I would cringe. And not quietly. I don't know why that word triggered me, there is no decent explanation for it other than that I was 5 or 6 years old and just didn't know better.

And then I was sent out into the world, to school, to summer camps, to sports teams. And I always felt like an outcast. I was constantly bullied, always made to feel less than. The way I was demeaned only reinforced that I was just another person, basically inconsequential, dispensable, and of next to no importance.

What I would give now to stand out in a positive way. I'm feeling more and more like I'm a guy who doesn't mean a damn thing in the world. Does anything I do really matter in the long term? Why is it I mention to 4 different people I'm coming to DC this weekend and none of them want to see me, they don't even respond? And I see these lousy men get women they have no business being with. I have single days of fun and I'm terrified to look at my budget.

All of this disappointment hit me tonight while I was playing in this kickball league with the young adult singles group I've been associated with for a couple of years now. It was the second week, the field was muddy, the players on our team had no clue what to d o the field, as we have been outscored something like 43-3. And if that wasn't enough, here I go pulling both quad muscles again just like when I was playing softball. I could've been doing deliveries and making money, or attending the Johnny Cash tribute concert, or watching the Mets game. Instead I feel I'm wasting my time and money.

And I'm 40. I've peaked. I try not to feel bitterness. But there's no doubt I've clearly failed at life. Why else am I still single, working a full time job and two side hustles? What difference does my life make? Will God view me as a failure? 

MLB Predictions

 

National League

East

y-Atlanta

x-NY Mets

x-Philadelphia

Miami

Washington

 

Central

x-Milwaukee

St. Louis

Chicago

Cincinnati

Pittsburgh

 

West

z-Los Angeles

x-San Francisco

x-San Diego

Colorado

Arizona

 

American League

East

z-Toronto

x-Boston

x-Tampa Bay

NY Yankees

Baltimore

 

Central

y-Chicago

Cleveland

Minnesota

Detroit

Kansas City

 

West

x-Houston

x-Seattle

Oakland

Anaheim

Texas

 

ALCS

Boston over Houston

 

NLCS

Los Angeles over Atlanta

 

World Series

Los Angeles over Chicago

Jets Blog-The Saga of Blake Cashman

When the news broke this past week that the New York Jets had traded oft-injured linebacker Blake Cashman to the Houston Texans for a 2023 sixth round draft pick, that sound that could be heard all over the country was the thud of the jaws of Jets fans hitting the ground. A player who felt like he was getting hurt just by rolling out of bed wasn’t cut, Joe Douglas was able to actually acquire a draft asset for him. So with this 3 year odyssey at an end, let’s pay our respects to Mr Cashman.

The Saga of Blake Cashman

2019

The Jets drafted Cashman in the fifth round (157th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft, a class that brought us the likes of Quinnen Williams, Trevon Wesco, Bless Austin, Chuma Edoga, and Jachai Polite. His career got off to a promising start. In his first 7 games, he recorded 27 solo tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 QB hits, ½ sack, 1 pass defensed, and 1 forced fumble.

Week 8 vs Jacksonville

But on October 27, he suffered a torn labrum. Four days later, he was placed on season-ending IR. A somewhat promising rookie season had been snuffed out.

Games played: 7

IR stints: 1

Injuries: Torn Labrum

2020

But then there was a new year, new hope. 2020 came around. Joe Douglas was the new general manager by now. And Cashman, who had gotten past his shoulder injury had an opportunity to win a starting linebacker spot for a Jets defense that was sorely lacking playmakers.

Week 1 vs Buffalo

On September 13, 2020, in the first quarter of the season opener, he hurt his groin. Two days later, he was placed on IR. By league rules, he had to sit out at least 3 games, well, he missed 4. He was activated on October 17 for Week 6.

Week 7 vs Buffalo

After getting through one game vs Miami, he hurt both his hamstrings on the turf of Met Life Stadium. But he did not go on IR, he was considered week to week.

Week 12 vs Miami

After missing 4 weeks, he returned Nov 29 for a game against Miami. And in that game, he recorded one tackle before leaving the game after aggravating said hamstring injury. On December 3, 2020, he was placed back on injured reserve, terminating his season.

Games played: 4

IR stints: 2

Injuries: Strained groin, Strained hamstrings

2021

But then came his third year, 2021. There was a whole new coaching staff. Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich. The Jets linebacker group was comprised of such household names as Jarrad Davis, Jamien Sherwood, and Del’Shawn Phillips.

Week 1 vs Carolina

Did he get through his first game against? You can probably guess, of course he didn’t! He hurt his hamstring in the season opener and on September 14, he was placed on injured reserve and was expected to miss 2 weeks. No, he didn’t miss 2, he missed 3.

Week 5 vs Atlanta

But then Cashman was healthy enough to make the trip to Tottenham for the Jets Trans-Atlantic showdown vs the Atlanta Falcons. He was activated on October 9, 2021. He had the chance to show all the fans of Europe what kind of toughness he had, he could show off his agility, his quickness, his tackling. In the game, he never showed up on the stats sheet. Not even a tackle.

Week 7 vs New England

Following the bye, he hurt his groin in Gillette Stadium on October 24. Within 2 days, he was placed back on injured reserve, and the injury turned out to be season-ending.

