Coles, Team At Impasse Over Contract Extension

Posted by Stephen Rhodes on January 1st, 2008 filed in News, Opinions

                            

Other than the quarterback issue that’s been lingering since the 2007 regular season, the New York Jets have at least one more issue to address this offseason: what to do with starting wide receiver Laveranues Coles.  As of right now, Coles has 2 years left on a $11 million deal, but he’s seeking a long-term deal - presumably to end his career in New York.

According to Coles, he says that there have been conversations between his agent and the team; however, his agent says that the Jets appear inclined to not make that kind of commitment towards Coles.  Coles also said that the team expressed concern about his age (he turns 30 in September) and his production (he caught 55 balls and scored 6 touchdowns, despite missing 4 games with assorted injuries). 

Apparently, Coles’ take is that he doesn’t want this to fester during the offseason; but at the same time, he told Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post, “The worst-case scenario is that I’m back here next year playing under the same contract.  That isn’t too bad for me.”  From the sounds of that, it sounds like Coles is saying that he wants the long-term deal, but if it doesn’t happen, then he knows he’ll get paid next season, regardless.  

Hard to make sense of what Coles really wants, but what I do know is that the Jets need to solve their QB situation before worrying about him.  But I do think that a healthy season of Coles (2008 in this case) would be a better indicator as to what will happen to him down the road.