Muhammad Wilkerson

Jets Release Muhammad Wilkerson

February 28th, 2018 at 12:24pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets have informed defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson that he has been released, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move has long been considered inevitable, despite the financial ramifications.

The Jets inked Wilkerson to a lucrative five-year, $86MM extension in the summer of 2016, a deal that stands as GM Mike Maccagnan‘s biggest blunder in New York (that is, if you place the blame for Darrelle Revis‘ mega contract on owner Woody Johnson). Wilkerson had 12 sacks in his contract year (2015), but he has recorded just eight sacks combined over the last two seasons.

Last year, things got ugly. In addition to underperforming on the field, Wilkerson failed to show up on time for several team functions, leading to serious friction with the coaching staff. In December, the Jets benched the defensive lineman for the first quarter of their game against the Chiefs. The Jets went on to upset KC without one of their highest-paid players on the field at the outset.

Wilkerson’s $16.75MM salary was set to go from guaranteed against injury to fully guaranteed on the third day of the league year. The Jets did not need to take this decision to the wire, however, and cut him loose on the first day of the combine. Gang Green will carry $9MM in dead money by releasing Wilkerson. Meanwhile, Wilkerson leaves New York after pocketing $36.75MM from his ill-fated extension.

The Jets aren’t crazy about carrying that penalty, but they did not feel that Wilkerson would turn over a new leaf in 2018. When considering his lack of production and negative impact on the locker room, it was an easy call. It also helps that the Jets have plenty of financial flexibility, making the dead money hit somewhat more palatable. The Jets have more than $90MM in cap space now, boosted by the release of Wilkerson and the retirement of running back Matt Forte.

Despite everything that has gone down over the last two years, don’t be surprised if Wilkerson attracts widespread interest on the open market. This year’s defensive line crop is rather thin – particularly after the Lions applied the franchise tag to Ezekiel Ansah – so teams will be eager to talk with the 28-year-old (29 in October) to gauge his commitment to the sport. The Seahawks are unlikely to tag Sheldon Richardson, so this year’s free agent DL group figures to be headlined by the Jets’ one-time core.

Jets Notes: Wilkerson, Bowles, QB’s

December 25th, 2017 at 11:07am CST by GregGoldstein

Jets embattled defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson was inactive for the second game in a row in the team’s loss to the Chargers in Week 16. While Wilkerson did sign a lucrative $86MM contract extension about a year and a half ago, it’s unlikely that the former first round pick will be back in New York next season, opines Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.

Heach coach Todd Bowles was unsure whether the healthy scratch trend would continue for Wilkerson in the final week of the regular season, noting to reporters simply that “We’ll see.” Cimini also points out that the decision to keep Wilkerson off the field appeared to come directly from Bowles himself and not the front office.

“I made him inactive,” Bowles said. “Coach’s decision.”

Wilkerson did practice during the week, but notably arrived late for a team meeting, which may have ultimately titled Bowles’ decision to sit his highest-paid player. Cimini further reports that the Jets plan on cutting the 28-year-old before his $16.8MM salary becomes guaranteed in March.

The Jets decided to extend Wilkerson after a 12.5 sack performance in 2015. But he’s disappointed since then, collecting just eight sacks in 28 games, including only 3.5 sacks this season.

Here’s more stories surrounding Gang Green:

