NY Jets need to set an example and extend Marcus Maye

The NY Jets don't have to sign franchise safety Marcus Maye to a long-term contract. In fact, you could argue that based on cap management, his age, and position, that they probably shouldn't.

But sometimes, going against business logic is for the greater good of the franchise.

The Jets have until the July 15th deadline to get a long-term deal done with Marcus Maye. The result could determine whether or not the veteran safety remains with the team beyond this coming season. 

The Jets have been down this road before in recent years. The franchise has had issues in finding and developing their own star players and retaining them for the long haul.

Not since Quincy Enunwa has a player drafted by the Jets received a multi-year contract extension. Poor drafting is one of the reasons for this, but also, in recent years, the team has arguably undervalued some of their better homegrown players (Robby Anderson/Leonard Williams). 

Perhaps it's the Jets' recent history and results with players like Enunwa receiving an extension and his career-ending injury that causes a pause in making a long-term commitment, but ultimately it shouldn't.

The NY Jets exacting leverage over their players

As was the case with Jamison Crowder and Alex Lewis, two veteran starters from a year ago, the Jets had leverage against both players and used it to their advantage.

Both Crowder and Lewis are back, fighting for their supper in 2021, but under the team's terms only, and the likelihood is that this could be their final season wearing the green and white.

The Jets can take the same approach with Maye that they did with Lewis and Crowder if they choose to. The franchise could force Maye to play at a high level again in 2021, tag him again next year, or let him walk if he doesn't repeat his efforts from a year ago.

Letting Maye go would create additional cap space in 2022 and help the team refocus their top resources on other areas. Another option could be tagging Maye again but this time trading him away for draft capital. 

General manager Joe Douglas, Marcus Maye, and his camp have been in contract talks since early in 2021. But, unfortunately, the two sides couldn't come to a long-term agreement before free agency started back in March.

So rather than lose their team MVP in 2020,  the Jets wisely protected themselves by franchising arguably their best player.  

The impasse and franchise tag led to some contentious moments where Maye's agent Erik Burkhardt publicly criticized the Jets for not rewarding his client and failing to take care of their best player.

For their part, Douglas, new head coach Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, and anyone associated with the Jets didn't take offense to Maye's representation public griping. On the contrary — the Jets brass has been nothing but complimentary towards Maye and his camp. 

Despite the growing tension by Maye towards the Jets, he has signed his franchise tender ($10.6 million) and showed up for last week's mandatory three-day minicamp after skipping voluntary workouts.

They say actions speak louder than words. Maye staying silent to the media last week spoke volumes about how he feels about the Jets' actions towards him this current offseason. 

Marcus Maye is not happy. It's a situation that could linger in the locker room, affecting team chemistry and unity during the season. It's not the type of seed you want to plant in your team's growth, particularly when the player disgruntled, in this case, is a team captain.

This is a scenario that the Jets should be looking to avoid, especially with an entirely new coaching staff led by Saleh that is looking to build a new culture. 

Extending Marcus Maye would be for the greater good of the NY Jets franchise

Oftentimes, the focus of football teams is the games and their results. When it comes to the business side of football between a front office and its players, there is a game that takes place behind the scenes where both sides attempt to achieve victories as well.

Franchises and players are not in the business of "taking L's" and doing the other side a favor. Sometimes concessions do happen on both sides, resulting in a happy medium, but it's scarce for sports teams to let the other side have its day purposely.

Joe Douglas and the Jets need to take the hit and do what's right by Marcus Maye — and ultimately for the team's new culture. It's time for Joe Douglas to buck recent history and set a new precedent that rewards the team's best players and leaders for their performance.

The franchise can afford to take the loss financially and go against conventional wisdom to ultimately win in the long run. 

Douglas can set an example and send a message to the entire team by signing Maye to a long-term deal. The action will speak louder than words on the type of GM that Douglas is and the type of team and organization that the Jets will be for players moving forward. 

The last star safety that had contract issues with the Jets was Jamal Adams. Douglas spoke publicly about Adams being a "Jet for life," but when push came to shove, and Adams was very forceful in creating that movement, Douglas did what was best for the Jets organization.

Please make no mistake about it — Marcus Maye is not Jamal Adams.

In 2020, he stepped out from under the enormous shadow that his former teammate cast and proved himself to be a better player and leader. Adams earned his exit, Maye proved why he should remain.

The Jets are trying to sell a new era of leadership on and off the field to its fan base, players, and outsiders. 

When it comes to leadership in the locker room and on the field, to paraphrase a famous quote from The Wizard of Oz, Jets management doesn’t need to look any further than their own backyard. 

In the midst of great adversity and what was arguably the franchise's worst season ever in 2020, Marcus Maye stepped up on the field and off to prove his value.

The  NY Jets need to keep players like him in-house for a long time. It will set the tone for what is expected and for what is to come in the future.