Patriots News: Jets to Release Some Big Names

by Richard Hill on Feb 28, 2011 6:39 PM EST in New England Patriots News

According to the Jet Stream, the Jets are about to release the following players:

Kris Jenkins, Vernon Gholston, Damien Woody and Jason Taylor

OLB/DE Vernon Gholston shouldn't come as a surprise because he's one of the biggest draft busts of the past decade. Right tackle Damien Woody, a former Patriot, is also on the decline, but he should get some looks because he's still a serviceable lineman.

Two players from this transaction interest me: Jason Taylor and Kris Jenkins.

Jenkins is an interesting player. He is, by no means, unable to play, but injuries have taken him off the field for the past two seasons and his price tag is too high for the Jets to hold onto. He is a monstrous nose tackle who will "only" be 32 at the start of next season- which means that he's prime for a one to two year rental period. I'm sure he will be offered a large deal from some other franchise, but he would be able to come and contribute on the Patriots as a nose tackle as Vince Wilfork could be moved to the edge.

Taylor was an option for the Patriots before he decided to go with the Jets. He shouldn't command too high of a contract deal and should be a serviceable depth player at outside linebacker for at least another season. He recorded 5 sacks last season out of the reserve role, which would have put him tied for second on the Patriots. He's able to drop back into coverage and he remains a solid role model for the younger players. All he wants is to win a ring and he might believe that the Patriots could give him a chance at a ring and retirement.

Do I think the Patriots should sign any of these players? Not really since three of them are being released because they're old. However, they could be solid players to help bridge the transition between young and experience and they can be role models in the locker room because, unlike a couple of their teammates, Jenkins, Taylor, and Woody are class acts. It will be interesting to see where these players turn up this off-season.

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I want the Pats to bring Jason Taylor...thoughts?

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Cameron Heyward-Future 3-4 RDE for the New England Patriots

by NinjaZX6R on Feb 28, 2011 6:41 PM EST reply actions

Two years and two teams ago I would have said yes

But the time for Jason has come and gone.

by waldoon on Feb 28, 2011 7:02 PM EST up reply actions

Yes, please.

Deep in enemy territory

by JeffyB on Feb 28, 2011 7:47 PM EST up reply actions

absolutly not:)

by frogfromthemud on Feb 28, 2011 8:36 PM EST up reply actions

No way! Retire already!!

Don't cut your locks Tom Terrific!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.

by PatNation85 on Feb 28, 2011 9:22 PM EST up reply actions

He is done

the biggest problem with the jet defense last year was pass rush – Taylor just isn’t the guy he was. On a side note -it will be interesting to see what happens to the jet next year with the lost of these high character guys

leave the gun, take the connolis

by injuredrightshoulder on Mar 1, 2011 12:57 AM EST up reply actions

Initially I felt no, but now I'm interested

Great player…but past his prime so I don’t see a lot of value in production.
I see him as a potential veteran leader and mentor to help the younger players grow

by JonnyNYC on Mar 1, 2011 9:55 AM EST up reply actions

I wouldn't mind, but I think he will retire.

"There's no place like it, and it's ours." - Stephen King on Fenway Park

by 808BostonSportsFan on Mar 1, 2011 7:57 PM EST up reply actions

Oh btw..Jenkins isn't a class act.

This is the dude who, during the whole war of words between the players during the playoff week, said “I don’t like cheaters”-referring to spygate.
I guess he forgot about the Panther 3 who got busted for using drugs and he was on of them.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Cameron Heyward-Future 3-4 RDE for the New England Patriots

by NinjaZX6R on Feb 28, 2011 6:43 PM EST reply actions

True that.

I forgot about that.

Pats Pulpit | @Follow Me On Twitter

by Richard Hill on Feb 28, 2011 6:48 PM EST up reply actions

Jenkins is also injury-prone.

He’s torn his ACL in back-to-back seasons.

Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Feb 28, 2011 7:10 PM EST up reply actions

He said this kind of thing on ESPN's First Take!

So phuck him!!

Don't cut your locks Tom Terrific!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.

by PatNation85 on Feb 28, 2011 9:23 PM EST up reply actions

I wish Ghloston had 1 sack.

cause it would have trigged a massive payout to him lol. He nearly had a sack, beat Matt Light, on that amazing Moss catch in week 2.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Cameron Heyward-Future 3-4 RDE for the New England Patriots

by NinjaZX6R on Feb 28, 2011 6:45 PM EST reply actions

Could Taylor be the next Derrick Burgess?

Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Feb 28, 2011 7:04 PM EST reply actions

By that

I mean a guy who gets 5 sacks his last year, not necessarily with us, then decides to call it a career?

Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Feb 28, 2011 7:05 PM EST up reply actions

Yep.

1 day contract with the ’Phins.