Games played: 3

IR Stints: 2

Injuries: Strained hamstring, strained groin

Summary

So let’s look at the totality. In 3 years, he played 14 games and had 5 IR stints. He played 7 games in his rookie year and recorded 27 tackles. In his second and third years, he combined for 7 games and made only 7 tackles.

And the fact that Joe Douglas netted a draft pick that will likely fall about 20-25 spots behind where he was actually drafted in 2019, well, this may be Joe’s most improbable trade yet. It makes me wonder how many first round picks he could net for Denzel Mims!

NY travel highlights

1. Faiccos Italian Deli

The first thing I did after landing in Queens and dropping our luggage at the AC hotel was to take the 1 train to Christopher Street, probably the last area in New York I'd ever want to be. 

I paced through the freezing rain and met up with my ex, Jen. I paid 20 bucks for an Italian sub with Genoa salami, prosciutto, mortadella, fresh mozz, lettuce, tomato, and roasted peppers on a semolina seeded roll. There are no rolls like them outside of the New York metro area. And this sandwich had about three times as much meat and cheese as it did vegetables! Half a sandwich and I was good

We even saw they had the prosciutto bread, which is basically a meat bagel. That became dessert. 

2. Dog Museum

I wanted to make sure I made a stop over here. There wasn't really a ton to it, mostly artwork, paintings, and sculptures. They had an interactive exhibit where I got to train a virtual Molly, I taught her to fetch a ball, to sit, to roll over etc. 

I did see a lot of French bulldogs, and after taking care of my buddy Bruno back in 2019 for a few days, it of course got me going. Not so much for cocker spaniels though. 

Museum admission was 15 bucks to the American Kennel Club. It seemed like an overcharge, but if some of the proceeds are going to help dogs, then it's with the price. 

3. MLB store

It was a fantastic new store, lots of variety. I spent a full hour inside with my father, who spent most of his time lamenting how terrible the Braves merchandise looks.  And at the end of that hour, all I bought was a set of wristbands for ten bucks. The best item was an orange and cream 3/4 sleeve Mets t shirt. Trouble was they didn't have a large size.

My shopping was widely disappointing. One of the purposes of my trip was to buy some good Jets gear for my local group. 

I went to Target, TJ Maxx, Chammps, even a couple of discount stores. The only place I really had much success was Party City. It's pretty baffling to me that Manhattan has stores for MLB, NBA, and NHL, but not the NFL.

4. Ben and Jack's

What a ridiculously great dinner, the first with both my parents since July 2017. This steakhouse is basically one of the few that gave from Peter Luger. We began with the  baked clams oreganato, we hadn't had these kind of clams in years. They were so good we ordered an extra half dozen. And of course, the sizzling thick cut bacon, nearly a full inch thick, 8 bucks a slice. Take some of that bacon, their tomato and onion salad, and add a little of the house sauce, which was kind of like a cocktail sauce with slightly sweet tanginess, and every taste sense gets engaged. 

And then of course, the porterhouse steak

Sliced into large pieces, served on a ripping hot plate, which was slightly tilted on the table so the steak juices and butter could accumulate at the bottom of the dish. Pure heaven, the most tender, perfectly aged Porterhouse. 

And the sides. The hand cut steak fries didn't even need a dipping sauce. Crispy on the outside, tender inside, nicely seasoned. And the creamless creamed spinach, wow. This tasted like sauteed olive oil and garlic spinach but and the smooth silky taste of creamed spinach. I'm not sure how they did it, but I may have to work on figuring that one out. Bottle of Napa Pinot Noir was wonderful. 

5. Joes pizza

We got our much needed pizza fix. And Joe's is about the best place to get it. Perfect large slice. Thin crispy and chewy crust, good quality sauce and cheese. 

6. Phone fix

The strangest part of my trip was my cell phone suddenly failing on Saturday afternoon. It couldn't read my SIM card leaving me unable to text, call, or access the mobile network. In the middle of the Rangers viewing party, I excused myself and went to a local Verizon store, which got me nowhere. 

So Sunday morning, after being unable to get a rep on the phone, not shockingly, we went to the Soho location. The store opened at 11 am, well, we were standing in front of the store by 10:30. And with 15 minutes, the guy had my phone working again. 

7. Rangers viewing party 

I arrived at McHales Irish pub around 2 pm and I was so ready to see some of these people I hadn't seen in over ten years. Thankfully neither my ex nor any of her family showed up, which Facebook indicated was going to happen. I drank a local IPA, and that was it. A few guys were even giving out free red bull and vodka and I took a pass. 

In the raffles, my tickets weren't chosen. I had never heard of the wingspan concept, where someone spreads their arms out, the tickets are unrolled and they buy all the tickets that can be rolled out from one hand to the other. Right there I should have known I wasnt winning. But I was given a Bob Brooke card, and Jim even gave me a puck and pint glass. And we couldn't even celebrate a goal, as the Rangers dropped a frustrating game to Pittsburgh 1-0.

8. Meatball Shop

After the defeat, I headed to dinner. Of course, my phone was out by now and I had no way of telling mom since she wasn't checking Facebook messenger.

We went with the meatball sampler, Italian salad, and shrimp fra diavolo. All tasted very nice, though I could have done without the chicken bone piece in the chicken meatball. It's just a shame they had the f¡ag flying.

