Jets Takeoff

Mike Francesa (nydailynews.com photo)

Mike Francesa, the host of WFAN’s “Mike’d Up,” who has been one of the harshest critics of Rex Ryan’s Jets, will broadcast live from Florham Park later this afternoon on 660 AM and the YES Network.

Over the past two years, Francesa has sparred with the Jets and their fans, taking issue with Ryan’s brash proclamations and the team’s swagger, all while Gang Green has reached the AFC title game in consecutive seasons.

In the past, the Jets clearly were not happy with Francesa’s opinions of the organization. WFAN’s main competitor, 1050 ESPN Radio, broadcasts the Jets games and it seemed that the team steered its players, coaches, and management away from WFAN. In my opinion, 1050, which is way behind WFAN in ratings – always has been - may have had something to do with this as well. I could see the flagship station of the Jets, one that has struggled for years against 660, asking the organization for a huge favor by giving the station exclusive access to the team, most notably during the afternoon drive time hours. That seems to me to be what happened. Obviously it hasn’t worked for 1050, which WFAN continues to beat in the ratings, and it makes sense for the Jets to appear on New York’s premier sports radio station and its marquee program.

In any event, the Jets need WFAN just as much as WFAN needs the Jets. Who knows what will come of Francesa’s visit, but when he sits down with Ryan, Mike Tannenbaum, Mark Sanchez, Darrelle Revis, Plaxico Burress, and others, it will be entertaining radio. (There’s word that Woody Johnson will not be at Jets camp today, or else he would appear on the show as well.)

One more note: WFAN used to broadcast the Jets games, way back when this was Boomer Esiason’s team. Francesa never hid his feelings about the team. Years before Bill Parcells (a good friend of Mike’s) became Gang Green’s coach, there were rumors that he would return to the Meadowlands to coach the Jets. I remember Mike telling Chris Russo something along the lines of (I’m paraphrasing) ”please, not the Jets.”

Still, when Mike and the Mad Dog interviewed Bruce Coslet and Boomer Esiason back when the Jets were far from being an AFC contender, it made for great radio. I expect today to be the same.

The broadcast will start upon the completion of the Mets game on WFAN, and YES will pick up coverage following its airing of the Yankees game.

The Jets and Patriots have the NFL’s best rivalry.

It all started back in 1997 when Bill Parcells bolted from New England to New York. One year later, he brought along Curtis Martin, the best running back the Patriots have ever had, the best running back the Jets have ever had, and one of the best running backs to ever play professional football.

Newsday.com composite

Parcells took the Jets to the AFC Championship Game in the 1998 season, just a few years before the Patriots would become one of the most dominant teams in sports under Bill Belichick. Belichick was supposed to be Parcells’ successor in New York, but resigned as coach of the Jets minutes before he was set to be introduced on the day of his press conference in 2000, then headed straight to New England. The Jets received a first-round pick as compensation. They took Shaun Ellis in the 2000 draft. Ellis signed with the Patriots this past weekend.

In 2006, Eric Mangini left Belichick’s staff to become the head coach of the Jets. Belichick wouldn’t shake his hand after games.

Last year, Rex Ryan’s Jets got crushed, 45-3, in Foxborough in December, then beat New England in the playoffs, 28-21.

Not only are the Jets not kissing Belichick’s rings, New York is the closest they’ve been since Super Bowl III to getting one of their own. It’s only fitting that New England is once again standing in their way.

I’m a Cowboys fan so I get Giants-Cowboys and the entire NFC East for that matter.

I’m talking right now. There’s no rivalry in the league better than this one.

Shaun Ellis (AP photo)

Shaun Ellis, one of the most productive players in Jets history, left New York for the New England Patriots over the weekend.

The Jets had offered the free agent defensive end a one-year contract for the veteran’s minimum ($910,000). Ellis received a one-year deal worth a reported $4 million from the Patriots.

Ellis played 11 years in New York, and at 34 was still one of the most reliable members of Gang Green’s defense. He has 552 career tackles and 72.5 sacks. In last January’s playoff win at Foxborough, Ellis was the defensive star for the Jets, recording five tackles and two sacks in New York’s 28-21 win.

“The fact that he chose them and all that, there’s no way I’m going to wish him well,’” Jets head coach Rex Ryan said about Ellis joining the Patriots. “There’s no chance of that. I wish him to be healthy but I don’t want him to play that well.”

I didn’t think it was fair for Rex to say that. Ellis is a classy guy who gave everything he had to this organization. Like Jerricho Cotchery, he’ll be missed on and off the field. He’ll also be remembered as one of the greatest Jets of all-time.

“Guys change teams all the time,” Ellis said per the Boston Globe. “I’ve just been fortunate enough to play 11 years with the Jets. I had a great time, a great experience. It’s just one of those things when it’s time to move on, you have to move on. I’ve found a new home here and guys have welcomed me in.

GANG GREEN NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PAST WEEK

• Offensive lineman Damien Woody retired Friday after a 12-year career. Woody, 33, will join ESPN as an NFL analyst. He played three years with the Jets. Wayne Hunter will take over at tackle.
• Signing Derrick Mason is anything but a done deal. The Titans, who Mason began his career with, are also reportedly interested in the 37-year-old wide receiver who met with the Jets on Thursday.
• Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who has played his entire seven-year career with the Jets, was released.
• Plaxico Burress rolled his left ankle while running routes on Wednesday. The Jets are being cautious with him as he returns after nearly a three year absence from football. He participated in light drills Friday morning.
• LaDanian Tomlinson says he would like to play beyond this year. Tomlinson, 32, who will be Shonn Greene’s backup, ran for 914 yards and six touchdowns last season. He also caught 52 passes out of the backfield. 
• The Jets made a one-year offer for the veterans minimum to unrestricted free agent Shaun Ellis, but the defensive end is looking at other options, including the New England Patriots.
• Former Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards signed a one-year deal with the 49ers.
• Muhammad Wilkerson will start at defensive end. The Jets hope he can be the pass rusher they need.
• Linebacker David Harris signed a four-year, 36 million dollar contract.
• The Jets re-signed safeties Eric Smith and Brodney Pool.

