Jets CEO on Anthony Barr returning to Vikings: We want guys who are all-in

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The Jets made a couple of big splashes in free agency by signing running back Le'Veon Bell and linebacker C.J. Mosley, but their attempt to make it a trifecta was squashed when linebacker Anthony Barr changed his mind after a verbal agreement to join the team.

Barr wound up going back to the Vikings and Jets CEO Christopher Johnson was asked about Barr’s late flip-flop at the league meetings.

“We want people on our team who want to be New York Jets,” Johnson said, via the New York Daily News. “Not everybody wants to be in New York. If he didn’t want to be here, that’s fine. It’s disappointing when someone backs out on an agreement, but we want people who are all-in.”

The hope for the Jets was that Barr could help improve their pass rush. They’ll have to find other ways to do that and made a move in that direction by re-signing linebacker Brandon Copeland on Tuesday. They also have the third overall pick to put toward that effort.

40 responses to “Jets CEO on Anthony Barr returning to Vikings: We want guys who are all-in

  1. Copeland was a nice re-signing, but to me, that was more of a sign to be prepared to trade back in the draft. I think if they stay at 3, they grab a pass rusher, but if someone makes an offer they can’t refuse to grab a QB, they’ll probably want to be able to accept that trade and have a fallback. So, filling depth with guys like Copeland (who had five sacks last year; seven if you count ones that were called back by penalties) was a good signing.

  2. I’m kinda sad he didn’t sign with the Jets. We’re going to miss Josh Allen jumping over him twice a year.

  3. Always the response “Not everyone wants to play in New York” as of its see massive badge of honor. He stayed with the team who drafted him. Say that when New York’s actually relevant

  4. Its hard to be all in when the Jets reek of desperation. They had the 2nd most cap space in the NFL, holes throughout their roster, a track record of poor drafting in the mid rounds and a grossly incompetent and unlikeable HC. Free agents knew they were desperate and unless they Jets were willing to bid against themselves, the likelihood of landing someone on the merit of them actually wanting to be with the Jets, was remote. The Jets dished out 17 mil/yr for a 2 down, slightly above average inside linebacker and 13 mil for an RB, who hasn’t played in a year. Yeah sorry, they are desperate

  5. The Vikings added to their offer so Barr’s decision was to not have to move and get familiar with a new team, coaches and players. Nearly the same money for what he considers home so not surprising.

  6. “The hope for the Jets was that Barr could help improve their pass rush”

    Barr has a grand total of 6 sacks over the last 3 years. He isn’t a quality pass rusher. The Vikings are overpaying for that turd.

  7. freefromwhatyouare says:
    March 25, 2019 at 1:32 pm

    “The hope for the Jets was that Barr could help improve their pass rush”

    Barr has a grand total of 6 sacks over the last 3 years. He isn’t a quality pass rusher. The Vikings are overpaying for that turd.
    _________

    The Vikings don’t use him as a pass rusher that much in their 4-3 scheme. The Jets were going to use him as a 3-4 pass-rushing linebacker. Do you just look at sack numbers and decide if a guy is a good pass rusher? That seem like something somebody that doesn’t know much about football would do.

  8. It’s no more hard to understand than this. Barr is kind of a small town guy and change doesn’t suit him well. The story reported in MN was once it became all about the money and it was real he would be moving to NY, he got unnerved. He went back to MN for less money because that’s where he was settled and comfortable.

    He would not have been a good fit in a city like NY. It’s just not him.

  9. They wanted him to help their pass rush?

    The guy has had 13.5 sacks in 71 games started for the Vikings. Zero in 3 post season games.

    Lol….help with the pass rush.

  10. And the Vikings are happy to keep him. He may not have many sacks but that’s not his job in our scheme, and the ones he has were pretty big and memorable. We have multiple high quality ends that take care of the QB pressures. freefromwhatyouare seems to lack football knowledge.

  11. Rob the Clown says:

    “The Vikings don’t use him as a pass rusher”

    ==============

    He only had 55 tackles last season. From the tape I’ve seen he also is a liability in coverage.

    What do they use him for? As a scarecrow?

  12. when the Jets signed Mosley to more $ than they offered Barr, that’s what ended it. Don’t fool yourselves.

  13. And yet you signed Bell. He was so “all in” for his last team that he sat out a season. The guy is “all-in” alright; for himself.

  14. tinye67 says:
    March 25, 2019 at 1:43 pm

    It’s no more hard to understand than this. Barr is kind of a small town guy and change doesn’t suit him well. The story reported in MN was once it became all about the money and it was real he would be moving to NY, he got unnerved. He went back to MN for less money because that’s where he was settled and comfortable.