9. Off Broadway show

Saturday night, went went to a show. We wanted to see MJ, the show about Michael Jackson. But with tickets at over 140 each, we instead spent 40 each to go off Broadway to see The Show That Goes Wrong. It had a lot of physical comedy, and indeed it was very funny in spots. The annoying part was we had to wear masks for the full 2 and a half hours. The were even ushers holding up signs that said Mask up. I was so ready to leave. I can understand asking for vaccination proof to get in certain places, but masks while we're watching a show just seemed over the top, esp if we're required to be vaccinated. Oh that's right.... the masks are BS.

Afterwards we went back to the room, and finished off the four pieces of steak and the first piece of Junior's cheesecake, the pineapple crumb. So delicious!

10. Katz's Deli

We were both disappointed to be missing church but I knew I had to get my phone fixed. So after taking care of that, we headed to the best deli, Katz's. Mom asked for waiter service, which I didn't expect. For me, it's all about ordering a sandwich at the counter and watching the cutter do the carving. 

But we waited 20 minutes online to get a table and we split two sandwiches. One was a pastrami with Swiss cheese and mustard, you can't come here and not get pastrami. We also got roast beef with dressing from a country in Europe and Asia that I won't identify, Swiss, lettuce, and tomato. Unbelievably great. I just wish the rye bread had a little more crust or some caraway seed. 

The potato salad was creamy for my taste, but a little salt, pepper and mustard did the trick. With the pickles, I prefer the full sours, which is odd for me, I've always been a half sour fan. And the rye bread needed caraway seeds and crunch. I've seriously had better rye bread in LA.

Bonus: AC hotel

It was a nicely kept hotel with a strong European and Spanish influence with the design. But no coffee service, not much storage space, no dressers, there was a broken pump on the shower gel. And with one bar of soap that mom had used first, I was stuck with using shampoo.

And I have to say something about the people. There is way too much smoking going on and maybe that's the foreigners. But the streets smell of weed now. It's so bad I swear I'm in Jamaica and I don't mean Queens. 

Jets Blog-All time Jets GM rankings

We're going to look at the history of NY Jets general managers and grade their performance. We're taking into account drafts, coaching changes, trades, waiver moves, and as of 1993, unrestricted free agency.

Steve Sebo (1960-1961)

The first GM, hired by original owner Harry Wismer. He is not responsible for signing Don Maynard, that is on coach Sammy Baugh who had coached against Maynard in college. One highlight was he drafted linebacker Larry Grantham in the original AFL draft held in November 1959. The following draft, he selected a future Hall of Famer in a running back named Herb Adderley. Unfortunately, the Green Bay Packers outbid the Titans and he was soon converted to cornerback. The rest is history. None of his other picks really stand out. Sebo left the Titans in 1962 to become the athletic director at the University of Virginia. It certainly wasn't the last time in franchise history someone would leave the Jets for Virginia (see Al Groh).

Team record: 14-14, .500%

Grade: C+

George Sauer Sr. (1962)

In his only draft, Sauer drafted Sandy Stephens, quarterback from Minnesota, with his first round pick. However, the Jets never intended to use him as a quarterback and he headed straight to the Canadian Football League for three years. As director of player personnel, Sauer influenced the draft of his own son George Sauer as a wide receiver. Sauer remained with the Jets until 1969 when he was named general manager of the Boston Patriots

Team record: 5-9, .357%

Grade: D

Weeb Ewbank (1963-1974)

Weeb is often lauded for being the only coach to take the Jets to a Super Bowl and win it. But he is also the driving force behind constructing that roster. 1963 brought Dave Herman in Round 27 as well as the signing of Winston Hill following his release from Baltimore. 1964 gave Matt Snell in Round 1 (Weeb outbid the Giants for his services), Gerry Philbin and Ralph Baker. Weeb Ewbank also found an undrafted tackle from Hofstra named John Schmitt and moved him to center. Then came 1965 which only resulted in Joe Namath and an underrated gem in Verlon Biggs. Emerson Boozer and Pete Lammons were found late in the 1966 draft. 1969 first rounder Dave Foley became a solid right tackle, albeit for Buffalo as the Jets traded him away after two seasons.

But as was typical in the 1960's, there were many picks who signed with NFL teams since college players could be drafted by both leagues at that time. There were also first round failures such as William Yearby in 1966, whose NFL career ended after 9 games and offensive lineman Paul Seiler who left for Oakland after two seasons.

And after that Super Bowl win in 1969, Weeb is as responsible as anyone for the team coming undone in the early 1970's. A lot of players wanted more money and Weeb as GM, rarely granted it. Bob Talamini, Bill Baird, Curley Johnson, and Randy Beverly were let go for nothing. Biggs, the defensive line stalwart, exercised an option in his contract and bolted for Washington. Baker recalls that Ewbank would tell players not to disclose how much they were making to players who played the same position. And the players would tell Weeb to not worry, they were just as embarrassed about it as he was. 

As for the drafts of the early 1970's, it was more miss than hit. For every John Riggins or Jerome Barkum, there would be a Steve Cannon, John Mooring, or Michael Taylor. After the team lost seven of its first eight games in 1974, Ewbank resigned as vice president and general manager.

