FLORHAM PARK, NJ — It’s a near-half-Christmas miracle! Are you ready for some football?! Images of Fireman Ed rallying the rambunctious Jets’ faithful for their iconic “J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!” chant dance in my head. DeMaurice Smith and Roger Goodell came to hang their football socks from the chimney with care. On Braylon. On Rex. On Mark and Sione.

Certainly the gift of football is one that keeps on giving. We’ve all heard the collective $200 million possible loss with each pre-season game that would be missed. Pre-season. Imagine the net losses for the regular season? But never mind that. Football is back and the lockout is lifted. If you came to this blog to get an update on all the emerging details about what’s to come, you’re in the wrong place. To be quite honest, I think the Adam Schefter’s, Albert Breer’s, and John Clayton’s of the world do a far better job than I ever would. BUT if you came here to see what free agent players the Jets will be targeting in the next 48 hours, keep on reading.

Fans and Jets teammates alike fell head-over-heels with the play of Santonio Holmes last season. But will the Jets be willing to pay for his play this year? (JetsInsider.com Photo).

Player agents, team executives and general managers are scrambling to get their plans set in stone before the zero-hour strikes at 12-midnight tonight. From that point, all free agency hell breaks loose. At 6 p.m. EST Monday, teams well be given a free-agent list. Then teams will be aloud to move from 40-man rosters to a 90-man roster (roughly 1600 contracts will be signed in the next coming days). On Tuesday, trade discussions open, eligibility of signing rookies and undrafted players as well as the beginning of negotiations with free agent players. Thursday teams can start cutting players. And by Friday expect the free agency period to be fully underway.

The Jets and GM Mike Tannenbaum have the look of a kid on Christmas as they look ahead to the coming week and what the team might look like by the time camp opens. We all know they have a lot of key free agent players that should be re-signed (i.e. WR Santonio Holmes & Braylon Edwards, CB Antonio Cromartie, DE Shaun Ellis, S Brodney Pool, PK Nick Folk and P Steve Weatherford). And those are just some of the bigger name. The Jets have a lot of wholes to fill with 30 free agents from last year’s roster.

So without further ado, here is the Official JetsInsider.com’s Jets FA Wish-List:

  • Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets – A down-right play maker. Upon his return from a 4-game suspension to start the season, Holmes single-handedly won 5 of the following six games for the Jets. And with three of their top four receivers becoming FA, it’s pivotal in the maturation of Mark Sanchez to have a returned form of continuity. Alternate option: Randy Moss, WR, Titans.
  • Braylon Edwards, WR, Jets –  See above. Like Holmes, Edwards brings a level of comfort to Sanchez and emerged late in the season as truly a team leader. Alternate option: Plaxico Burress, WR, Prison.
  • Cullen Jenkins, DE, Packers – Sure it didn’t work out with his older brother, Kris, but Cullen brings a Super Bowl pedigree to a team that has been one-half away from the Super Bowl for the last two years. Losing aging veteran Shaun Ellis, the Jets are in desperate need for outside edge rushers. With seven years experience he’d be a good teacher for incumbent rookie Mo Wilkerson.  Alternate option: Ray Edwards, DE, Vikings.
  • Matt Light, OT, Patriots – What better way to stick it to the arch-nemesis Patriots than bystealing away Tom Brady’s blindside protector? Not only would he help solidify a line that struggled in pass protection at times, but would bring a wealth of knowledge to the Jets staff on “that team up north”. Alternate option: Wayne Hunter, OT, Jets
  • Not signing Antonio Cromartie, CB, Jets: At times last season he looked brilliant. But for the majority, he was too aggressive. He most definitely has big-play ability, but that goes both ways. Last season he was one of the highest penalized players in the league, but also provided some big-play on both the return and defensive fronts. On a defense where players are lining up to play under Rex Ryan, why should Jets fans put up with his inconsistencies and possibilities of off-the-field drama? Players like Fabian Washington, Carlos Rogers and Philip Buchanon are smarter, savvier and cheaper than Cromartie. Just forget about Nnamdi Asomugha. Too expensive.

Don’t see eye to eye with our wish list? Let us know who YOU think the Jets should target in free agency. Twitter.com/JetsInsider.com & Facebook.com/JetsInsider
 
 
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