HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Faced with the prospect of releasing one
of their top defensive players to get under the required $67.4
million salary cap by midnight, the Jets restructured the contacts
of cornerback Ray Mickens and kicker John Hall on Thursday.
Had Mickens, the team's nickel back, not agreed to renegotiate
his contract, which was scheduled to count $3.2 million against the
cap in 2001, the Jets would have been forced to cut him and absorb
a $2.15 million hit anyway.
By restructuring, Mickens saved the team about $1 million
against the cap.
Mickens, who hopes to be a starter, made his decision after a
meeting with Jets coach Herman Edwards.
"I talked to Herm and he told me he views me as a starter,"
Mickens said Thursday night. "He told me how he used all three
corners in Tampa Bay – Ronde Barber, Donnie Abraham and Brian Kelly
– and how they played like 60 percent of the plays. That was enough
for me to stay another year."
Hall's career seems to be revived after he was benched by former
coach Al Groh at the end of last season.
In two other moves yesterday, the Jets tendered an offer to
safety Scott Frost, who was a restricted free agent, and signed
defensive lineman Eric Ogbogu to a one-year deal.
Edwards also announced that the team is negotiating to re-sign
nose tackle Jason Ferguson, though no deal is imminent, meaning
Ferguson will test the free market.
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