Team record: 77-77-6, .500%

Grade: B

Al Ward (1974-1976)

The most notable thing Ward did was hire the infamous Lou Holtz as head coach, which lasted all of 14 games and left us with a dreadful fight song. His drafting, well, terrible start. 1974's number one pick was defensive tackle Carl Barzilauskas, widely panned by the NY media as a cream puff. Running back Anthony Davis was the top pick in 1975 and his career was over after 15 less than memorable games. But in 1976, he did draft Richard Todd, Greg Buttle, and Abdul Salaam (in round 7).

One other story: just four days before the start of the 1976 season, Ward and Holtz felt the Jets needed a few more players. Ward put in claims for nine players, hoping to snag a few of them. Well, he wound up with seven since almost no other team wanted any of those players. By league rule, the Jets had to add all seven to their roster and cut seven of their own players, a turnover of one-sixth of the roster!

Team record: 13-29, .310%

Grade: C-

Jim Kensil (1977-1987)

Kensil came to the Jets after serving as executive director of the NFL under Pete Rozelle from 1968-1977. The Jets began their revival under his watch, hiring Walt Michaels as head coach and drafting Marvin Powell, Wesley Walker, Scott Dierking, Joe Klecko, and Dan Alexander...and that was just in 1977. Later drafts, run by personnel director Mike Hickey, would bring studs like Chris Ward, Mickey Shuler, Marty Lyons, Mark Gastineau, Lance Mehl, Al Toon, and Freeman McNeil, but also first round disappointments like Johnny Lam Jones, Bob Crable, Russell Carter, Ron Faurot, Mike Haight (who was so surprised, he admitted he expected to be drafted in a later round), and of course the decision to draft Ken O'Brien ahead of Dan Marino.

While the Jets enjoyed a solid run of playoff appearances under Kensil, it cannot be overlooked that he also initiated the decision to fire Michaels just days after the Jets lost the 1982 AFC Championship game. He was also known for making swift decisions when a player criticized management. He once cut a linebacker named Bob Martin, who had criticized Michaels one day earlier. Kensil was ultimately forced to resign in 1988 due to a heart ailment and continued rooting for the Jets until his passing in 1997.

Team record: 80-85-1, .485%

Grade: B

Joe Walton (1988-1989)

Walton coached the Jets seven years, far longer than he served as general manager (18 months). His one draft yielded Dennis Byrd, Tony Martin, and Marvin Washington. Of course, his first round pick was Jeff Lageman, the video of which would end up in lore on the ESPN Jets draft failures video, prompting Mel Kiper to say that the Jets had no idea what the NFL draft is all about. Also, Mark Gastineau retired on his watch and Walton was unable to talk him out of it.

Team record: 12-19-1, .391%

Grade: C

Dick Steinberg (1990-1994)

He came over from New England, the man fully in charge taking over from a committee of managers and directors who all controlled various aspects of football operations. He hired Ron Wolf as assistant GM, who would leave for Green Bay and construct one of the great teams of the 90s. He tried to hire Mike Holmgren as coach...but he stayed in San Francisco as offensive coordinator. He quickly tried to start a new era, acquiring quarterback Boomer Esiason, former league MVP.

His drafts, well, they were remarkably mixed. His first pick: Blair Thomas, instead of Cortez Kennedy, Junior Seau, or Emmitt Smith. He also took Rob Moore, the Syracuse WR, in the supplemental, but that would cost the Jets their first round pick in 1991 and that would prove to devastate the franchise. One of the biggest what could have been stories is the 1991 draft when the Jets wanted Brett Favre early in the second round, but could not finalize a trade with Arizona to move up two spots to 32. Atlanta snatched up Favre at 33, and at 34, the Jets instead settled for Browning Nagle, who lasted 24 games in the NFL. Then came 1992, and Steinberg's first two picks were Johnny Mitchell and Kurt Barber. 1993 was a highly productive draft year, netting Marvin Jones, Fred Baxter, Adrian Murrell, and Richie Anderson. However, it was also the first year of unrestricted free agency and while the Jets hosted legendary sackmaster Reggie White, they were not able to secure him as the Minister of Defense signed with Green Bay.

Sadly, Steinberg passed away of stomach cancer in 1995.

Team record: 32-48, .400%

Grade: B-

Dick Haley (1994-1995)

He came from Pittsburgh, having run the Steelers draft for two decades. Most of his time with the Jets would be as an assistant. Aaron Glenn was a fine pick in 1994, but the remainder of that class combined to play 93 NFL games. 1995...that draft also lives in infamy. The chant is so well known.

"We want Sapp!" 

Instead we heard, "The New York Jets select tight end from Penn State Kyle Brady." 

Hugh Douglas was on his way to being an excellent pick, but since he didn't fit the 3-4 defense, he was traded to Philadelphia. 

He also gave a longshot WR named Wayne Chrebet an opportunity, and he became one of the most beloved Jets of all time. Haley would stay with the franchise until 2007

Team record: 9-23, .281%

Grade: B

Rich Kotite (1995-1996)

Well we know the incompetence of Richie as head coach, probably only Adam Gase and Lou Holtz could be considered on such an impressive level of incompetence. At least they did draft Keyshawn Johnson on his watch. Also from that draft, Ray Mickens and Marcus Coleman were fine assets for the secondary. Going into 1996, the Jets signed quarterback Neil O'Donnell, a pair of tackles in David Williams and Jumbo Elliott, and WR Jeff Graham. Ron Erhardt came in as offensive coordinator, so the offense should have been ready to roll! The team finished 1-15 and Leon Hess cleaned house.