    He would not have been a good fit in a city like NY. It’s just not him.
    ___________

    Small town guy? Barr was raised in Los Angeles.

  15. Kirk’s Cousin says:
    March 25, 2019 at 3:44 pm
    Taxes in NY/NJ >>>> Taxes in MN
    ———————————-
    Not true, MN top tax rate is 9.85%, NJ 8.97%. Cousins may have gotten a special break though, as MN and MI have a reciprocity agreement that allows MI residents working in MN to pay no MN tax…

  16. Can you imagine what Green Bay’s roster would look like if they had “people who are all-in.”
    Most of their roster is dreaming of joining Clay in Cali and leaving drab Green Bay.

  17. Anthony Barr is almost as overrated as Cousins but its good they are on the same team, they can choke at the same time during the Prime Time games when the audience ratings are the highest.

  18. would have been nice to get barr but hey, he followed his heart. good for him. sucks thinking you’ve signed a big-time player/coach only for them to get cold feet and leave you at the alter. still not over belichick in 2000 or winfield in 2004.

  19. whatjusthapped
    Mar 25, 2019, 6:25 PM EDT
    Anthony Barr is almost as overrated as Cousins but its good they are on the same team, they can choke at the same time during the Prime Time games when the audience ratings are the highest.
    ——————————-
    Just like when Cousins went for 300 and 3td against the Packers last December and was named player of the game? That Primetime game?

  20. whatjusthapped says:
    March 25, 2019 at 6:25 pm
    Anthony Barr is almost as overrated as Cousins but its good they are on the same team, they can choke at the same time during the Prime Time games when the audience ratings are the highest.
    —————————-

    Barr – #6 rated FA overall for 2019

    “Rodgers has never won a game in which he trailed by more than one point in the fourth quarter to a team with a winning record. He’s 0-35 in those games”

    So, now lets try it again and this time ask someone else with a bit of football knowledge before typing — Who is the overrated one again? Don’t be biased because he broke your boy – Legally

  21. wilkersonswobblykankles says:
    March 26, 2019 at 9:15 am
    whatjusthapped says:
    March 25, 2019 at 6:25 pm
    “Rodgers has never won a game in which he trailed by more than one point in the fourth quarter to a team with a winning record. He’s 0-35 in those games”

    So, now lets try it again and this time ask someone else with a bit of football knowledge before typing — Who is the overrated one again? Don’t be biased because he broke your boy – Legally
    /////////////////////////////////////////////

    So I guess the comeback victory against the division-winning Bears on Opening Day last season doesn’t fit your hand-picked criteria because the Bears hadn’t yet established a “winning record?” How hair-splitting convenient for you! The defense didn’t fail Rodgers too frequently to count? Again, how selectively convenient.

    Legal doesn’t make it right. There’s a very good reason The Barr Rule was created. It kept your “guarantee” breathing after Matthews let up….and was still called on it. Lucky you. Under the “legal” method, they’d still be digging Cousins out of the turf.

    Bottom line? Barr is way overrated and the Vikings deserve to not be able to unload him while the time is (was) right.

  22. minneanderthals says:
    March 26, 2019 at 11:52 am
    Barr just isn’t very good
    _____
    Waffle, while. Barr is far from isn’t very good you will not find any Vikings fans on here dopey calling the number 1 rated lb in the nfl. Lolol

  23. According to the NFL (the people that own the show,) Martinez is ranked #2, Kendrick’s #21, and Barr at #69. Anybody that has a problem with how the results are derived should take it up directly with the NFL…….and stop whining until you do.

  24. @stellarperformance – So I guess the comeback victory against the division-winning Bears on Opening Day last season doesn’t fit your hand-picked criteria because the Bears hadn’t yet established a “winning record?”
    _________________________
    Wasn’t my criteria or stats – public record and many talking heads have published this. I’ll give you the opening day question however as that stat was probably before last season.

    1 – 35

    See you 9/5/19 and you can bring the Rodgers rule with you. I want to see you running onto the field and picking up Aaron gently, brushing away his tears while defending his honor from the big meany defensive players

  25. wilkersonswobblykankles says:
    March 26, 2019 at 1:54 p
    See you 9/5/19 and you can bring the Rodgers rule with you. I want to see you running onto the field and picking up Aaron gently, brushing away his tears while defending his honor from the big meany defensive players
    Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    Oh, you make predictions too? That’s terrific! Tell us, is this the year the Vikings finally make it to the SuperBowll? Do they finally win it?

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