Jets to cut ties with WR Coles

Whenever a wide receiver with any kind of ability becomes available, it draws interest from the crowd here at MTC.

The Jets will part ways with wide receiver Laveranues Coles, according to Dave Hutchinson of NJ.com.

This is not your normal case of a team cutting a player though. Technically, the Jets restructured Coles' deal to allow him to become an unrestricted free agent on Friday. According to Hutchinson's report, that means Coles chose to walk away from a guaranteed $6 million which he was owed for the 2009 season.

"I look at it as a long-term thing,'' Coles told Hutchinson. "It's something my agent (Roosevelt Barnes) and I (discussed) for a long time. I trust my agent. He's been in my corner for a long time. He gave me his opinion. He said he truly believed we could get a long-term deal on the open market and I took his word for it."

Coles turned 31 last season, catching 70 balls for 850 yards and seven touchdowns. He's eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark just once in the past five seasons, although his seven scores tied a career high.

I'll say the same thing I said when Marvin Harrison was released. The thought of Coles playing for the Birds wouldn't really excite me. I don't see him being a difference-maker for them at this point in his career. Maybe you feel differently.

In other news...

** The Giants have locked up running back Brandon Jacobs. Earlier this month, New York used the franchise tag on the bruising running back, but it didn't take long to come to terms on a new contract worth $25 million over four years, according to Mike Garafolo of NJ.com.

** The Bucs are making it clear they're headed for a youth movement. Tampa Bay today cut linebacker and 11-time Pro Bowler Derrick Brooks. Also gone are linebacker Cato June, running back Warrick Dunn and wide receivers Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard.

We'll get to combine winners and losers Thursday, and then it's free-agency time.