Team record: 4-28, .125%

Grade: C-

Bill Parcells (1997-2000)

Leon Hess wanted Parcells to cook the dinner and was willing to let him shop for the groceries. And many times, Parcells was shopping at Whole Foods. Kevin Mawae was a stalwart at center for eight years, making six Pro Bowls, as he was signed away from Seattle. He saw untapped potential in a struggling QB named Vinny Testaverde. Oh, and he signed Curtis Martin to an offer sheet, who went on to a Hall of Fame career.

The drafts? 1997 worked out well with James Farrior and Jason Ferguson picked in the 1st and 7th rounds, respectively. Dedric Ward was a nice 3rd round snag, 1998 yielded Jason Fabini at left tackle, and nothing else. 1999 gave us Randy Thomas at guard, and again, nothing else. But then the greatness of 2000. Shaun Ellis, John Abraham, Chad Pennington, Anthony Becht, and Laveranues Coles, maybe the best draft in franchise history.

Team record: 38-26, .593%

Grade: A-

Terry Bradway (2001-2005)

After Parcells stepped away and Leon Hess sold the team to Woody Johnson, Bradway came in as GM with Herman Edwards as head coach. Things started off well, his first draft resulting in Santana Moss, Lamont Jordan, and Kareem McKenzie. 2002 wasn't too bad, as they got Bryan Thomas, Chris Baker, and a safety named Jon McGraw, though another safety named Ed Reed was available to be picked instead of Thomas.

Following the Jets having their magical division winning season, hopes were high going into 2003. Bradway had a disastrous offseason, losing Laveranues Coles, Chad Morton, Randy Thomas, and John Hall, all to Washington. To replace Coles, Bradway signed Justin McCareins, surrendering a second round pick and giving McCareins 7 years and $30 million. In four seasons with the Jets, McCareins caught a total of seven touchdowns and failed to surpass 800 yards in a season. The other WR added? Curtis Conway, who caught 46 passes and 1 touchdown and was promptly released.

And the draft that year wasn't much better as he packaged two first round picks and a 4 to move up to 4th overall and draft DT Dewayne Robertson, who didn't even play 100 games in the NFL. 2004 was much better, as the team drafted Jonathan Vilma, Jerricho Cotchery, and Erik Coleman. But coming off the Jets run to the AFC divisional round that was lost in Pittsburgh in large part to kicking woes, Bradway would have one last disaster in 2005. He traded a first round pick for a mediocre at best tight end in Doug Jolley, and then drafted kicker Mike Nugent in the second round.

Credit to him, he held onto a scouting job in the organization until 2014.

Team record: 35-41, 460%

Grade: D

Mike Tannenbaum (2006-2012)

Mr. T got his process off to a flying start, with the infamous Nick and Brick draft, taking D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold, solidifying the Jets offensive line. That same draft would also give the Jets Brad Smith and Leon Washington. In 2007, they only had 4 picks, but one of those would picks would be the great Darrelle Revis, one of the best defensive players in team history. Another was David Harris, who would play 164 games at linebacker for the Jets. This year began a trend of the Jets having only a few picks in most years, leaving little room for error. They had only 3 picks in 2009 and 4 in 2010. Muhammad Wilkerson got off to a great start in his career before flaming out. Kyle Wilson, a complete bust. DeMario Davis was a fine 3rd round pick in 2012, although his most productive days would come in New Orleans. Unfortunately, before him, the Jets drafted Quinton Coples and Stephen Hill in the first two rounds.

Free agency started off well, Alen Faneca was a fantastic signing at left guard. Kris Jenkins was a tremendous run stuffing defensive tackle until injuries slowed him down. And the signings became frustrating in the later years. In 2011, the Jets let Jerricho Cotchery go and replaced him with 37 year old Derrick Mason, which failed spectacularly, as he would be gone after two months. They also invested 5 years and $45 million in Santonio Holmes instead of Braylon Edwards. His pursuit of Nnamdi Asomugah opened the door for versatile weapon Brad Smith to bolt for Buffalo.

Team record: 57-55, .508%

Grade: B

John Idzik (2013-2014)

Let's keep this brief as possible. The best thing he ever did was trade for Chris Ivory. Sheldon Richardson and Brian Winters were okay picks, Dee Milliner was not. Geno Smith was not. The infamous Idzik 12 of the 2014 draft resulted in two players who could even be considered marginal, in Quincy Enunwa and Dakota Dozier, a career backup who is the only player of the 12 to play in at least 50 NFL games. 

Team record: 12-20, .375%

Grade: F

Mike MacCagnan (2015-2019)

The name garners a lot of hate amongst Jaets faithful, and indeed, his drafting largely failed. Leonard Williams was a decent defensive lineman, but never the difference maker Jets fans hoped he'd be. He did have one Pro Bowl season for the Giants in 2020 after being traded, but regressed to his decent form in 2021. Decent role players were found in Jordan Jenkins and Brandon Shell, but underachievers such as Darron Lee, Sam Darnold, and Devin Smith will make many a Jet fan groan. As opposed to previous GMs who would draft multiple offensive linemen with premium picks, MacCagnan drafted just one in five drafts: Chuma Edoga.