Pats Pulpit | @Follow Me On Twitter

by Richard Hill on Feb 28, 2011 7:06 PM EST up reply actions

alright everyone

VERNON GHOLSTON HERE WE COME!!!!!

by pats4life on Feb 28, 2011 7:17 PM EST reply actions

Dude, i won't pull a Cam O, nor a OBrien,

but you really need to start using the sarcasm font!

Don't cut your locks Tom Terrific!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.

by PatNation85 on Feb 28, 2011 9:24 PM EST up reply actions

how do you do that?

by pats4life on Feb 28, 2011 9:57 PM EST up reply actions

facepalm

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by insertscreenname on Feb 28, 2011 11:18 PM EST up reply actions

Tommie Harris?

The Bears cut him today, he may be worth a look, especially if he is healty

by AzBat25 on Feb 28, 2011 8:01 PM EST reply actions

Id rather have Marcus Stroud

He’s older, but performed of late then Harris

by beantownboy171 on Feb 28, 2011 8:03 PM EST up reply actions

*better of late

by beantownboy171 on Feb 28, 2011 8:04 PM EST up reply actions

At 6'3 295lbs?? no

Dude hasn’t done much in 3 years.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Cameron Heyward-Future 3-4 RDE for the New England Patriots

by NinjaZX6R on Feb 28, 2011 8:16 PM EST up reply actions

Just continue building through the draft

by sgawrys on Feb 28, 2011 8:07 PM EST reply actions

I think Taylor would be a solid backup and a great mentor

He is at least as good as TBC, so there isn’t much to lose by bringing him into training camp to see if he can earn a spot. I honestly think he can earn a spot on the roster, and I would love to see him teach JC and whoever we pickup in the draft.

by Chari on Feb 28, 2011 8:54 PM EST reply actions

Jets will likely take Phil Taylor

if he is available since they are releasing Jenkins

by prioris on Feb 28, 2011 9:38 PM EST reply actions

They have a suitable replacement in Sione Pouha...

…so I think they’re still looking for a pure DE. They’re probably looking at Watt.

Pats Pulpit | @Follow Me On Twitter

by Richard Hill on Feb 28, 2011 10:57 PM EST up reply actions

Luckily we pick in front of them

I doubt the jets trade up as well. Their lacking a second round pick and they need youth.

by beantownboy171 on Feb 28, 2011 11:17 PM EST up reply actions

Well...

…the Jets do love trading up.

Pats Pulpit | @Follow Me On Twitter

by Richard Hill on Feb 28, 2011 11:44 PM EST up reply actions

I'd rather not take any of them. Taylor's the only one that fills a real need on the team, but at his age, he's not much better than whatever player(s) NE picks up in the draft

Shawn Camp earned my dog several beatings back in 2007

by wtbudlight on Aug 30, 2010 5:54 PM PDT

by IntrepidX on Mar 1, 2011 2:58 AM EST reply actions

If Taylor is thinking about his legacy

he will retire. Signing with the Jets probably served to burn most of the bridges he had back to Miami, but not all of them. Signing with the Patriots would make him persona non grata in the state of Florida, I would imagine. Here’s a guy who could have a legit shot at the Hall of Fame, but without the Miami media to lobby for him, he will have a hard time making the cut (Peter King has recently written some interesting pieces on the politics of the Hall; particularly, the role of the “home media” in lobbying for a player’s candidacy).

So if I were Taylor, I would retire. He stands to make a lot more money as the Hall of Fame DE for the Dolphins than that schmuck who signed with two arch rivals of his home team, kicked a baby, spit on a nun and gave Sauron the One Ring.

by nbradley07 on Mar 1, 2011 8:56 AM EST reply actions

Hey guys

Just thought I would pop in and see how you all are doing. Personally I think Taylor is done. He was solid against the run this year but wasn’t that great covering recievers. His pass rushing skills have also diminished and I would bet he will retire.

I think the Jets may try and bring Jenkins back at a reduced contract with more in incentives. He likes the Jets and the Jets like him. The big question is can he stay healhty? Both of his knee injuries were fluke accidents and if he can make it back from rehab he is likely to be a force to be reckoned with.

by OldJetsFanatic on Mar 1, 2011 5:28 PM EST reply actions

I will be glad if Jenkins doesn't sign w. your team.

He is will a havoc to deal with. Taylor, I would love for the Pats to give him a shot.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Cameron Heyward-Future 3-4 RDE for the New England Patriots

by NinjaZX6R on Mar 1, 2011 7:38 PM EST up reply actions

Taylor

Consider signing Taylor for one year as a role player. Good influence on the younger players. The Patriots need a OLB and Taylor could be very helpful early in the season as a younger player learns more and more. Also think he could help mature Jermaine Cunningham as well.

by Richard Flynn on Mar 2, 2011 2:58 PM EST reply actions