Mangold, Jets agree to record deal
The New York Jets have probably had the busiest offseason of any team with cutting players, signing new ones and resigning their young sensations. Tackle D’Brichshaw Ferguson was the first to receive a big payday before training camp and now they’ve taken care of centre Nick Mangold’s contract. The Jets signed Mangold to a six-year deal worth $55 million with half of that money guaranteed. The deal not only makes Mangold the highest paid centre in the league now, but in NFL history.
The Jets still have Leroy Harris and of course Darrelle Revis who hasn’t reported to training camp. Jets’ owner Woody Johnson was not optimistic when asked if a Revis deal would even get done this year. Mangold took a different approach than Revis, electing to go to training camp and wait patiently for a new deal.
"I'm glad I don't have to think about it anymore," said Mangold. "It's exciting, and I look forward to where we can go with this (now that) I'm going to be here for a long time."
Mangold was the team’s top draft choice in 2006. In his four seasons in the NFL he has already been to two Pro Bowls and led the Jets to being the league’s top rushing team last year. He also made things easier for Mark Sanchez as a rookie last year.
Mangold was entering the last year of his rookie contract. He was unhappy that the Jets still hadn’t signed him, but he still reported to the offseason workouts, minicamps and most importantly training camp. He has now been rewarded for his patience and all his focus can turn to football.
"I had resigned myself to the fact that it wasn't getting done coming into camp," Mangold said. "Now that it is done, I haven't really wrapped my head around it yet."
Mangold certainly has earned the new contract and he’ll need to be unbelievable this year again. After releasing Thomas Jones, the Jets signed Ladanian Tomlinson and inserted second-year back Shonn Greene as the starting running back. Mangold will also have to protect Mark Sanchez well again if the offence is to improve and live up to the billing of the team being Super Bowl contenders.
Of course to live up to expectations, the Jets will still need Revis back. Revis is the best player on the roster and it’s bizarre that he has still not been signed. Of course, he is asking for the biggest contract of all which would make him harder to sign.
"I haven't talked to him in a while," Mangold said. "It's not my place to talk to him, give him advice or anything like that. He's making decisions for himself. As a player, I have to respect what he has to do."
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