Spring Cleaning In February!!

It’s time for some Spring cleaning!!

Yes, I know it’s not Spring yet, but it’s time to organize that mess and take out the garbage. Some NFL teams couldn’t wait until March to throw away their unwanted trash, so they started cleanin’ house yesterday.

New York Jets

You have to know when to move on. We all make mistakes, but not everyone has the courage to put the past behind them. The New York Jets did that on Wednesday. By cutting Muhammad Wilkerson prior to March 16th, the Jets will save $11 million in salary cap space and $16.75 million overall.

After signing Wilkerson to a 5-year, $86 million deal in 2015 ($37 million guaranteed), the Jets thought they’d solidified one of the most important positions on the field. They thought wrong. VERY WRONG!!

It’s funny how some players’ stats rapidly decline the instant they sign on the dotted line. Wilkerson earned his $86 million contract with a career-high 12 sacks in 2015. But over the past 2 years, Wilkerson missed 4 games while only totaling 8 sacks. He showed up late 4 times (that we know about), and he genuinely looked like he lacked interest in playing football. Thanks for absolutely nothing Muhammad!! Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!!

Chicago Bears

Speaking of wasting money, the Chicago Bears know what we’re talking about. After signing Mike Glennon to an unbelievably bad 3-year, $45 million contract, the Bears have released Glennon. He was paid $18.5 million for his “services” this past season while only appearing in 4 games. That’s $4.625 million per game. That’s a lot of moola.

By cutting Glennon, the Bears will save $9 million in salary cap space and $12.5 million overall. This was clearly a smart move, as Glennon is fit to be a 3rd-string quarterback for the rest of his career.

Matt Forte

In combined Jets and Bears news, Matt Forte is hangin’ em up. Forte is calling it quits after 10 years in the NFL (8 with the Bears, 2 with the Jets). In his prime, Forte was one of the best dual-threat running backs in the game. In 2014, he rushed for 1,038 yards while also catching 102 passes for 808 yards. Even though, as a Jets’ fan, I didn’t receive his prime, I always liked Matt Forte. He played the game the right way.

Carolina Panthers

It’s absolutely amazing Jonathan Stewart lasted this long in the NFL. Who knew you could get paid millions to be bad at something (insert Blake Bortles joke here)?? Stewart has played his entire 10-year career with the Carolina Panthers and is their all-time leading rusher. That’s sad. Stewart’s release will save $3.7 million in salary cap space and $5.2 million overall.

I can’t believe it took this long to cut Stewart. This doesn’t need to turn into a Jonathan Stewart bash session, but WOW. One. Jonathan Stewart had one thousand-yard season in 10 years. I’ll be shocked if he’s working in the NFL next season.

As the “start” of the NFL season approaches (March 14th), stay tuned for ALL of the Spring cleaning moves that are going to be put out to the curb.

 

 Do you agree with these moves?? If you don’t, I’m not sure I can help you….