Unhappy Jets TE boycotting offseason workouts
by MARK CANNIZZARO, New York Post
Baker, who's fresh off the best season of his career, having caught 41 passes and become more of a focal point in the Jets' offense, has two years remaining on his $6.6 million contract and he's clearly underpaid by NFL starting tight end standards.
Without attempting to make any significant waves, the 28-year-old Baker spoke after the 2007 season about his desire to sign a new deal that would pay him more fairly and keep him in his native New York for the rest of his career.
"Hopefully, we'll get something done," Baker said the day after the season.
Since then, he has watched as the Jets signed a new roster full of expensive free agents to contracts in excess of $140 million. That group includes backup tight end Bubba Franks, who was given $1.65 million for the 2008 season — more than Baker's base salary this year.
The Jets also recently appeased WR Laveranues Coles, who initially boycotted the offseason program until the Jets agreed to make the final two years of his contract guaranteed for the remaining $11 million.
And even more recently, they ripped up the contract of S Kerry Rhodes with one year remaining and renegotiated it into a five-year, $33.5 million deal with $20 million in guarantees.
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