The biggest mistake may have been drafting Christian Hackenberg. He had shown bright spots his freshman year at Penn St, but backslid his next two seasons. While admired for his intelligence in the film room, it didn't translate to production on the field. His passes were never accurate on a consistent level. He never played a regular season game for the Jets and was gone after two years. Here's the worst part. Because of the Jets believing in Hack's potential, they saw no need to draft a DeShaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes in the following year's draft.

Trumaine Johnson was one of the worst free agency signings the Jets ever had, as he got beat up legendary receivers such as the Bills' Robert Foster. $72 million over 5 years with $34 million guaranteed. Starting with the 2022 season, the Jets are no longer paying Johnson to not be on the team.

Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye are both fine safeties, but to use your first two picks on safety just never made any sense. On the positive side, Foley Fatukasi was a 6th round gem.

Team record: 24-40, .375% 

Grade: D

Joe Douglas (2019-Present)

It's difficult to evaluate a draft class after two years, but the 2020 draft is getting harder to defend. Mekhi Becton has shown he can be a very capable left tackle if he can stay on the field. Bryce Hall was a steal at cornerback in the fifth round and has proven to be a legitimate starter, even if he isn't the second coming of Darrelle Revis.

The class of 2021 is off to an incredible start, maybe the best draft since 2004. The draft has provided four legitimate starters on offense (Zach Wilson, Michael Carter, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Elijah Moore) and young depth in the secondary (Michael Carter, Jason Pinnock, Brandin Echols).

Free agency was a mixed bag with prized pass rusher Carl Lawson tearing his Achilles in the pre-season and Corey Davis performing inconsistently before missing the last five games of the season. Injuries also prevented LaMarcus Joyner and Vinny Curry from seeing the field. But to get a starting right guard for a third string tight end and to then get said tight end back on waivers two weeks later, that is genius.

His trades have been his brightest spots, netting two 1s, a 2, a 3, and two 4s for Sam Darnold, Jamal Adams, and Chris Herndon.

Team record: 13-36, .265%

Grade: Incomplete

Jets Blog-Stay or Go?

The Jets are projected to have 23 total free agents hit the market this winter. Now when a team finishes a season 4-13, how many of those really need to come back? So in this column, I'm going to offer my perspective on every single free agent, whether they should come back, and what kind of a deal I would offer. In addition, I will also select a few players to cut to save on cap space. In a future post, I will look at outside free agency and who the Jets should bring in. Remember free agency begins March 16, so we have plenty of time to break that down.

Cap Space = $54,366,000 (per overthecap.com)

Cuts

RB Ty Johnson ($965,000 savings)

I give Ty credit for this much. He has some nifty footwork and he showed it on his two receiving touchdowns. But 9 drops and 8 pass pressures allowed? 

RB La'Mical Perine ($709,000)

The guy didn't get much of a chance, he wasn't suited to play in this offense. Perine truly strikes me as the ultimate JAG. Hoe doesn't do anything really well, and he doesn't do anything really bad. He's just an ordinary dude. Well, I'm tired of having a lot of ordinary dudes. It's best for both sides to part company.

TE Trevon Wesco ($965,000)

In 12 games, he played anywhere between 2% and 43% of the offensive snaps. He's a pretty fair run blocker, ranking in the top 20 for tight ends, but this offense requires tight ends who can catch the ball and block. In 3 years, he's caught 6 passes on 10 targets for 84 yards. This FB/TE situation needs a major overhaul.

TE Ryan Griffin ($3,288,000)

Can we please move on from this guy? He allowed eight pass pressures, 3rd among tight ends. He caught 27 of 42 targets for a 261 and a pair of touchdowns. Not to mention 3 drops and a fumble. And he may be the most awkward running tight end I have ever seen. The 3 million can be spent better elsewhere.

RG Greg Van Roten ($3,500,000)

The less said the better. Well, let's still look at a few stats. After the Long Island native went out of the starting lineup in Week 11, the Jets averaged 3 more yards per rushing attempt than in Weeks 1-10. Oh and at the time of his benching, he was leading all right guards with 32 pressures allowed.

DT Sheldon Rankins ($5,500,000)

In a 4-3 defense, there needs to be at least one solid run stuffer, and Rankins simply doesn't do it, he was one of the lowest graded run defenders in the league. And at pressuring the passer, well, not much better. He recorded a career-low pressure rate of 5.8%. It was a one year risk that didn't work out.

LB Blake Cashman ($965,000)

Good guy, plays hard, maybe too hard, and hence the Break Glassman moniker.

Cap space to work with: $70,258,000 (this should place the Jets around 4th or 5th in salary cap space)

Free Agents

Note: A restricted free agent (RFA) has three accrued seasons and an expiring contract. They can negotiate and sign with any team, but his original team can offer a tender or qualifying offer that come with the first right of refusal and/or draft pick compensation. If the team withdraws the tender, the player then becomes an unrestricted free agent. An exclusive rights free agent (ERFA) has less than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his team offers him a 1 year deal, they player may not negotiate with other teams.

