Mark Brunell

No longer held down by the Final Four rules, the New York Jets are clear to sign free-agent quarterback Mark Brunell, which has been their intention for the last month and a half.

Though the restrictions have been out of effect as of yesterday, it could be a little while longer before Brunell heads to the Big Apple.

Rich Cimini, of ESPN New York, who predicted they’d ink him as soon as this week, is now hearing it “could take a few days” before a deal gets done. The Jets might be hammering out a contract that protects them just in case the 40-year old Brunell doesn’t cut it in camp. He’d cost about $1 million if he makes the opening day roster.

Though it’d be hard for him to fail; Brunell likely has nothing left in his arm and at this point is more of a good mentor for Mark Sanchez, who shares a similar skill set.

The Jets apparently don’t like the crop of young backups they have — Kellen Clemens, Erik Ainge, and Kevin O’Connell– and want more of a veteran presence on the roster. Brunell will get signed eventually, and one of either Clemens, Ainge, and O’Connell will likely be sent packing because of it.

Darrelle Revis

It’s been a little under a month since we heard of anything new between the New York Jets and their All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis, who, as you should know by now, wants a new contract.

This morning, NY Daily News beat writer Manish Mehta updates us with a story that won’t make Jets fans particularly happy.

Sources tell Mehta that Revis is fully prepared to sit-out the duration of training camp if he doesn’t receive a new deal. There was some doubt that Revis would hold-out past August 10, as he’d lose an accrued year toward free agency, but “Revis isn’t bluffing.”

New York just got a deal done with their left tackle, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, giving him a six-year extension, but that’s not expected to mean anything for Revis’ chances as there’s been no new negotiations over the last few weeks.

While Revis remains hopeful that a deal will get done, August 1 is quickly approaching as camp is right around the corner. Time is running out before this situation goes from ugly to just downright bad.

Vladimir Ducasse

The Jets appear to be closing in on a deal with their second-round pick.

NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora reports the team is “very close” to a deal with OL Vladimir Ducasse that could be finalized by mid-week. Should he sign, he’d be the highest draft pick yet to do so.

Ducasse, selected 61st overall by New York, started 35 consecutive games at left tackle for UMass.

He’s expected to compete with second-year offensive lineman Matt Slauson to fill the void at left guard after Alan Faneca was released shortly after Ducasse was selected by Gang Green.

LaDainian Tomlinson has set a lot of NFL records over his Hall of Fame career but one thing he has yet to accomplish is winning that elusive championship. Now with the New York Jets, he has legit Superbowl aspirations.

Above is an interview with ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio in which LT speaks on the doubts he’s faced, how he’s not necessarily just a backup, and the Jets tattoo on his calf.

Darrelle Revis

In the latest edition of the Darrelle Revis soap opera, the star cornerback had a sitdown with coach Rex Ryan yesterday.

Per Newsday’s Bob Glauber, it seemed to have gone good as they have declared they are on the same page. For now.

“We had a great talk, and we’re on the same page, seeing eye to eye,” Ryan said. “We have the same goals and the same vision for this team.”

Following the tête-à-tête, the Jets are ready to make Revis the highest paid defensive back in history. We’re talking in the neighborhood of $100 million and $12 million per season.

What they’d do is add six-years to his current deal, which still has three remaining. Revis is already due $21 million over those three years; if they were to tack on another six, the contract could exceed the $100 million mark and keep Revis in New York until he is 33-years old.

Being the negotiater that he is, it’s not going to be that easy to strike a deal. Revis is reportedly still sticking to his guns about making more than Oakland’s Nnamdi Asomugha at $15 million per season.

No corner back deserves that kind of money. Heck, some franchise quarterback’s aren’t even making that. Al Davis set the bar ridiculously and unnecessarily high with the contract he gave Asomugha. Revis should realize this offer from the Jets is more than fair and now it falls on him whether to accept or reject.

Darrelle Revis

It’s becoming a national topic. Jets shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis wants a new contract. Until he gets one, things could be rocky between the team and himself. Yesterday, he purposely sat out of team drills in a demonstration of how serious this issue is to him.

While Revis said he didn’t regret what transpired yesterday, he offered something more positive today. According to Manish Mehta, of the NY Daily News, Mr. Manhattan revealed he’ll sit down with his coach, Rex Ryan, later today to try and smooth things over and said he wants to be apart of Gang Green for the duration of his career.

