DEFENSE!!
Hempstead, NY - The Jets finished off filling their staff vacancies with the signings of Ernest Shields to lead the defense and Roderick Browning to lead the scouting.
Perhaps the Jets biggest signing this off-season will be that of Shields. He is regarded as one of the brightest young football minds in the game. At age 38, Shields has two Super Bowl rings that he earned as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator with Tampa Bay. He was the team's linebacker coach from 1999-2001 and the defensive coordinator with the Bucs for the 2002 and 2003 season in which they won consecutive Super Bowls and the 2004 season in which they won the NFC Championship. Shields says he was fortunate to be surrounded by a slew of talent. However, the Jets see differently. They see a coach who is exceptional at getting the most out of his young players and molding them into successful pros, and knows each area of the defense, from the line to the secondary.
The Jets went through the interviewing process to find their scout, and perhaps Browning was not their first choice they feel they got a solid canidate. Browning was with Chicago the past few seasons and has a reputation throughout the league of finding good defensive players, along with linemen and running backs. This fits the Jets well, they are in a transition period to redevelop their running game, which means finding some quality linemen, and a future running back.
The Jets tried to lure Jamie Lazetti from Jacksonville, but Jacksonville made Lazetti an offer he could not refuse, 4 years at $440,000. A bit more than the Jets would have offered. The Jets then set their sights on Tommie Lyon. Lyon's asking price was a bit high, and Green Bay bit. Lyon signed a 5 year deal for $430,000. It is believed that the Jets were not inclined to pay that much for someone's first lead scout position. The Jets then turned to Roderick Browning, who began to draw some interest as a stong interviewer with a plan in place on how to evaluate the Jets current roster and what needs he felt were necessary to reach the next level.
With the staff period over, it is time to turn the attention to the free agent market and 2005 NFL Draft.