Give the Jets credit for learning from their mistakes.
They played it cheap a year ago and paid for their frugality in a big way when their left guard situation turned into a disaster area amid a 4-12 nightmare season. The Jets today took a dramatic and expensive step to ensure that problem is a thing of the past, as they agreed to terms with guard Alan Faneca, opening the floodgates on a mega-deal that makes the former Steelers stalwart the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman.
The Jets did not cut any corners on this one, aggressively pursuing Faneca the moment free agency arrived and overwhelming him with a staggering five-year, $40 million package that includes $21 million in guaranteed money.
The Jets, Rams and 49ers all came up with nearly identical financial packages to woo Faneca. “It really was a gut feeling,” Rick Smith, Faneca’s agent, told The Post. “He looked at the entire situation, the Jets looked like a team two years ago that was one of the ascending teams in the league. They had a little blip last year.”
A day after they traded for massive defensive tackle Kris Jenkins to plug in at nose tackle, the Jets took a huge step in strengthening their offensive line. Faneca is a 10-year veteran and a key member of a Pittsburgh line that yearly produced in the running game. Faneca for the past seven consecutive seasons was voted into the Pro Bowl.
It came down to where he wanted to play. Prior to making the decision, Smith said today “Everyone’s speculating the Jets because of the three teams they’ve clearly been the most aggressive. They want this guy bad.”
Faneca will be in New York today to take a physical and sign the contract.
The Jets will now stick Faneca between youngsters D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold and expect him to be an impact player on the field and in the locker room. At 31, he should have plenty of productive years left on his body, even though he takes medication to keep his epilepsy under control.
“With Alan Faneca you’re not just buying a left guard,” Smith said. “He is going to come in and be the leader he is.”
The Jets last season refused to re-do the contract of Pete Kendall, resulting in the trade of Kendall after a contentious contract dispute and a continual struggle at left guard with the ill-fated Adrien Clarke experiment. Faneca is a proven commodity, as the Jets landed one of the top free agents on the market.
Consider this a two-day coup for general manager Mike Tannenbaum, whose aggressiveness at the start of the free-agent signing period resulted in plenty of player movement. Although he plays guard, Faneca’s arrival is certain to energize a fan base that had a hard time watching last year’s performance on the field.
Surely, the Jets aren’t done. They have inquired about Chargers right tackle Shane Olivea, according to his agent, Kenny Zuckerman. Olivea, a three-year starter in San Diego, is a Long Island guy (grew up in Cedarhurst, went to Lawrence High School) who went to Ohio State and would be a solid pickup. There’s also reported interest in linebacker Calvin Pace, who had 6½ sacks last season for the Cardinals and at 6-4 and 272 pounds is a defensive end/linebacker combo player. Pace spent today meeting with Jets officials.
After losing two linebackers, Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor on the first day of free agency, the Giants have expressed interest in Steelers linebacker Clark Haggans. . . . The Giants are one of at least 10 teams to inquire about receiver Javon Walker, who was released last week by the Broncos. . . . Scratch one safety off the list, as ex-Jet Erik Coleman signed with the Falcons. With Gibril Wilson gone for riches in Oakland, a safety stopgap could be 32-year old Sammy Knight, a durable 11-year veteran who visited in Denver today, or former Patriot Eugene Wilson.