Jerricho Cotchery (Getty Images)

Jerricho Cotchery’s Jets career may come to an end as early as today. Free agent wide receiver Derrick Mason is expected to meet with the team at their Florham Park headquarters, and if he passes a physical, the Jets will sign him. If that’s the case, Cotchery says he expects to be released.

Cotchery, 29, has played his entire seven year career with the Jets. He has 358 receptions with his most productive years coming in 2006, ’07, and ’08 when he caught 82, 82, and 71 passes respectively. As I said a couple days ago, he’s one of the most undervalued players to ever put on a Jets uniform. He’s also one of the classiest.

Cotchery is scheduled to make $1.8 million this year, and Mason could be signed for a lot less. But it will be a sad day if Cotchery is let go. First, he’s a better receiver than Mason and he’s eight years younger. More importantly, he’s a class act who the Jets really need in the locker room.

I went to a lot of Jets games a few years back, when Cotchery was the team’s go-to-receiver. The sound of the PA announcer saying, “Pass Complete to No. 89 Jerricho Cotchery. That’s good for another Jets first down!” is still in my head. I hope I get to hear that again.

(UPDATE - 7:30 pm) The Jets released Cotchery late this afternoon.

Over the last two years, the Jets have built one of the top defenses in the league. The only piece missing has been a dominant pass rusher. Maybe Muhammad Wilkerson, the rookie out of Temple, fills that role this season and for years to come, but I think the Jets should at least look into putting together a trade for disgruntled Giants’ defensive end Osi Umenyiora.

Osi Umenyiora (Star-Ledger photo)

Umenyiora is a pass rusher – when happy and healthy he’s one of the best in the game - whose strength is getting to the quarterback. He has two years left on his deal with the Giants and he’s asked for the team to either renegotiate his contract or trade him. Yesterday they granted him permission to seek a trade. Mike Tannenbaum, Rex Ryan, and Woody Johnson should be on the phone with the Giants and Osi’s camp right now. Umenyiora, 29, has 60 career sacks, 11.5 coming last season (he also had 10 forced fumbles). The guy can get to the quarterback, and that’s exactly what the Jets need.

It’s been reported that it will take a first round pick to land Umenyiora, and it may take more. Osi hasn’t always been on his best behavior, but that doesn’t stop the Jets from pursuing a player that they like and need. The recent signing of Plaxico Burress serving as Exhibit A. My guess is that Umenyiora would fit in perfectly with the Jets. First, they’d give him a new deal that would make him happy, at least for now. Then, Ryan can maximize his talents on the field by inserting him into what would be a dominant defense with this simple instruction: get to the quarterback.

Umenyiora is a pass rusher still in the prime of his career who would be getting a fresh start. The Giants may be forced to trade him at this point. The Jets may be willing to give up a first rounder to get him. If it takes more, like wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery for example, then you may have to back off. In my estimation, Cotchery is one of the most undervalued players to ever put on a Jets uniform.

So the Jets have to be smart here and not give up a piece or pieces that would hurt them this year. And certainly the Giants, if indeed they look to trade him, should get everything they can for a guy as valuable as Umenyiora. But adding a stud pass rusher to an already great defense just might be what the Jets need to get past the AFC Championship Game.

It was a very good Sunday/Early Monday for the Jets, who stunned the football world by announcing yesterday morning that they’d struck a deal with wide receiver Plaxico Burress. Then, in the middle of the night, the Jets reached an agreement on a new deal with cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

Here are my thoughts on two excellent signings by the Jets:

Daily News photo illustration (nydailynews.com)

1) Plaxico Burress - signed to a one-year contract worth $3.017 million guaranteed. Burress is 6-5 and should give Mark Sanchez a great target to throw to, especially in the red zone where Sanchez can throw the ball up in the end zone and hope No. 17 comes down with it. He hasn’t played in almost three years, and he’ll be 34 this month, but Burress is worth a shot (pun intended).

2) Antonio Cromartie - the Jets No. 2 priority was pushed aside as New York courted Nnamdi Asomugha. Once he signed with the Eagles, the Jets went back to Cromartie. They couldn’t afford to lose him, and with a four year contract worth $32 million, they didn’t. Cromartie isn’t Asomugha, but he’s cheaper and he and Revis form one of the better cornerback tandems in the league.

On Thursday, the Jets lost Brad Smith. On Friday, Asomugha chose Philly over New York. Then, in a span of less than 24 hours, the Jets took off once again.

The Jets lost one of the most valuable members of their team today when all-purpose star Brad Smith agreed to a contract with the division-rival Buffalo Bills. The deal is reportedly worth $15 million over four years. Teams can begin signing free agents on Friday.

I thought the Jets would make a big attempt to keep Smith, but it appears they may have their sights set elsewhere, possibly on the free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Their own cornerback, Antonio Cromartie, is also a free agent, as is wide receiver Braylon Edwards and others. New York agreed with Santonio Holmes on a new five year, $50 million contract yesterday.

Smith did everything for the Jets in his five seasons with the team. He will certainly be missed, but with salary cap considerations, changes to kickoff rules, and perhaps the team’s pursuit of bigger stars, Brad Smith is no longer a Jet.