In a move that will likely be seen by many Jets fans as a move towards taking the AFC East division title, the New York Jets traded for Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards this morning.
At first glance, the move would appear to make sense for the Jets–they’ve lacked a big name wide receiver this season, who can stretch the field and take some pressure off of the running game. Led by a defense that is ranked 3rd in points allowed and 4th in yardage allowed in the NFL and the effective (if not spectacular, for a rookie) play of QB Mark Sanchez, the team started 3-0.
But the Jets passing game is also ranked 27th in the NFL after four games, and Sanchez looked more like a rookie QB last week against the Saints, a team that, while improved defensively, has not had a reputation for having a stout defense in recent years. And while the running game is currently ranked 9th in the NFL by yardage, that can’t be expected to continue if the team can’t effectively move the ball through the air, as teams will start to put 8-9 guys in the box regularly to stop Thomas Jones and Leon Washington.
Edwards brings to the Jets a rare combination of size and speed, and the pedigree of being a #3 overall pick, in the 2005 draft. But to be honest, that’s about all the positivity that he brings to the table for the Jets.
He also brings a reputation for dropping passes (tied with Brandon Marshall for the most in the NFL over the last 2+ seasons), and a reputation for being a bit of a head case. Just in the last week, he failed to catch a pass in the Browns overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and was the accused of punching a friend of NBA star LeBron James, who claims that Edwards has always been jealous of him.
In his career, he has also accused Cleveland fans of not appreciating him because of his Michigan roots, gotten into a sideline altercation with quarterback Charlie Frye, and was late to at least one team meeting due to attending the famed Michigan-Ohio State game, after being advised by team veterans not to. He was also fined $150 and given 30 hours of community service last November after being found guilty of driving 120 MPH, and was partying in Miami with fellow Browns WR Donte Stallworth the night that Stallworth struck and killed a man while driving drunk (although Edwards was not with Stallworth at the time).
Playing in Cleveland, Edwards is used to playing in front of fans that are rabid, and will be on his case for dropping passes–although, I don’t ever remember the Dawg Pound cheering as one of their own players crawled off the field injured before.
Added to the fans will be the increased media scrutiny–even as the red-headed step-child to the Giants in New York, it’s likely that Edwards never faced the type of media criticism in the media hot beds of Cleveland and Ann Arbor that he will face in New York.
Edwards is also in a contract season–the time of a career when many players step up their games. So far this season, Edwards has failed to do so–will that continue in New York, or will he finally regain his 2007 season form? And will the Jets make an effort to resign him before the end of the season, or will they risk letting the player they just traded for walk away?
Finally, one must also take into consideration that Edwards will be going to a new team–while the offense may be similar to the one run in Cleveland (as much of Cleveland’s staff was in New York last year), he hasn’t really proven that he’s great in that offense yet–and he’ll be trying to establish a rhythm with a new quarterback–just ask Roy Williams, who had an even better track record than Edwards in the NFL, and struggled mightily when he was traded to the Cowboys last season.
In the end, the Jets clearly felt they had to make a move to compete over the full season in the AFC–with New England in their division, Baltimore and Indianapolis playing at extremely high levels, Pittsburgh and San Diego still talented but struggling a bit, and Denver…well, playing so far above what anyone expected it’s ridiculous, even making the playoffs could be a struggle.
The question now is whether this move is one that will actually help the Jets, or whether it will actually set them back even further.
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I think its a great move on the Jets part. Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards as the 1-2 WR punch!?! With the 3 headed monster in the backfield: Thomas Jones/Leon Washington/Shonn Greene. Dustin Keller will be open because of this. And with a defense who can stop anything thrown or run at them. This will give Mark Sanchize a total of 3 Big Targets(Cotchery, Edwards, Keller). Chansi Stuckey was mediocre at best. And Jason Trusnik was “ok”. So, all and all, great deal for the Jets.
Brad,
I think you have the potential to be right. But there are legitimate concerns about A) Edwards’ character and B) His ability to hang onto the ball.
If you get the 2007 Edwards who made amazing plays all season long and looked like a top pick, the Jets could go deep into the playoffs. If you get the Edwards from the last year and a half, you haven’t gotten any better and you’ve potentially introduced a cancer into the locker room.
I like what the Jets had going. This was an aggressive move toward being a real contender and I like that they took a chance. But if he starts dropping balls, Jets fans will skewer him.
Andy, that’s true about the fans of the Jets(because I have season tickets) . I just think Braylon needed to get away from Cleveland. He’s better than any WR on the Jets, except Jerricho Cotchery. The only reason why he had so many drops is because he was the only legit receiver on the Browns. More pressure to make the “big play”. With the Jets, he has Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, Jerricho Cotchery, Dustin Keller, etc. Also, the Jets defense can stop just about anything. I think it can work out.
Brad,
I agree with everything you wrote except the part about the only reason for his drops. The Jets have impressed me a ton this season – I really like what that team is developing into.
That said, saying Edwards was dropping the ball because he was the only receiver they had, I think, gives him too easy of an out.
He’s dropped passes when he was covered. He’s dropped them when he was wide open. He’s dropped them when the Browns were ahead. He’s dropped them when they were getting killed.
If a receiver gets his hands on the ball he should catch it – whether he is the only player on the team or not. It’s a concentration thing or a head case thing or maybe a frustration thing – but no matter the reason, I’m not going to give him a pass that it was only happening because he was stuck as the only good receiver in Cleveland.
That’s too simple.
I understand that my Jets lost last night, but Braylon’s performance was great. This trade, so far, is benefiting the Jets a lot more than the Browns. We just have to wait and see who the Browns draft with the picks and see how they do.
It’s a little early to declare a winner in the trade–Browns impact won’t be felt until next season at the earliest. Edwards made a couple of grabs that he wasn’t able to make in Cleveland the last year and half (for whatever reason)–but I also would say that he should have had that ball on the interference call–looked to me like it hit him in the hands.
Your right about the PI call. But overall, he played great. He made some really outstanding grabs.