In the wee hours of the morning (read: anything before 10 a.m. is wee for the Foul Weather Fan) on October 7th, 2009 the New York Football Jets pulled off one of the most rare occurrences in professional football. The Midseason Trade. “Oohs” and “Aahhs” abound, the reaction a little muted due to the long-awaited 49ers signing of the final first round holdout Michael Crabtree, but sure enough a collective air of excitement, anticipation, and uneasiness swept through Jets Nation on an already breezy New York City autumn day.
Chansi Stuckey, Jason Trusnik, and a pick in the 3rd and 5th round are the pieces that enticed the Browns to part with one-time Pro-bowler Braylon Edwards. The 3rd round pick is conditional and if Braylon reaches a set number of catches the pick has the potential to become a 2nd. Also expected should be contract discussions and an extension, potentially in the coming weeks. Braylon Edwards is in the final year of his contract and it would be both a surprise and disappointment if the Jets did not intend to lock him up for the next few years. Brett Favre aside, organizations usually do not mortgage their future for one year of gain.
Even though the Jets split ties with four (two this year and two in 2010) total players, you have to believe they saw this as a great time to “buy low”. A disappointing follow-up to his rousing 2007 campaign (80 catches, 1200+ yds, 16 TDs) Braylon has garnered more attention for his off-field escapades than his on-field accolades (65 receptions and 3 TDs in his last 20 games). Edwards, as recently as this Sunday, the 4th of October, was involved in an altercation with a friend of NBA star LeBron James where he allegedly struck the man and in the process reiterated disparaging comments he’s made previously about LeBron not being a “hometown guy.” Those remarks in reference to Lebron wearing a New York Yankees hat during the Cleveland Indians 2007 playoff run. During this 2008 off-season Braylon was seen partying with Donte Stallworth the same night where later that morning Stallworth hit and killed a pedestrian while driving intoxicated in the Miami Beach area. The NFL has been heavy-handed in the fines and suspensions levied in the Roger Goodell era and you have to assume the Jets have assessed the risk in partnering with Edwards.
In more football specific news, according to ESPN, Braylon Edwards shares the league lead for “on-target drops” with Denver Broncos wideout Brandon Marshall with 30 since 2007. This week also marked the first time Edwards did not haul in a single pass in 62 games.
But on the positive side for Jets fan, Edwards career is only 62 games long. So this is the first time in the entirety of Braylon Edwards career that he has gone reception-less in a game. At 26 years old and after averaging more than 15 yards a reception in his last 2 seasons, it may just be a little too premature to say that his best years are behind him. The legs and breakaway speed still seem to be there. At 6’3 his height won’t be leaving him either. It is also safe to say that his production may have been stifled due to the ineptitude of the Browns offense and coaching staff (in fact that is REALLY safe to say).
The Jets will pair Braylon Edwards with budding star receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who has gone over 70 yards receiving in each of the Jets first 4 games this season. The tandem will give the Jets an opportunity to coalesce the possession receiver skills of Cotchery with the big play burst of Edwards to devastating effect. The clear idea behind this is to provide Mark Sanchez with proven threats and playmakers. Cotchery, TE Dustin Keller, and now Edwards will serve to open up the passing game as well as stretch the defense and pull 8 men out of the box so the running game can rekindle the successes they had last year (4th in the AFC with 125.2 yards per game).
The Browns in the deal have an exciting young speed burner in Chansi Stuckey, 3 years in the league out of Clemson, as well as Special Teams Player of the Week in the NFL for Week 3, Jason Trusnik. This is the second trade the Mangini-manned Browns have orchestrated with Mangini’s former employer this year. In April, the Browns traded the 5th overall pick in the draft, which net the Jets Mark Sanchez.
The impact of this trade remains to be seen. The Jets are dealing and playing to win now and the Browns are in the midst of a disappointing season that most would not be hard-pressed to label “a rebuilding year” at this point. One thing to keep an eye on is the development of QB Brett Ratliff (acquired by the Browns in the Sanchez draft pick trade from the Jets) and Chansi Stuckey in the years to come for the Browns. Ratliff is behind both Derrick Anderson and Brady Quinn but has the tools that may lead to future success in the League.
Jets fans can be assured that their organization is doing their best to win and win now. The only real issue now; When LeBron comes to the Knicks in 2010 will Braylon still knock him for wearing a Yankees cap? The Foul Weather Fan is waiting with baited breath…
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