GM Mike Tannenbaum spoke to reporters on Tuesday and addressed, among other things, the situation with T Jeff Otah, whose trade from the Panthers was voided after a second failed physical. Tannenbaum would only say, "Jeff didn't fullfill the terms of the trade. Jeff gave us a really good week. He's a really nice guy. He's a member of the Panthers."
This leaves the Jets with a big question mark at right tackle. Although Tannenbaum insisted that last year's starter, RT Wayne Hunter has "done well" so far this year, he also said that the team feels good about T Austin Howard. Tannenbaum quickly added, "[Hunter] is our starting starting tackle ... until that changes."
Tannenbaum said that Hunter is aware that he didn't play well in 2011, but that he's "off to a good start" and "his 'A' game is more than good enough to win with."
The Jets GM didn't rule out that the team might now bring in another player or players to compete for the position, which is likely to happen given the team's private discomfort in relying on Hunter.
OL Vlad Ducasse, who the Jets originally brought in as a tackle potentially to replace former RT Damien Woody, has been shifted over to compete with LG Matt Slauson for that role. The Jets feel that guard is the better position for Ducasse, Tannenbaum said, but it was an unexpected change.
Slauson who was drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft, started every game at left guard in both 2010 and 2011. Slauson, who is in the last year of his rookie contract, had shoulder surgery in the offseason. He is reportedly 100 percent, but the team feels he has limitations.
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