In another story from Cimini, he passes along that while the Jets will finish under-.500 for the second season in a row, Bowles should still be the team’s head coach come Week 1 next year based on what Jets ownership has said throughout this season. Acting owner Christopher Johnson emphasized early on the word “progress” over “playoffs” and it seems like the team has made a lot of strides in Bowles’ third go around with the franchise. The Jets have been in nearly every game this year without the talent you expect from a at least a mildly competitive team. “You just keep your head down and just keep working,” Bowles said. “We’re in every game. We’re not closing them out. We’re not finishing them. For whatever reason, we’re not making plays in the fourth quarter to finish these games. You keep working and you keep trying to find a solution.” Cimini only sees the Jets ownership firing Bowles if there is a dramatic shift in philosophy, even though there’s be nothing to signal that there is a change in the way Johnson is thinking about the future of the organization.
Former fourth round pick Bryce Petty continues to struggle in a starting role for the Jets. Cimini notes that since he made his first start in 2016, the former Baylor quarterback has thrown at least one interception and no more than one touchdown in every start he’s made. Without veteran QB Josh McCown, the team has taken a major step back with Petty under center, which has caused a lot of frustration around the team, according to Brian Costello of the Brian Costello of the New York Post. “Bryce needs to work his way through things,” Bowles explained. “It’s only his second game starting this year. He needs to go through that.” However, it’s clear that after two separate tryouts in the past two seasons, Petty doesn’t look like he’s going to be a major factor on the Jets QB depth chart moving forward.
Costello also reports that backup quarterback Christian Hackenberg was close to relieving Petty at some point in the second half, but Bowles ultimately decided to keep him on the sideline. “Bryce is the backup quarterback,” Bowles explained. “He won it in the summer. You put the backup in. You don’t put a three over a two. Christian is not that bad. Bryce did not have a good ballgame. It’s only his second start. I’m not going to sit here and condemn the guy because he didn’t play well in week two of starting this year after not playing all year.” Hackenberg has been notably absent from the quarterback conversation since he was drafted by New York in the second of the 2016 NFL Draft. Many pundits understood that he was raw coming out of Penn State, but it’s been surprising that he has gotten zero snaps in what’s been two lost seasons for the franchise. The lack of playing time certainly points to the Jets looking for another long-term option either in the draft or the free agent market for next year’s team.

La Canfora’s Latest: Jets, Panthers, Steelers

December 24th, 2017 at 4:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While Josh McCown hasn’t yet announced whether he’ll continue his career in 2018, those close to him believe the veteran quarterback will return for another season, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. McCown, who is currently on injured reserve after breaking his hand, posted arguably the best campaign of his career while starting 13 games for the Jets this year. Given that he’ll be entering his age-39 season, McCown won’t command a long-term contract, and could theoretically make sense as a bridge quarterback for a number of clubs. When he does hang up his cleats, McCown is expected to generate interest as a coach.

Here’s more from La Canfora as Week 16 comes to a close:

Speaking of the Jets, it would qualify as “shocking” if Gang Green doesn’t release defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson prior to next season, per La Canfora. Wilkerson has been in the news for all the wrong reasons in recent weeks, and he isn’t expected to play for New York again this season despite being fully healthy. Missed meetings and other off-field offenses have led the Jets’ coaching staff to become “fed up” with Wilkerson, and there’s almost no chance the club will opt to pay him $17MM in 2018. Still, Wilkerson is expected to generate interest if he hits the free agent market next spring.
Although reports of a $2.5 billion price for the Panthers may have been exaggerated, sources still expect the Carolina franchise to garner at least $2 billion, as La Canfora writes. Although the NFL will require full cooperation as the league investigates claims of harassment against owner Jerry Richardson, the league won’t be able to tell Richardson to whom he can sell his team. Because Richardson isn’t keeping the club in his family, he has the right to sell to whomever he chooses.
The relationship between Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and offensive coordinator Todd Haley has become strained, per La Canfora, who adds Roethlisberger has asked for a “buffer” between him and Haley during games. As such, quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner has begun coaching from the sidelines (instead of the press box) in order to act as that go-between. While reports of complications between Roethlisberger and Haley may have no affect, the relationship could potentially affect offseason staff plans for Pittsburgh.
The Patriots, Eagles, and Vikings are all expected to lose members of their staff this offseason as coaches leave for promotions with other clubs, according to La Canfora. New England, Philadelphia, and Minnesota are three of the most successful teams in the league in 2017, and coordinators such as Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia, Jim Schwartz, Frank Reich, John DeFilippo, Pat Shurmur, and George Edwards could all be on the move.

Latest On Jets, Muhammad Wilkerson

December 23rd, 2017 at 10:47am CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like Muhammad Wilkerson may have already played his final game in a Jets uniform. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that the coaching staff has “no intention” of playing the defensive end in this weekend’s game against the Chargers. The reporters notes that it’s unclear whether the defender will be deactivated or in uniform, but it sounds like a foregone conclusion that he won’t play.

