The New England Patriots added a second new offensive player in free agency's first 12 hours when they signed former Jets tight end Chris Baker. Adam Schefter of the NFL Network reports that Baker was open to re-signing with the Jets, who cut Baker before he earned a $9 million roster bonus, but that the Patriots swooped in with an early and attractive offer. The move continues the Jets' and Patriots' version of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. In both cases, players have jumped from one team to the other, keeping animosity high and adding depth to their two annual games. For these purposes, the Jets play the role of the pre-2004 Red Sox.
Baker had 21 catches for 194 yards and no touchdowns in 2008 as the Jets gave a lot of playing time to first-round pick Dustin Keller. He played an important role in the run blocking game, though. That's an area that the Patriots have addressed twice since free agency began. Earlier on Friday they reached an agreement with Fred Taylor to bolster their running back corps, and an improved running game should certainly help keep pressure off of Tom Brady or Matt Cassel in a more balanced offense.
