Jets' refusal to up offer disturbs Ellis
This photo shows New York Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis stepping over New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after sacking him during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass. (Jan. 16, 2011) Credit: AP
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Shaun Ellis said he knew where things stood with the only organization he'd ever played for when the Jets didn't up the ante much on their offer.
They offered the 11-year defensive end a one-year deal for the veteran's minimum of $910,000, and Ellis felt slighted when he informed the Jets he had an offer from the Patriots. Ellis said general manager Mike Tannenbaum told him they could increase the offer only by "a couple thousand," leaving Ellis a bit bothered, given that he wanted to return.
Insulting? "I guess in a way it was,'' Ellis said Monday on a conference call. "It was a business decision. They had other parts they were trying to take care of. Tannenbaum basically told me I was the last man on the totem pole."
Tannenbaum said in a statement Monday night: "These are tough decisions. Shaun was our longest-tenured Jet. I have the greatest amount of respect for him and I will always appreciate his contributions to this team."
Ellis inked a one-year deal worth between $4 million and $5 million with the Patriots, a source confirmed. "At first, I was a little bit emotional about it," Ellis said. "But once I wrapped my head around it, I took it for what it was. I understand I just wasn't part of their plans."
Bryan impresses
Left-footed Chris Bryan, a native of Melbourne, Australia, has been launching punts in camp and has displayed some serious hang time.
"The thing that you notice about him that is unusual, it takes him like four yards to get the ball off," Rex Ryan said. "Most guys will stride much longer than that. So he's striding at four yards and gets the ball off quickly. Any time a guy is left-footed, it looks kind of funny, for some reason. But he booms it. I've been impressed with him."
