$3.2B franchise skimped on free agents
The Jets are valued at an estimated $3.2 billion, so why did Gang Green cry cash poor during free agency? General manager Joe Douglas and/or the team’s contract negotiators told agents of freeagent players that the team was strapped for cash, according to sources.
Douglas side-stepped a question during his conference call this week about whether he had cash-flow restrictions during the first two weeks of free agency.
“We’re trying to be as financially responsible as we can be,” Douglas said. “We’re comfortable about where we are right now with our cash flow, while also maintaining a certain level of flexibility. So, if the right opportunity presents itself, we can be proactive and go after a certain player. So, I would just say that we feel good about where we are now and where we are moving forward.”
The Jets signed a litany of one-year rentals in free agency, setting the stage for Douglas to have a mountain of salary cap space next year. There are pros (future flexibility) and cons (very few – if any – additional foundation pieces) to that approach.
That strategy also only works if ownership green lights monster contracts with sizable signing bonuses that require payments put in escrow.
But the Jets’ stance to agents in the past few weeks that the organization didn’t have the cash on hand is troubling on multiple fronts.
There are two explanations: 1) Team executives were being disingenuous during negotiations, or 2) ownership put barriers on them.
Neither scenario is particularly flattering for a franchise living in the margins for the past decade.
“I think that financial discipline is going to play a big role in helping us build a team that ultimately has flexibility moving forward,” Douglas said. “And to be a team that can have continued and long-term success.”
Douglas shares the exact same philosophy as former GMs John Idzik, who banked a mountain of money before getting fired, and Mike Maccagnan. It only works if you repeatedly hit home runs, especially in the draft. Otherwise, you wind up with a roster filled with backup-caliber players that is constantly being turned over.
Douglas also reiterated his lofty organizational goal.
“Our plan is the same: We’re going to try to create the best culture in sports,” he said. “That all revolves around bringing in the right people.”
Douglas’ approach is admirable, but actions speak much louder than those words. Cash limitations are barriers to sustained success. Prevarications about cash limitations only serve to further sully the organization’s reputation.
Douglas is right in this important sense though: Bringing in the right people matters. So does removing the wrong ones.
@MMehtaNYDN