FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- In a conversation two weeks ago about his future with the Jets, Braylon Edwards was confident he'd make the 53-man roster. He felt he had a strong ally in GM John Idzik, a former Seahawks executive who watched him play last season.
"The talent is there, that's what people need to realize," Edwards told ESPNNewYork.com. "John Idzik was in Seattle. If he saw a diminished player, I don't think he would've brought me here."
As it turned out, Edwards was wrong about Idzik. On Monday, the Jets released him -- hardly a surprise, but a move that raises questions. The Jets could've used Edwards' veteran presence at wide receiver, a position filled with durability and maturity concerns. They apparently felt Edwards was expendable with the return of Santonio Holmes, who practiced Monday for the first time on his surgically repaired foot, and the addition of Mohamed Massaquoi.
Let's not put Massaquoi in Canton. Remember, he was released by the Jaguars, a team desperate for wide receivers. There's always a chance the Jets could re-sign Edwards after Week 1, when his salary wouldn't be guaranteed, but that doesn't seem likely -- unless there's an injury. The problem with Edwards is that he doesn't play special teams, and it's hard to justify him as a No. 5 receiver if he's not contributing in the kicking game. That's why the Jets should've made him their No. 4.
Right now, the Jets' depth chart looks like this:
Starters: Holmes, Stephen Hill
Backups: Jeremy Kerley, Clyde Gates
Competing for roster spots: Massaquoi, Ryan Spadola, Ben Obomanu