QB Mike White (RFA)

Yep, Mike freaking White. His games against the Bills and Patriots didn't exactly go as hoped, but he played well in his limited time against the Colts and who will ever forget that all-time performance against Cincinnati. I'm thrilled to keep him as a backup and I doubt any team is looking to sign him as their starter.

Verdict: Stay. 1 year, $2 million. I wouldn't go with a first round tender for $4.8 million, and maybe not even a second round tender, that would cost about $3.5 million. But for an original 5th round tender, I'm good with that, it would probably only be a little over 2 million dollars, based off 2021 numbers.

QB Joe Flacco

In two games, Flacco had 27 completions on 42 passes with 3 touchdowns and no picks. Not too shabby. But I'm gonna say Joe hangs them up.

Verdict: Go. Thanks for your services Joe, but Zach has enough coaches now.

RB Tevin Coleman

Verdict: Good for his limited role. I hear people talking about the value of his veteran leadership and I'm not sure how valuable that really is. He didn't score a single touchdown in 2021 and he only caught 11 passes out of the backfield. With 84 carries for 356 yards with a long run of 20 yards, I would offer him a low 1 year deal and if he takes it great.

Verdict: Stay. 1 year, $1 million

FB Nick Bawden

I'm all for having a quality fullback for this offense. Before the season began, I wanted the Jets to prioritize signing Kyle Juszczyk away from San Francisco, but he never even got to the market. Bawden joined the Jets for the second half of the season and showed some talent, especially laying out a mean block on Braxton Berrios' kickoff return touchdown. He has established a special teams asset, and on offense, his role has grown has he played 40 percent of the snaps over the last two weeks of the season. Let's see how much better he can get.

Verdict: Stay. 2 years, $2 million

WR Jamison Crowder

This is one of the tougher decisions to make. On one hand, Crowder recorded a team high 51 receptions, so maybe Zach Wilson feels comfortable with him. At the same time, how many of those 51 receptions do you remember? Averaging 8 yards per catch and scoring only twice, Crowder has become a reliable underneath receiver. And considering Joe Douglas reduced his contract, I think Crowder looks for a fresh start.

Verdict: Go. 

WR Braxton Berrios

Remember after the first month of the season, when numerous Jets fans were complaining about Berrios having the most targets of any receiver? Yep that really happened. But as one Jet receiver and tight end after another went down to injury, Berrios remained steadfast, becoming the Swiss army knife of Mike LaFleur's offense. This OC loves the creativity he gets to employ with Berrios on end arounds, screens, sweeps, you name it. The results: 431 yards receiving, five plays of over 20 yards. Five touchdowns: 2 receiving, 2 running, and 1 returning. And of course, finishing second in both punt return average and kick return average.

Verdict: Stay: 4 years, S20 million, $12 million guaranteed. This is the glue guy the Jets need to commit to and I would even to up to 6 million if needed. Imagine if he hits the market? New England would be calling him at 12:01 AM.

WR Keelan Cole

My favorite thing about Cole is when he plays interviewer, and asks questions to the Jets players in those videos on the team website. And his catch against Tennessee when Zach Wilson hurled that long bomb was a moment we will always remember. I like that he averaged 16 yards per catch. But here's what bothers me. 28 catches on 51 targets. He had his flashy moments, but it simply not a reliable target. 

Verdict: Go. He made $5.4 million this past season. I would offer a contract, but would not exceed $3 million, and I don't think it'll be enough. Let's address WR in the middle rounds of the draft.

WR Jeff Smith (ERFA)

He caught 8 of 117 targets for 113 yards. He's basically the last WR on the team...except for Denzel Mims. Basically, thus is a gadget player who doesn't have a role on this team anymore. Amazing that some people thought he would get a roster spot over Braxton Berrios

Verdict: Go.

TE Tyler Kroft

I'm going to be in the minority on this, but I like Kroft as a #2/3 TE. Yes he had injuries, and yes he dropped some passes. But remember he caught the go ahead touchdown vs Cincinnati and averaged 11 yards per reception. He is still a credible blocker, not a difference maker, but he can still be a useful piece if he's not asked to do too much.

Verdict: Stay. 2 years, $4 million, $2 million guaranteed

OG Dan Feeney

Great mullet. Good center. Hideous guard. Ok in fairness, he did run block pretty well. 

Verdict: Stay. 1 year, $1 million, and no negotiation

OG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif

I believe in Joe Douglas, and this trade is exactly why. The right guard spot desperately needed an upgrade and LDT provided it, especially in the running game. Pass protection, watching his one on one blocking was tough to watch, especially against Buffalo. The other question is he more committed to playing football or to his medical practice?

Verdict: Stay: 2 years, $10 million, $6 million guaranteed. For an adequate 30 year old guard, I would go short term here, just as a stopgap.

OT Connor McDermott        

Well if he was a tight end, we might be having a different conversation. Nice TD catch. That will be the only good thing he ever did as a Jet. He gave up multiple sacks in every start he had in relief of George Fant.

Verdict: Go

OT Morgan Moses

As happy as I was that the Jets signed Moses away from Washington, this is not a guy I'm looking to bring back. He created rushing yards, and yes, this offense is predicated on running the ball. But I was disappointed in him as a pass blocker. 49 pressures is the 4th most allowed among right tackles, and that just can't continue.

Verdict: Go. My hope is next year's starting tackles or Mekhi Becton and George Fant, and they draft a young OT in the middle rounds of the draft.

