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I apologize for missing this one last year . . .
Somebody posed yesterday that Jets cornerback Darryl Roberts had a career-high 63 tackles last year.
In the story, it was mentioned that, “the Jets still owe Roberts $13 million over the next two years.”
I was like, “what?”
I was wrongly under the impression that Roberts was giving a one-year deal last year, perhaps for the veteran minimum..
I screwed up, totally missing the story that the Jets former GM gave Roberts a new three-year deal for $18 million with $4 million guaranteed.
My bad. The Jets don’t e-mail or text transactions to beat reporters, but that’s no excuse, I should have known about this. I missed it.
But when I read this yesterday, I was flabbergasted.
First off, good for Roberts and his family. This kind of money can give them financial security for many years to come. That is wonderful for them.
However, while Roberts gives you everything he’s got on every Sunday, he’s perhaps a little too inconsistent to give him this kind of contract.
Last time we saw him starting this year was in Miami, and he had a very rough game, giving up quite a few receptions in this Jets’ loss to the previous winless Dolphins.
After the game, Roberts went after “fake expletive fans” on Twitter.
The following week Roberts hurt his calf in practice, was out a while, and then when he returned, he didn’t get his starting job back.
Roberts is tough as they come, and fearlessly throws his body around in run support. You have to tip your hat to him for that. But in coverage, his instincts are so-so, and this leads to him giving up a lot of receptions. He’s often a see-and-go reactor. You can’t teach instincts. He does the best he can.
Look, I’m not second-guessing here. You can go back to the spring and read several premium articles where I wrote I was surprised that the Jets had him starting opposite Trumaine Johnson. I didn’t get this. I wrote several times that he doesn’t have “starter instincts.”
Look, I have no issue with Roberts being on a team as a fourth or fifth corner and core special teams players. He’s very good on special teams.
But starting him, that is a probably a stretch, but the former GM obviously viewed him as a good #2 cornerback based on the contract.
That former GM also stuck with Buster Skrine for four years as the Jets’ nickel back, when after a couple of years of rough play, they probably should have moved.
That former GM also gave Johnson, who runs like a safety, $34 million guaranteed.
So maybe his cornerback scouting approach needs to be tweaked.
I hate to keep criticizing the former GM, who is a terrific person, but some of this stuff makes you scratch your head, and whatever you think of Adam Gase, the actions of this man made him scratch his head also, and he designed a coup to oust him, but Christopher had probably seen enough at that point anyway.
Sorry I missed this Roberts contract extension last year.
Roberts got a three-year deal for $18 million with $4 million guaranteed?
Good for him and his family. This is awesome for them.
As much as it pains me to write this because he’s such a good guy, but the former GM might have been over overmatched in the GM chair, and his right hand man was too young and inexperienced.
Roberts is a veteran minimum reserve cornerback and core special team’s player. That is what he is, and there is nothing wrong with that.
January 28, 2020
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