What to say in a climate of complete doubt...

Who knows whats going to happen over the next few months? Usually around this time I would be talking offseason moves and the NFL Draft. Frankly, I have been so off about what the Jets would or should do in the draft, I won't waste my time with detailed evaluations. For years I have been wanting to address the D-line and land a 1st round impact RB. In 06' I wanted Addai and Ngata. In 07' I wanted Peterson and Okoye. In 08' McFadden and Calais Campbell. In 09' I wanted Knowshon and Clay Mathews. Last season I wanted Jerry Hughes and no RB. I didn't like one in the whole draft.

The reason I list these previous players is because this might actually be the year we address the D-line early. I also have my eye on another 1st round RB stud... Ingram. I can't imagine Sanchez with Holmes and Edwards out wide and Mark Ingram running behind our O-line. WOW, how do you defend that?

In other news, Vernon Gholston is a goner. Good riddens, I won't beat a dead horse, his complete lack of impact speaks for itself. David Harris has been franchised, mostly as a precautionary measure. If it wasn't for the labor ambiiguity I think a deal would be done by now. I do like Harris, but I am sure we will over pay for him. He is horrible in coverage, has little experince calling plays and is practically a mute. But... he is solid against the run, big and strong, and that INT in the playoff game against the Patriots may have sealed the deal. I'll take em'.

Our wide receiver predicament is very interesting. The 3 most important in order are Homes, Smith and Edwards. Holmes made a loud, definitive statement last season. He is our #1 WR and should be for years. Smith will stay for a fair contract and he is a jack of all trades. He has a significant impact on Special Teams and Offense. Edwards is a rare combination of size and speed, he has a nose for the big play and he caught everything thrown his way in 2010. I think we will also land him for a hometown discount. The Holmes contract will be the real struggle, but I am sure he is our top priority. The odd man out is Jericho Cothchery. He had a lack luster season, missed some time with injury and will count heavily against our salary cap in 2011. I would focus on the other 3 WR's, trade Cotchery (4th rounder) and pick up a young prospect somewhere in the draft.

I am not so sure we need to address the Safety position. With Poole, Lowery, Smith and Leonard I think we are OK. I would drop Cromartie ASAP. This guy is a ticking time bomb, I am shocked that we paid the price we did to land him. He is almost as sloppy and lazy as Lito Shepppard, and off the field he is a P.R. nightmare. I don't need to see quotes like "FUCK Tom Brady" in the newpapers with a Jets logo next to it. It's disgusting and classless. Jettison this animal and let him go to the Redskins or the Raiders where he belongs. Kyle Wilson is the key to the whole secondary. Mr. T has a great batting average in the draft, but a team can only afford one major strike out in the 1st round each decade. Gholston is that one. If Wilson also fails to develop (and develop quickly) it could have major ramifications moving forward.

I am 100% confident in our O-line and thats without Woody. We have at least 5 very solid lineman since Slauson and Hunter stepped up and we still have Vlad the Impaler on the bench developing. Great work by our GM and coaches in one of the most important squads on a team. The O-line really is the foundation for everything.

I am a true fan of Mark Sanchez. I think 2011 will be a break out year for him and Shonn Greene. #6 did make some progress last year and he is 4-2 in the postseason after only 2 years in the league. That playoff experience and the plays he made to win games in the final moments last year are invaluable. He is the real deal IMHO. Greene had a bit of a sophomore slump, but he has the tools to get the job done. He and McNight could be a real force in another year or two. McNight is a project, but working with Westhoff on special teams could help him become another Neon Leon.

One final concern for me is the tight end position. Keller has developed as a decent blocker and from time to time he can make a big play. We need to add a big veteran blocking TE, and a tall rookie who can be a perfect target for Mark and have an impact in the passing game. If Keller goes down, we are in a bad position.

I think this is the year to move a few players like J-Co, pick up some mid round picks and focus on the draft. There aren't very many interesting free agents out there, and our cap situation is approaching the critical level. We have an excellent nucleus, a few key rookies could get us over the hump.

Tiki Barber: An egomaniacal train wreck

Tiki Barber was a talented, fast, dynamic and sneaky powerful half-back who was considered a B- talent early in his career. Why would he be labeled a B- if he had all of these attributes? Because of one that I haven't mentioned, which was the one he was best known for before he met Tom Coughlin... 'fumble prone'. Thats the kiss of death for a runner in the NFL.

From the day Coughlin took over as the coach of the Giants, Barber began to ascend to the top of his game. When he walked away from football in 2006 he was universally considered a top 5 RB and may have been the best the NFL had to offer that year. He had put up 3 consecutive seasons of over 2,000 all purpose yards including his infamous 2005 campaign that yielded nearly 2,400 yards and double digit TD's... Oh, and a grand total of ONE fumble in 16 regular season games.

He showed his gratitude to his coach and teammates by throwing them under the bus every chance he got, and even leaked the news about his retirement early causing a huge distraction. As soon as the season was over he was introduced by NBC as their new dynamic TV personality. Not only would he be a big part of their "Football Night in America" show, but Barber also insisted that he become a part of the "Today Show" because he had soooooo much to offer.

Tiki was prepared for the inevitable question regarding why he retired at his introductory press conference. He made it clear that he was ready for a new challenge, which in and of itself would have been a classy answer. But, Barber made sure to add that Coughlins strict disciplinary coaching style was also a contributing factor.

He proceeded to amaze viewers with his mannequin-like facial expressions, fake robotic smiles and monotone commentary and interviews. While he was crashing and burning on TV, his former team went on one of the all time greatest Cinderella post season runs winning the Superbowl (much to my delight) by defeating the 18-0 Patriots.

So, he walked away... at the top of his game... made sure to throw the coach, who helped him reach his full potential, under the bus... crashed and burned on TV while his former team simultaneously won the big game... Oh, and he also decided to leave his pregnant wife for a 23 year old intern he was having an affair with. So now it's 2011, he his 35 years old and has no money to pay his divorce settlement. That means he is broke.

He has just notified the NFL that he plans on returning to football this season (if there is one). What a coincidence! Let this be a lesson to you children... EGO can be a dangerous thing. And, burning all of your bridges on the way up can make the trip down a very lonely free fall. Good luck to whatever team decides to sign this way past his prime, locker room cancer who has zero passion for the game.