New York Jets give Bart Scott permission to seek trade
Now, the franchise could be looking to deal unproductive linebacker Bart Scott. Scott, who is better known for his bark than his bite, has been a colossal failure with the Jets. He has been at the front lines of Rex Ryan's boastful talk and predictions, but he has never played well during his three years with the team. With three years remaining on a six year $48 million contract, the Jets want to move that deal to someone else.
Scott is due $4.2 million with a $250,000 workout bonus. If the Jets move that contract, they would have freed up $11 million before free agency.
Why is this so interesting? The answer is the Jets have a lot of needs this year. They desperately need an outside pass rusher, and two guys, Robert Mathis, free agent with the Colts, and Mario Williams, free agent with the Texans, are available, and seeking big contracts.
The Jets could also be getting ready to make a move at quarterback. With lingering doubts from the front office on down to the locker room about mediocre Mark Sanchez, the Jets could suddenly be in the market for Peyton Manning if he became a free agent.
Rex Ryan didn't knock down the idea that Manning could be a Jet at last week's combine, saying that the Jets would look to improve every position, including quarterback, even though he wants Sanchez to be the Jets starter. If the Jets somehow landed Manning, they would have to find a taker for Sanchez's two year contract with $16 million owed to him through 2013.
Sanchez has shown little improvement in his three years as a starter, and many wonder if he will ever be a good quarterback, let alone a franchise quarterback.
The likelihood that the Jets would go down that road is slim to none, considering the team failed miserably when they traded for Brett Favre back in 2008. Granted Ryan wasn't the coach then, but GM Mike Tannenbaum WAS the club's GM at that time, so he probably doesn't want to go 0-for-2 on aging Hall of Fame quarterbacks.
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