As Mehta writes, the Jets would be taking a huge financial risk by putting Wilkerson on the field for the final two games of the season. The 28-year-old’s $16.75MM base salary in 2018 is guaranteed for injury only. In other words, by putting Wilkerson on the field and exposing him to a potential injury, the Jets would be risking their ability to get out of the contract during the offseason. However, assuming Wilkerson remains healthy, the Jets can create $11MM in cap space by cutting the lineman.

The writer also notes that many in the Jets organization are simply looking for the entire ordeal to be over, as the team is “fed up” with the former Pro Bowler. In fact, some members of the organization don’t want Wilkerson to practice with the team anymore, while others want him banned from the team facility. Wilkerson compiled more than 35 sacks during his first five seasons in the league, but he’s only added eight sacks since he inked a lucrative five-year, $86MM extension with the team.

Latest On Jets, Muhammad Wilkerson

December 21st, 2017 at 1:18pm CST by Zachary Links

In all likelihood, Muhammad Wilkerson will not be a part of the Jets in 2018. It remains to be seen whether he will take the field for them again in 2017.

On Thursday, Jets coach Todd Bowles told reporters that Wilkerson’s status will be a game-time decision for Sunday’s game against the Chargers. The call on whether or not to play Wilkerson could have huge ramifications for the player and the team going forward. Bowles is aware of what’s at stake, but he has also grown weary of discussing Wilkerson’s situation.

“I answered all my Mo Wilkerson questions yesterday. I have nothing more to add,” Bowles said.

Wilkerson is under contract for 2018 at a $16.75MM cap number, but that sum is guaranteed for injury only until the third day of the league year. If the Jets plan on divorcing themselves from Wilkerson (and all signs indicate that they are), then they would be taking a huge risk by allowing him to play in the meaningless two games that remain on the schedule.

Wilkerson has amassed 44.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, and 28 pass deflections over the course of his career with the Jets. Unfortunately, only eight of those sacks came after he signed his five-year, $86MM extension with the club.

AFC Notes: Kizer, Wilkerson, Broncos, Yates

December 20th, 2017 at 6:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Hue Jackson took a step back from championing DeShone Kizer following the Browns‘ 14th loss of the season, and on Wednesday, the second-year coach backed off previous talk that the second-round rookie would be the team’s quarterback of the future.

“We did not draft a quarterback in the first round and say, ‘This is our quarterback of the future.’ We took a quarterback. We’re trying to grow him,” Jackson said Wednesday when asked of Kizer’s longer-term status, via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. ”

“… I understand when you take a guy in the second round, everybody suspects that that’s the guy. We wish it is. I mean you hope it is. But if it isn’t, that’s OK, too. And hopefully guy will continue to grow and get better, but you also have to continue to get better at the position.”

Jackson has said this season Kizer could be the Browns’ long-term quarterback solution but said Sunday he wondered if the Notre Dame product — who has 19 interceptions, five more than any other passer this season — would ever “get it.” The then-Sashi Brown-led front office may have viewed the 2018 quarterback crop as superior to this year’s, inducing the Browns to bypass a first-round quarterback in order to not block a possible 2018 Round 1 pick. The Browns are almost certainly going to hold the No. 1 overall pick, so they’ll have their chance at the best quarterback prospect come April.

Here’s the latest from the AFC, shifting to the Muhammad Wilkerson situation.

