HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- The Jets and free-agent Pro Bowl cornerback Ty Law have reached an agreement in principle on a multiyear deal, which is contingent on Law passing a physical, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions.
"It's done," one person said.
Jets assistant general manager Mike Tannenbaum and Law's agent, Carl Poston, met Thursday night and agreed to many of the parameters of a deal and are now trying to fine-tune the contract. They negotiated throughout the day yesterday.
The deal is believed to include a signing bonus of $5 million to $6 million and average roughly $6 million per season. It is said to be incentive-rich and heavily backloaded. Law will come to New York for a physical early next week.
At issue had been the back end of the deal. The Law camp is said to have agreed on bonus money and first-year salary early on in the talks. Law was reportedly seeking a deal averaging between $6 million and $7 million per season.
Also at issue is that Law wants to get paid if he performs and the Jets want to protect themselves if he doesn't.
The Jets may have to rework several contracts and perhaps even release a veteran or two to make any deal work under the salary cap. One player who might be adversely affected is cornerback Ray Mickens.
Law, 31, is coming off a foot injury that caused him to miss nine games last season. He claims to be fully healthy but some NFL insiders think he might be less than 100 percent and will never be the player he once was. He has worked out for the Chiefs, Jaguars and Lions.
Last season, Law turned down a four-year, $24 million offer from New England, which released him in February for salary cap reasons. Law has found that teams have been reluctant to meet his demands.
While the Chiefs, Jaguars or Lions may be able to pay Law more than the Jets, Law's relationship with Jets coach Herman Edwards, running back Curtis Martin and secondary coach Corwin Brown plus his desire to play for a winner gave the Jets an edge.
Martin, who played with Law in New England, has actively recruited him, talking to him almost daily. The pair are very close.
Law, a four-time Pro Bowl and three-time Super Bowl champion, will start opposite David Barrett. He's the shut-down cornerback the Jets have been searching for since the departure of Aaron Glenn in 2002. He'll replace Donnie Abraham, who retired.
The arrival of Law means the veteran Mickens, if he remains, will return to his customary nickel back position. Mickens, who has longed to start, has said he'll welcome a player of Law's caliber....
New York Jets & Law agree in principle...
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Originally Posted by Pat Bateman
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