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Brisby Signs with Jets
by Clint Mills (8/17/2000)

Vincent Brisby didn't last long on the unemployment rolls, as he was quickly gobbled up by the receiver starved New York Jets. With Wayne Chrebet the only experienced starter on the Jets roster, the Jets are still looking to fill the huge void left by the departure of Keyshawn Johnson.

Rookies Laveraneus Coles and Windrell Hayes are too raw, and the Jets certainly cannot count on the oft-injured Yatil Green. Green has just 18 career receptions since being drafted in the 1st round by Miami three years ago. Dedric Ward is an excellent deep threat, but is too inconsistent to garner serious attention for the #2 spot. At 6-3 and close to 200lbs, the #2 job may be Brisby's to lose in New York, as was the case in New England when Bill Belichick took over in New England.

Brisby has signed for the veteran minimum, but with incentives could earn up to $2 Million. This is a far cry from the $1.5M base salary Brisby was scheduled to earn with New England prior to renegotiating his contract earlier this offseason.

The latest word from Foxboro is that Troy Brown will get a long look at the #2 spot, which would make New England extremely small at the receiver position, including the starting TE in the 240lb Bjornson. With Tony Simmons being the only receiver remaining on the roster over 6 feet tall, he has all but assured himself a spot on the roster despite his inconsistencies. Simmons ran hot and cold last season filling in at the slot position for the then injured Troy Brown. Should Terry Glenn once again fail to play 16 games, the 2000 Patriots may challenge the 1990 squad in the record books.

Since the advent of the 16 game schedule, no Patriots team has scored fewer points (181) than Rod Rust's 1-15 1990 club. Rod Rust was fired after just one year as an NFL head coach. Rust was previously, and continued to be respected throughout the league as a defensive guru. Rust was brought in to add discipline, replacing Raymond Berry who was criticized and fired for being too easy going after his first and only losing season in New England. Hmmm...

In other news, Patriots 5th round Pick Dave Stachelski was signed by the New Orleans Saints. If you can believe it, the Saints were actually in more need of TE help than the Pats with promising 2nd year player Cam Cleeland sidelined with injuries.