In response to a question about if he’d like to stay with the Jets, Wilkerson said it wasn’t going to be up to him. “That’s up to Todd (Bowles) and the organization,” Wilkerson said, via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (video link). Although Wilkerson returned to the Jets on Wednesday, he is not expected to be a part of next year’s team due a turbulent season and disappointing run following his 2016 contract extension.
Conversely, Brock Osweiler still wants to stay with the Broncos next season despite the team presumably not viewing him as a starter going into a pivotal offseason. Osweiler’s contract is up after Week 17, but he wants to stay in Denver, Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post relays (on Twitter). The Broncos have not decided if he or Paxton Lynch will start on Sunday against the Redskins. Osweiler may be amenable to again being the backup in Denver, with the franchise likely to explore options in what promises to be one of the more unique groups of available quarterbacks in the free agency era, and is unlikely to be be viewed as a starter-level talent by another team.
With the Broncos having little inclination Lynch can be counted on as a potential above-average starter, Troy Renck of Denver7 explores the idea of the team adding Kirk Cousins. While it would surely cost a team Derek Carr or Matthew Stafford money to sign Cousins, should be become a free agent, Renck notes the Broncos’ inability to replace Peyton Manning has cost them dearly. Manning wasn’t even making $20MM per year, so the prospect of Cousins — whom Renck lists as a player who figures to be pursued by the Jaguars, Bills, Browns, Cardinals and Jets as well — would be interesting. The Broncos are projected to have $30MM in 2018 cap space.
On the subject of cap space, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap analyzes some of the league’s worst situations. He lists the Chiefs, who are projected to be $3MM-plus over the ’18 cap, but notes the Alex Smith contract could be moved to create relief. The Chiefs would save $17MM by moving Smith’s deal off their books. Veterans like Tamba Hali or Derrick Johnson ($8MM apiece in cap savings) could also be cap casualties at little cost (less than $5MM between them). The Chiefs will also have decision regarding Dee Ford‘s $8.718MM fifth-year option to make. Fitzgerald adds the Chiefs’ failure to be proactive in extending Justin Houston or Eric Berry helped put them in this place.
The Texans will indeed start T.J. Yates again Sunday. Tom Savage could well miss the rest of the season. Savage is a free agent at season’s end.

Jets Notes: Wilkerson, Bowles, Maccagnan

December 20th, 2017 at 3:17pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at Gang Green:

Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson reported to the team facility today (Twitter link via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News). Wilkerson, who has repeatedly been tardy for team functions this year, did arrive at the morning meeting on time. It is expected that the Jets will cut ties with Wilkerson this offseason. He is slated to earn $16.75MM in 2018, but that figure is guaranteed for injury only until the third day of the league year. Therefore, the Jets will probably bench Wilkerson for the final two games of the season to avoid getting stuck with his salary. Meanwhile, the Jets are reportedly considering a reunion with his former trench-mate Sheldon Richardson.
Wilkerson, who was not allowed to travel with the team for the Jets‘ Week 15 game, has “served his sentence,” coach Todd Bowles said on Wednesday (Twitter link via Mehta). Bowles added that the defensive lineman “made a mistake” and the team has “moved on,” but he did not indicate whether Wilkerson will play this week. Again, it would be a surprise if they had him suit up.
The Jets have about $80MM to spend this offseason, but Brian Costello of the New York Post isn’t sure that GM Mike Maccagnan is the right guy to conduct the spending spree. In 2016, Maccagnan had money to work with and doled out ill-advised deals to Wilkerson (five-year, $86MM) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (one-year, $12MM). Technically, he was also responsible for Darrelle Revis‘ five-year, $70 million deal in 2015, though that was at the behest of owner Woody Johnson. Maccagnan has shown that he can identify talented small-ticket players like Demario Davis, Kony Ealy, and Jermaine Kearse, but it remains to be seen whether he can get it right with major dollars involved.

Latest On Muhammad Wilkerson’s Future

December 16th, 2017 at 1:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Muhammad Wilkerson may have played his final down for the Jets. The seventh-year defensive end did not make the trip to New Orleans for the Jets’ Week 15 game, and Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv reports it was because Wilkerson was “very late” to the team facility.

This latest tardiness episode involved a meeting on Friday morning, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Wilkerson has endured issues showing up on time for meetings during his Jets run, with another instance having occurred earlier this month. That led Todd Bowles to bench him for a period during the Jets’ Week 13 win over the Chiefs.

