Keep em' or Cut em'

Some thoughts regarding players who I hope will stick around and those who I hope won't be in the green and white next year.

Lets skip the appetizers and get right to the main coarse.... Vernon Gholston. In an un-capped season, players who have grossly underachieved and are grossly overpaid can be dumped and the cap hit can be absorbed all at once. It's kinda' like a get out of jail free card. In this case it is impossible for any outsider to be able to make an evaluation. He is simply never on the field. Our coaches know if he is worth holding on to or if he should be dropped. There is no reason to look at his stats because they are pretty much non-existent. If they decide to keep him I'll give him the benefit of the doubt... one last time.

Lito Sheppard looked absolutely horrible in 2009. I'm not sure what else to say. He played the sloppiest coverage, constantly holding and grabbing receivers. I was not an expert on his career with the Eagles, but I do remember him being one hell of a playmaker. I have a suspicion that he was struggling with more injuries than were reported. He was a huge disappointment, but now that the Jets have become the defense every player want to play for maybe he can get healthy and more importantly inspired. He and Gholston both seem to have some issues with motivation.

Kris Jenkins has had some pretty major injuries in his career and certainly gets the damage prone warning label. I would hold on to him because he is an amazing game changer on the field

and a true leader in the locker room. As a team we need to make sure we have some solid young talent backing him up. Pohua is a serviceable lineman, but we need to start thinking about the future.

Sean Ellis has been an overall disappointment as far as I am concerned. I remember when he and John Abraham were drafted together and how he was the stable, "safe" investment and Abraham was the wild child. He was awarded the big contract and Abraham was pretty much shown the door. He played very well this season, and as far as I am concerned he has created a small trade value. I would love to see him and Kerry Rhodes offered up to the Raiders for Richard Seymour. I won't say much more about #25, I have been clear that I don't think he belongs on this team any longer.

I was unimpressed by Braylon Edwards this past season to say the least. I think he has the most upside of any WR in the entire NFL. If he was to sell out and dedicate himself to his craft, and if Sanchez develops into the QB we all hope he can be, Edwards could have a 4 or 5 year stretch that any player would kill for. He has been given an amazing opportunity here in NY. I really feel that 80 yard TD pass in the AFC Championship game could have real ramifications next season. One play can really change things.

Finally I will mention Thomas Jones. He hit the wall before our eyes during the playoffs this year. Thats how it happens with RB's in the NFL. He also might draw some interest on the trading block, but his cap number is pretty big in 2010 and that could be very useful for us. If he gets released we would have a real chance at pursuing a moderately priced UFA. He has been a real value to us for the past 3 seasons, but this is a business, and he is past his prime.