JET NOTES
Herman Edwards said yesterday that he wants “all my good players back” on the team for next season.
He went on, however, to say that many would be able to stay only on the Jets’ financial terms based on the team’s poor salary- cap standing.
Vinny Testaverde’s uncertain status as the incumbent QB was the news of the day yesterday, but there are so many other players who may or may not be back in 2002.
The Jets’ starting secondary is a cap buster, with underachieving CB Marcus Coleman due to count some $5.7 million on the cap, CB Aaron Glenn due to count about $8 million and FS Damien Robinson, who’s been a complete bust this season, owed a $2.7 million roster bonus on March 1. Even SS Victor Green, who renegotiated last year, is due a $2 million roster bonus on March 1.
Among the players who are certain to be gone include veteran P Tom Tupa, who had his worst season and is pricey, and WR Matthew Hatchette, who was the bust of the free-agent crop and caught only two passes after signing on to be a starter.
The Jets’ significant unrestricted free agents include key offensive linemen Jason Fabini and Kerry Jenkins, along with LB James Farrior, who led the team in tackles.
LB Marvin Jones’ contract calls for him to be paid the average of the top five LBs in the NFL once March arrives.
So, many renegotiations and releases are on the horizon for the Jets, who could look a lot different than they looked in 2001.
“This team has paid a lot of players [previously] and now we have to look at these guys to decide if they should continue to be here,” Edwards said. “We’ll be up front with everyone. We’ll approach players with truth: ‘This is what we can and can’t do.’
“The player will always have the last say on what he does, whether it works for him monetarily or not.”
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Edwards gave embattled offensive coordinator Paul Hackett a vote of confidence yesterday, strongly indicating that Hackett isn’t going anywhere.
“He came in and built a foundation we can live with at this point,” Edwards said. “There’s a big, big upside on the things we can do. [The players] understand him a little better and he understands the players a little better.
“I’m not one of those coaches where after one year you fire everybody,” Edwards went on.
“I don’t think firing is the right thing to do. I don’t know if that fixes it or not. I saw that in Tampa. They fired three offensive coordinators. I don’t know, did they fix it? They haven’t fixed anything.”