OT Isaiah Williams

He's already 28 years old. Basically the backup to the backup to the backup. Not worth keeping and if you see him on the field on a regular season game, something has gone terribly wrong.

Verdict: Go.

DT Nathan Shepherd

While you read his name, he just took another penalty. He did average one whole tackle per game and even had 8 QB hits. But his ability to stop the run is about on par with speedy rookie Jonathan Marshall. His legacy will be the first draft pick made after Sam Darnold, an inexcusable choice by then-GM Mike MacCagnan when offensive assets such as RB Chase Edmonds, WR Michael Gallup and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and TEs Mark Andrews and Dalton Schultz were still available.

Verdict: Go.

DT Foley Fatukasi

For me, no player is a bigger tossup than this. Mike MacCagnan's best value draft pick is this run-stuffing DT. But he appears to be a better fit for a 3-4 defense than a 4-3. He had a PFF run-stopping grade of 86.2 in 2020, but that dropped to 57.3 this year, placing him right in the middle of the league.

Verdict: Go. While I respect and appreciate Foley, he is not a part of the solution going forward. The 4-3 defense simply does not suit his skill set. 

DE Vinny Curry

It's a shame we never got to see Vinny get a chance to play this season, as blood clots ended his season before the regular season started. At 33 years old, will he choose to risk his health? He signed for the Jets on a 1 year $1.3 million deal. For a defense longing for a pass rush, why not make him an offer, especially when his services will not likely be in high demand? Then again, I could see him stepping away from the game.

Verdict: Go: Offer 1 year, $1 million, if he wants to return, I just don't see it happening though.

DE Tim Ward (ERFA)

Basically, the last defensive lineman on the team. After two years in Kansas City, the Jets claimed him off waivers. I do like his size, length, and motor, but he's never shown an ability to consistently rush the passer, not even while playing college at Old Dominion. He played 11 games for the Jets, seeing the field on 25 percent of the defensive snaps, and recording 5 solo tackles and 2 passes defensed. He can have one more year to figure things out.

Verdict: Stay. 1 year, $0.75 million

DE Kyle Phillips (RFA)

His specialty is stopping the run. He'll never be a pass rusher but for a defense that was porous against the run, Phillips was a welcome addition in the second half of the season.

Verdict: Stay. 1 year, $2 million.

LB Jarrad Davis

The first free agent signing of this offseason turned out to be the worst. He was more productive for the Jets when he missed the first 6 games of the season due to injury. He took terrible angles against the run, could not rush the passer, and those opposing team's fruitful screens, well they often came at the expense of #52.

Verdict: Go. Far far away.

LB Del'Shawn Phillips

Special teams, nothing more, nothing less. 11 tackles in 17 games.

Verdict: Go.

CB Javelin Guidry (ERFA)

One of those polarizing players that people seem to either love or hate. In a pinch, he's a nice fill in. He allowed 28 catches on 39 targets for 328 yards and 2 touchdowns. He can stay as a backup, but hopefully, he will not be counted on.

Verdict: Stay. 1 year, $1 million

S LaMarcus Joyner

We all know that when Carl Lawson tore his Achilles on that fateful day on the Green Bay Packers practice field, the Jets defense suffered a blow they were never going to recover from. But one of the biggest hits this defense took that few people talk about is LaMarcus Joyner going down for the season in the first half of Game 1 in Charlotte. His coverage and tackling skills were sorely missed and were a big reason this defense finished 32nd overall.

Verdict: Keep. 1 year, $2.5 million. I hope LaMarcus is content to take a 1 year prove it deal. I would offer him basically the same contract again and see if he bites.

S Marcus Maye

A lot of Jets fans have been talking online about the team needs to play their own players. Well, Joe Douglas isn't going to be as quick to pay the players who (1) he didn't draft, (2) don't play a valued position, (3) had a DUI and left the scene, (4) tore his Achilles. And in truth, Maye wasn't killing it anyway. He had allowed 240 yards in pass coverage in just six games, and had already missed six tackles.

Verdict: Go. Start over at starting safety. One draft pick and one free agent.

S Sharron Neasman

12 tackles in 11 games. Most of his playing time came in Week 4 and 5 vs Tennessee and Atlanta and then he didn't see the filed too much after that. Practice squad at best.

Verdict: Go. If he will take 750k or so, as the 5th safety, we can have a conversation.

S Elijah Riley (ERFA)

A lot was asked from Elijah after every safety seemed to go down with a season-ending injury. He recorded 23 tackles in 7 games. He showed he can hit, but his blown coverage against Tampa Bay in Week 17 was horrible. If he's your 4th safety, ok. But he simply can't be trusted with extensive playing time.

Verdict: Go. Maybe I'd offer him a million dollars for a year, but I'd rather try some new blood.

K Eddy Piniero

Steady Eddy! 8 for 8 on field goals and 9 for 10 on extra points, and that 1 miss was blocked. May we never think of Alex Kessman again.

Verdict: Keep: 1 year 1 million dollars is a slight raise from his current contract, and I would still bring in another kicker for competition.

In summary, we spent $25 million, and before any contract restructuring, that leaves $45 million. Factor in about $15 million to sign the draft class, and that leaves us $30 million to spend in outside free agency.