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Perception vs. reality.
Really good general managers deal with absolute reality at all times when it comes to player evaluations.
You can’t get caught up in hype, media takes or public relations.
What does the film say?
And as they say in the football world, “The film doesn’t lie.”
So far Joe Douglas seems like a guy who tends to deal with reality, and just go with what the film says.
Marcus Maye is a very solid player, but based on the extensive film study of Douglas, and others in the building who the GM leans on, they determined the player is not a $14-15 million-a-year safety, like Denver’s Justin Simmons or Arizona’s Budda Baker.
Now that doesn’t mean Douglas is down on the player. Not at all. He likes Maye the person and player quite a bit, but that doesn’t mean you have to put him in the very top stratosphere of safety contracts.
Of all the commentary on the Maye contract situation, the person who probably nailed it the best was NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger, who knows Douglas very well.
Appearing on NFL Network panel to discuss news around the league on Wednesday, Baldinger was asked about a Maye contract extension, and said the following:
“Well, I think this GM is going to have a hard time doing it to be honest with you,” said Baldinger. “Marcus stepped up in the absence of Jamal Adams and had his best season, but Joe Douglas, the GM, has been around Ed Reed (in Baltimore) and was in Philadelphia with Brian Dawkins. I just think when he thinks about high-priced safeties, he needs a safety to take the ball away and change games, and I’m not sure he feels that way about Marcus Maye. He might, but if they did, they would have showed him a long-term contract and that hasn’t happened and I don’t think it’s going to happen.”
And it didn’t. It’s official now. The Jets didn’t extend Maye by Thursday’s 4 pm deadline, so now the player must play the 2021 season under the franchise tag.
Yes, there were some highlight film plays, like that defensed pass to ice a win over Pittsburgh in 2019, and a spectacular interception against Miami, but maybe between the highlight film plays, they needed to see a little more. You can’t make contract decisions based on NFL Network highlights, but instead, must consider the entire body of work.
The agent might have an inflated view of the value based on a few highlight film plays, and the player getting the MVP Award on a 2-14 team, which some might argue doesn’t mean a ton.
Look, I’m not looking to beat up Maye, who is a good player, and a terrific person, but man, perhaps tell you agent to get out of the way, and keep it real man, and take the best offer you can get.
Do you think it’s going to get better next off-season as a 29-year-old free agent safety? Hard to get paid big bucks at at that position, at that age.
Douglas is man who generally keeps it real when it comes to contracts. It’s about the film.
None of this is personal.
It’s just being pragmatic with your money in a league with a salary cap.
July 15, 2021
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