Link It wasn't about an agent or not, it was about money. I was on the fence a little before, but I now blame JT fully.
oh dude, it was always about money. This whole situation was crap. He wanted a deal from us that would match the jets and we flat out weren't even entertaining the idea. Seriously, why else would he go to a city we know he doesn't like, to play for fans we know he doesn't like, for a team we know he doesn't like!? Screw all the super bowl talk, screw the 'better fit' argument, It was all about the money. The best part, not once in any of these interviews has he apologized for what he used to say about Jets fans because deep down you know he still believes it. He just wanted that paycheck.
Yes of course its about the money. I don't fault the guy for wanting more money, at all. My problem is that he and a lot of posters here, are crying about loyalty. They offered him what they felt was a fair contract, he declined not because the FO didn't want his agent involved, but because he wanted more money in an uncapped year. To force their hand he tried to play Russian roulette with our most hated rival. He lost. He was the one pissing away loyalty for money, not the FO.
And with the news that the FO did indeed offer him another contract for more money only highlights this even more. JT has always been a self man, great football player though.
Q: Do you have any regrets not accepting Bill Parcells' contract offer back in November? A: "There's no regrets. It wasn't the right time. We were in 2009 in the middle of a playoff push and I was offered a deal then on the 2009 salary cap. Any person that does any business or negotiating will realize that 2010 is going to be an uncapped year and the money will be different. I was offered the same money I signed for last year. So, we made an offer..which I already knew. Miami said recently, wait till after the draft, because now its not good timing for us. We already made an offer, so why play this game on your terms. You just wanted an offer, to feel wanted.....Well you got one. Bottom line to me, and I don't care what anyone else says.... you play for the Jets, I CANNOT stand you. Period. End of discussion. Dan Marino, as a fan I love you. Zach, as a fan, I love you. JT, your a JET..... you figure it out.
Please. I still don't absolve the FO. Yes they offered him money, but what did they offer, $1.5 million? How would you like your boss to come in and said we will pay you $8.00/hour when you are worth $30/hour? It was a BS offer. Period.
Who wants to get low-balled on the last contact you will ever get? Offering that kind of money during an uncapped year, when he just came off of a season where he was asked to come in and save their asses after they screwed up the Matt Roth thing.........is a joke. JT not waiting and signing with the Jets is also a joke.... Both sides are to blame.... What's done is done.....time to move on.
No, this is a situation where you're worth $11, but a job offers you $10...and promises you great weather, people who love you, and the ability to continue looking like an honest guy... But, you choose the sewer plant where you swim in feces all day, everyone hates you, you lose your integrity and look like a liar...for the $30. Then you hate it, it all goes wrong, and you wish you stayed at your old job.
Did his play merit more than 1.5 mil? That's debatable. Again, don't blame the guy for wanting more money, but people are crying about loyalty. JT preferred money over loyalty, not the other way around.
Guys read this article. He was offered a deal worth a little over 2 mil year. It's really no different than teams that offer those old vets the "vet minimum" to play for a year or so. Fact is JT is old. Is it smart to offer him a mega deal just because of what he's done in the past? The team was fair with him. "...the Dolphins were willing to bring him back and even asked Taylor to undergo shoulder surgery immediately after the season. Taylor declined the Dolphins' contract offer, and opted to have the shoulder surgery a month later. The source claimed this put the Dolphins in a position in which they were unsure whether Taylor wanted to continue playing. Miami then communicated to Taylor's camp that it would wait until after the draft to re-evaluate Taylor rejoining the team."... http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5124774&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines
Yeah, I know but I wanted to quote the article for emphasis, and then it just seemed proper to give a link to the quote..........damned if you do; damned if you don't