Jeter Needs To Check Himself

Derek Jeter thinks the Yankees will do anything to keep him. The Yankees have no such idea. The team synonymous with over-paying is taking a backseat approach to negotiations with one of their all-time greats.

Jeter and his agent are believed to want somewhere in the neighborhood of $20+ million over four or more years. That's about $80-100 million for a 36-year old shortshop coming off his least productive season in 15 years. The Yankees also just got done paying him $189 million over the last decade, which included one World Series ring.

Normally, the Yankees make ridiculous signings that make no sense and are completely over-priced. Like Mark Teixeira's 8-year, $180 million contract a couple years ago. Paying Alex Rodriguez $33 million to play third base is also laughable, but that's what the Yankees do. Apparently those days are over.

Yankees brass, Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman, have drawn a line in the sand. They've made it clear they want Derek Jeter to remain a Yankee but have made their offer, 3 years and $45 million. That seems fair. Can you put a price on what Jeter has meant to the Yankees? Clearly you can and they've paid it throughout his career. This new contract would put him over $230 million for what he's done for the Yankees.

Sources say the Yankees told Jeter to "drink the reality potion." He needs to. He's a Hall of Famer, a Yankee legend and brought back the franchise to dominance in the mid-to-late 90s with clutch play. But he's also near the end of the line. He's got a few more decent years in him, no doubt. But not $20 million a year's worth.

Jeter needs the Yankees more than the Yankees need Jeter. They already got everything from him - four rings, millions of fans and a Hall of Fame career. Now they're throwing him a $45 million bone, allowing him to add to career totals while remaining a Yankee for life. In three years, it will be time to exit gracefully with class, just like he handled his entire career.

It's not Jeter's fault Teixeira and ARod are making more than him at this point but there's nothing he can do about it now. They don't have the stature, resume or legacy Jeter does but they were in better negotiating position when the contracts were signed. The contract of Jeter's career was inked in 2001, which was second only to ARod's ridiculous Rangers' contract at the time.

The Yankees and Jeter will work something out. Nobody wants to see him in Arizona or on some other irrelevant team. They're giving him the opportunity to test the free agent market. Teams will be interested but will it be worth leaving the Yankees for a few extra million? That's assuming there are teams offering more than $45 million for three years.

The Yankees may bump it up a few million over the course of the three years during the negotiation process. Jeter and his agent are playing hard ball right now. For the sake of the Yankees, Jeter and major league baseball fans, Jeter needs to accept the offer and retire a Yankee.

Free Agency Causes Excitement

The NFL has unique powers. The season's been over for a month and there aren't games for another six months. The off-season has just started, but people are still acting like it's Christmas morning. The reason: Free agency.

Some big names have already been cut. LT, Westbrook, Thomas Jones, Jake Delhomme. Some bigger names are out visiting teams.  Julius Peppers seems to be the most sought after free agent this year.

Glazer reported Peppers is in Chicago taking a physical with the Bears. Schefter just reported it's a done deal. I heard he was to visit the Pats and Philly, but I guess Lovie swept him off his feet.

Peppers is a great pick-up for the Bears, but that alone won't be enough for them to get them over the hump. Mike Martz still has to find a way to shrink Cutler's head and ego. Without Cutler playing at a high-level, it doesn't matter who the Bears sign.

I'm surprised Peppers chose them. I thought he wanted to play in a 3-4. Chester Taylor is also a nice pick-up for them, because Forte can't handle the load on his own. Taylor has only aged over the last three years with Minnesota, but he's got to be better than the other Adrian Peterson the Bears were using.

Free agency gives fans hope. All the "Wait 'til next year" fans get excited. They see their team as being one big name away from the Super Bowl. Usually not the case, but who can tell someone not to dream?

These signings no doubt have gotten Bears fans all lathered up with excitement and hope. I recall the same excitement from Bears fans last off-season when they got Cutler so forgive me for taking a wait-and-see approach. Peppers is a good start, but don't get out of control again, Bears fans. Win a few games first.

Trades are starting to surface now as well. The Jets picked up Antonio Cromartie for a conditional third-round pick in 2011. I love this pick up by Rex Ryan.

Cromartie was the best corner in the game in 2007. He's slipped a little bit the last couple of years, but that Chargers defense was a mess. I predict Cromartie to flourish in Ryan's 3-4 with Revis on the other side. He will be a top corner once again.

I saw a few jokes last night about Cromartie's tackling, especially the play on Shonn Greene. The Jets aren't looking for him to tackle. They want the lockdown cover man he's proven to be in years past so they can blitz even more.

I'll be looking forward to seeing where these free agents land. Then I will start the countdown until the draft. Then OTAs, then mini-camps, then preseason.

Then on the Saturday before Week 1, I'll look to see what Brett Favre is planning on doing.