Multiple team sources confirmed to Vacchiano there is “no chance” Wilkerson is on the Jets on the third day of the 2018 league year, when his $16.75MM salary shifts from guaranteed against injury to fully guaranteed. Wilkerson’s suspension could last longer than the Jets’ Week 15 game against the Saints, Vacchiano reports, adding the team should just bench him for the rest of the season. And this could well be because of that salary guarantee.

Shelving Wilkerson would be a prudent move, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap writes, suggesting the bubble-wrap scenario the Bills used with Tyrod Taylor late last season in order to avoid injury.

The Jets will still carry $9MM in dead money upon releasing Wilkerson, but unlike this year, they can afford such a penalty. Gang Green’s expected to hold more than $70MM in cap space.

If this is the end for Wilkerson and the Jets, the 2011 first-round pick has 44.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles and 28 pass deflections. Only eight of those 44.5 sacks came since he signed that mammoth extension in 2016, however.

Latest On Jets’ Muhammad Wilkerson

December 15th, 2017 at 11:53am CST by Zachary Links

This could be the beginning of the end for the Jets and Muhammad Wilkerson. Wilkerson will not make the trip with the team to New Orleans, coach Todd Bowles told reporters on Friday. Bowles added that it’s a coach’s decision.

Wilkerson has failed to show up on time for several team functions this year, leading to serious friction between him and the coaching staff. Earlier this month, the Jets benched the defensive lineman for the first quarter of their game against the Chiefs. The Jets went on to win that game without one of their highest-paid players on the field at the outset.

The Jets gave Wilkerson a five-year, $86MM deal in the summer of 2016 and, so far, that’s looking like a huge mistake. Insubordination aside, Wilkerson’s production has been all around flat. The Temple product ranks as Pro Football Focus’ No. 51 ranked interior defender in the NFL while getting paid as though he is one of the league’s very best. The traditional numbers also indicate a slide. Wilkerson had 12 sacks in his contract year (2015), but he has recorded just eight sacks combined over the last two seasons.

The Jets can create $11MM in cap space by releasing Wilkerson this offseason, and that seems like a definite possibility at this point. Recently, a team source told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News that Wilkerson will be “gone” this offseason.

East Notes: Patriots, Giants, Jets, Cowboys

December 6th, 2017 at 9:45pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Rob Gronkowski will miss out on more than $270K in salary and bonuses as a result of his one-week suspension, but the Patriots tight end could see his finances affected even further due to the ban, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com explains. Under the terms of a restructured contract signed earlier this year, Gronkowski can earn three separate tiers of incentives, all of which are tied to playtime and performance. The top tier — which includes a 90% playtime requirement as one stipulation — could now be nearly impossible to reach, as Gronkowski has played on 83.4% of New England’s offensive snaps thus far (and will obviously see that percentage decrease as a result of next week’s absence).

Here’s more from the NFL’s two East divisions:

Interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo will remain “heavily involved” in the Giants‘ defensive scheme, but secondary coach David Merrit will also see an increased workload, Spagnuolo told reporters, including James Kratch of NJ.com (Twitter link). Spagnuolo, of course, is still New York’s defensive coordinator in addition to interim head coach following the firing of Ben McAdoo, but with gameday responsibilities now on the table, Spagnuolo will almost certainly require assistance. Merritt, for his part, is the Giants’ longest-tenured assistant, as he’s been with the club for 14 years.
Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson has continued to have trouble with tardiness, and his one-quarter suspension on Sunday was indeed a result of missed meetings, reports Darryl Slater of NJ.com. Wilkerson, who signed a five-year, $86MM deal last summer, but he’s offered only middling production this season. In 12 games, Wilkerson has managed 2.5 sacks and graded as the NFL’s No. 55 interior defender among 117 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. New York can create $11MM in cap space by releasing Wilkerson this offseason, and a team source said Wilkerson will be “gone,” per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
It’s no secret that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was against the NFL extending commissioner Roger Goodell, but now that a deal is officially signed, Jones doesn’t have many avenues to pursue, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. If Jones attempts to rip up the contract, Goodell would likely be entitled to a hefty buyout. But Jones could still pursue a legal strategy, especially if he believes the league’s owners were supposed to discuss Goodell’s contract before it became official, per Florio.

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