Report: Jets to cut Scott, Pace sooner than later

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The New York Jets have some major fat-trimming to do on their roster. They'll get started on that sooner than later. (photo: Marianne O'Leary, Flickr)

Gang Green is expected to cut starting linebackers Calvin Pace and Bart Scott in the coming weeks, according to the NY Daily News.

The preliminary housecleaning, which includes dropping reserve tackle Jason Smith, would and will clear up $27.7 in salary cap space, putting the Jets under the projected $121 million cap and in position to make some moves.

So much for the "salary cap hell" everyone has been raving about. Even Scott gets it.

"It's part of the business," Scott told Newsday's Kimberley A. Martin Wednesday night. "If you've been in the business long enough, I mean -- C'mon. Jerry Rice and Joe Montana got cut. If they can get cut, with what they meant to their organization, who can't?"

Montana was traded, and Rice turned down a "retirement bonus" to play with another team. But you get the point.

Scott and Pace are both 32 years old and are costing the Jets more than they're worth... not just because of age, but because of declining production -- especially from Scott.

With a new general manager (John Idzik) running a team in desperate need of a turnaround, dead weight won't be welcome. And even the dead weight knows it.

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