“When you get to a frustrating point, other things start happening,” Revis added. “… This is the beginning of stuff turning bad… I want to be a Jet forever.”

“We’re going to try to see eye to eye and make sure this thing doesn’t get out of hand,” Revis said. “I don’t want this to go negative. But negotiations do get crazy sometimes. We’re trying to stop it before it gets to that point.”

Revis has three years remaining on his rookie contract. The Jets have sent him proposals but were rejected by his camp and regarded as an “insult.”

Revis was quoted in a report yesterday that he wants as much as Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (three year deal worth $45.3 million), jokingly saying  “It could be 50 cents more. Give me 50 cents more and we’ll be OK.”

UPDATE: Revis might be there but he’s certainly not happy about it, calling one proposal an “insult” and saying “it doesn’t look good“. The NY Post’s Bart Hubbuch also tweeted about Revis, who purposely sat out of drills in protest. This is getting ugly fast for Gang Green.

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While the Jets figure out how they can re-sign the plethora of players due new contracts, arguably their two most important players on each side of the ball aren’t going to miss mandatory camp time.

According to Rod Boone, of Newsday, cornerback Darrelle Revis and center Nick Mangold both reported to New York’s start of mandatory minicamp today.

It’s been made public that Revis wants a new contract and isn’t happy with the proposals he’s received from the Jets thus far. Last week, Revis revealed he might hold-out of training camp if he doesn’t receive the deal that suits him.

Mangold, the rock of the offensive line, also made it clear he wasn’t sure if he’d attend the mandatory workouts, calling it a “serious issue” if he, like Revis, doesn’t get extended by training camp.

General manager Mike Tannenbaum has been negotiating with Revis’ representatives, while he’s yet to start preliminary talks with Mangold’s camp.

Tannenbaum has his work cut out for him, having to re-sign the team’s ‘Core Four’, which consists of Revis, Mangold, left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, and linebacker David Harris. Then, players like cornerback Antonio Cromartie and receivers Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards are entering the final year of their deals. He’ll likely have to choose between keeping Holmes or Edwards.

Both players deserve raises, as do many players around the league, but the uncertainty of the CBA is making the Jets think twice before handing out lucrative contracts. One solution for Revis that’s been mentioned is giving him a nice raise for 2010, and then exploring his contract after the season ends. I suspect they’ll be taken care of, though the process will probably drag on longer than all parties involved would like.

This is the type of stuff you’re going to see every week (especially from Bart Scott) on Hard Knocks this summer. Pure awesomeness.

The new Final Eight rules impacting the eight playoff teams from last season currently affect who they can/cannot sign. As those rules are set to cease in July, there are two transactions that are waiting in the wings.

According to Chris Mortensen, of ESPN, “you can basically bank on” quarterbacks Mark Brunell, of the Saints, and Patrick Ramsey signing with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, respectively. These moves are expected to take place on July 22, the day the Final Eight rules are out of effect.

Obviously, both of these players would be joining their new teams in a backup capacity.

The Jets have long expressed interest in Brunell, as they have made it a priority to add a veteran QB to backup and mentor the young Mark Sanchez. It would be a good signing too, as both Sanchez and Brunell have a similar playing style. Current backup Kellen Clemens will likely be released on July 23, or thereabouts.

For New Orleans, they’d need someone to replace Brunell, should he depart to NY, as the backup to Drew Brees and he’s their guy. Reportedly, the team favors the out-of-work Ramsey, who last played with the Detroit Lions, over their other current options.

Darrelle Revis

The New York Jets are going through practice today without their shutdown cornerback.

Manish Mehta, of the NY Daily News, has learned that Darrelle Revis was a no-show today at OTAs because he is unhappy over his contract situation.

Recently, there have been reports of a new proposed deal for Revis as his contract voids after season due to him reaching certain incentives.

While general manager Mike Tannenbaum wanted to get something done as soon as possible, Revis and camp are waiting on the perfect deal before signing. Looks like the one proposed contract thus far wasn’t good enough.

The workouts are still voluntary, but that changes next week as the team’s minicamp is mandatory. If Revis should continue holding out, then not only will he be reprimanded, he’ll be making waves in the New York media. This is a situation to watch.