PLAXICO Burress was a risk worth taking for the Giants. Randy Moss was a risk worth taking for the Patriots. Braylon Edwards is a risk worth taking for the Jets.
Because the potential reward — that elusive Super Bowl — outweighs all the risks.
Can this wind up the way Terrell Owens did in Philadelphia and in Dallas? Of course it can. But if Rex Ryan can get Edwards to stop (allegedly) punching 130-pound friends of LeBron James in the face at 2:30 in the morning, then the bombshell trade yesterday with old friend Eric Mangini for Chansi Stuckey, Jason Trusnik, and conditional third- and fifth-round draft picks, is a steal, and the Jets are in the Super Bowl conversation even with a rookie quarterback.
Here’s why:
Edwards’ mere presence makes life considerably easier on Mark Sanchez, who no longer will have to sweat eight men in the box.
“He’s an amazing talent,” Sanchez said.
“He’s a matchup nightmare,” Ryan said.
If Edwards can be cured of his recent cause of the dropsies, he makes life easier on Jerricho Cotchery and Dustin Keller.
Edwards opens up Ryan’s ground-and-pound philosophy for Thomas Jones and Leon Washington.
We know that there are never any guarantees with these high-maintenance troublemakers. But you’ll never be great unless you dare to be great. And the Jets are rolling the dice that a dramatic change of scenery — and a dramatic change of head coach — will bring out the best in a 6-foot-3 playmaker who caught 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdown during his 2007 Pro Bowl season.
“The negativity builds on you,” Edwards said. “At the end of the day, who I believe I am, who I know I am, is a great guy.
“I do feel like I’m trying to create — not a new image — just brush it up a little bit. Eventually, I’ll get that good-guy tag.”
The Jets did their investigation into the Monday morning incident, and do not consider Edwards a potential cancer.
“He gets a new slate here,” general manager Mike Tannenbaum said.
Edwards may still feel the wrath of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for the transgression.
“We’re conformable with that situation,” Tannenbaum said.
Edwards had other Plaxico-esque issues in Cleveland, but he was welcomed with open arms by friends Bart Scott, Kerry Rhodes, Jay Feely and David Harris. Edwards figures to be on his best behavior because he will be playing for a new contract.
“And a chance to play for a guy [Ryan] who’s gonna let him be who he wants to be as long as he gets the job done,” Rhodes said.
He’s not a prima donna,” Scott said.
Ryan also is confident Edwards will fit in.
“I’ve never had a problem with a player ever not performing,” Ryan said. “I think we’re gonna get the best out of Braylon Edwards.”
Mangini should have drafted Sanchez himself instead of trading the fifth pick of the draft to his old buddy Tannenbaum. Edwards clearly wasn’t one of his guys. The 0-4 Browns are committed to rebuilding. The 3-1 Jets are committed to winning.
“It just shows you what they’re trying to do here,” Rhodes said. “We think we have a good chance to win now.”
If this guy has his head screwed on right, they have a better chance to win today than they did yesterday.