Thanks For The Memories Nick!

The changes are fully starting to come in East Rutherford. After having a big falling off last year, the New York Jets are starting a rebuild. One week after letting right tackle Breno Giacomini hit free agency, the Jets released two-time All-Pro center Nick Mangold on Saturday. Losing Mangold, I think, is a big hit for the Jets. I understand the team wanting to rebuild, and it does make cap sense, but still, losing a guy the caliber of Nick Mangold is going to hurt, at least to us Jets fans.

Just look at what this guy did in his career. Mangold was drafted by the Jets in the same first round as left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson in 2006, being selected 29th overall. Mangold had held down the fort in the middle of New York's offensive line for eleven seasons> He had taken over as the anchor of that offensive line from former All-Pro center Kevin Mawae. Mangold was selected to seven Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro honors in 2009 and 2010 when he acted as the backbone of New York's ground-and-pound offense during its championship game runs. Mangold was one of the Jets' most consistent players during his time there, starting and playing in 154 of a possible 160 regular-season games through 2015. But an ankle injury sidelined Mangold for the back half of the Jets' dismal 2016 campaign, making him and his $9.075 million cap hit in 2017 expendable. The veteran center will hit the open market with just one year remaining on a seven-year contract in New York.

This does leave a hole in the offensive line, as the Jets are now going to try and figure out what to do to replace a guy the caliber of Mangold, He had made the transition from Kevin Mawae, who was an anchor in the line himself for eight year. Mangold was a big reason why the Jets running game was so successful the years that the Jets made the back to back AFC title games. He was the steady force on the that Jets offensive line. When Mangold was out on the field, he played his best and gave his all every day out on the field, he never really took a snap off. Only thing is, because of his injury trouble last year, coupled with how much money he was slated to make on the final year of the contract, it made financial sense for the Jets to cut ties with the center.

And he's still got plenty left in the tank. I really do hope he catches on somewhere else he's too good a football player to not be on the field every week. Thanks for all you did to hold down that Jets offensive line Nick!