The Jets refuse to rest during their aggressive offseason push to improve on their miserable 4-12 season in 2007. One day after agreeing to terms with former Dolphins running back Jesse Chatman, they yesterday hosted Colts tight end Ben Utecht for a free-agency visit.
Utecht, who caught 31 passes for 364 yards last season while backing up Dallas Clark, is a player the Jets have been targeting to complement starting tight end Chris Baker, who had his best season as a pro last year.
Utecht is non-compensation restricted free agent, meaning the Colts have the right to match any offer he receives, but if he signs elsewhere, the team he signs with doesn’t owe the Colts anything in return.
An NFL source has told The Post the Colts aren’t believed to be serious about re-signing Utecht, who visited the Bengals last week.
The Utecht visit comes along with news that the Jets agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Chatman, who signed with the Jets largely because of his familiarity with Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer was a coach with the Chargers when Chatman played in San Diego.
Chatman’s versatility, an attribute that Eric Mangini loves in his players, is something that attracted the Jets to Chatman, who’s a good blocker on blitz pickups, has dependable hands and plays special teams. Utecht fits that versatile category, too, having acted as the Colts’ backup long snapper and punter.
“That [Chatman’s versatility] is probably one of the things he’s always been known best for and one of the things I know impressed a lot of the people at the Jets, that he’s a difference maker on special teams,” Chatman’s agent, Brett Tessler, told The Post yesterday.
Tessler said he expects Chatman to compete with Leon Washington as the backup to Thomas Jones, though nothing has been promised.