Nick Mangold
As the internet went nuts about a rumored deal with the Jets and holdout cornerback Darrelle Revis, it turns out it’s another Jet that’s about to get paid.
According to the Newark Star-Ledger, the team is nearing a contract extension with center Nick Mangold that could be announced as soon as tomorrow. The deal is expected to be worth more than the five-year, $37.5 million deal that Rams center Jason Brown signed last year, which would make Mangold the league’s highest paid center.
Mangold, a first-round pick of the Jets in 2006, is due to make $3.3 million in 2010, which is the last year of his rookie deal. Earlier in the offseason, he made his presence known that he wanted a new deal but decided to be a good teammate and go to work without one.
Two of the Jets “Core Four” will be signed long-term (left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and now Mangold), with two more to go (linebacker David Harris and Revis.) There’s a chance that this transaction could expedite talks with Revis, but no one’s holding their breath on that happening.
