THE SPURNING CARLOS DELGADO IS NOW METS ACQUISITION

Yes I am talking about the same Carlos Delgado who snubbed the Mets last winter. Now he's the newest employee in Flushing anyway. The Mets obtained the slugger from the dismantling Marlins for rookie Mike Jacobs and pitching prospect Yusmeiro Petit. Carlos Delgado is a first baseman of a different stripe. He's not as good or as young as Pujols, of course. But he is a guy who will class up the joint, turn it into a dignified home for ideas and discourse - plus smack 30 homers along the way. He batted .301 with 33 homers and 115 RBI last year. Delgado was trained from an early age for this kind of baseball challenge. His father turned him into a lefty hitter, made the young boy hit baseballs that were painted half black to increase the kid's concentration

With Delgado owed $13.5 million next season and free-agent closer Billy Wagner commanding roughly $11 million a season if he signs, the Mets could soon be $5 million over the money freed by shedding Mike Piazza's contract and swapping Mike Cameron for Xavier Nady, who will play right field. This being the reason, the Mets have ruled out pursuing Alfonso Soriano,

Delgado spurned the Mets last January to sign a four-year, $52-million contract with the Marlins. As a part of the deal the Marlins will provide $7 million of the $48 million that Delgado is still owed through 2008.

CHAOTIC OFF-SEASON FOR THE JETS

The Jets in this off-season be facing yet another crucial decision in what will be considered as a critical off-season for general manager Terry Bradway. Moreover, Herman Edwards, who has two years remaining on his deal, is all set to go to Kansas City, or another NFL Team or the college ranks. It's sure to be a tumultuous off-season. Despite Edwards 2-7 record this season, Edwards is still considered to be the best thing that has happened to the Jets since Bill Parcells got here in 1997. Parcells improved the football talent of the team but scrammed before cleaning up the rest of this backward organization. The misfortune has become the team’s forte. But this season's misfortune has not erased Edwards' accomplishments - three playoff appearances in four years, something no Jets coach had ever done. He has done more than any coach in this team's history to inculcate respectability and class. It's hard to imagine the Jets wouldn't let him go. Even the buzz of the Kansas City is Edwards and not Chiefs assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Al Saunders. One problem in the Chiefs' set-up is that the team gave up a first-round pick to the Rams to get Vermeil in 2001 and now may be unwilling to give up another first-round pick for another coach. The Jets are in a great need of a quarterback, running back, fullback, right tackle, guard or center and maybe a tight end and if Edwards leaves the team, the Jets may decide to get on a transformation plan with any additional picks they would get in exchange for Edwards and do whatsoever is needed to draft USC quarterback Matt Leinart.

JETS NEED TO TAKE FASTER STARTS

In the rabbit and tortoise chase for victory, the Jets in the role of tortoise are not working out. For them being slow and steady is getting on to their nerves. They have encountered more turnovers than touchdowns in the first quarter this season, which is probably the reason why the Jets are off to such a terrible start. Coach Herman Edwards has emphasized the importance of putting together a drive of more than three plays to help turn the tide on what has been an offensive struggle. The Jets at 2-5 have scored seven points in seven first quarters advancing into their game on Sunday against San Diego. Their only score came when they played against Miami and incidentally that was the only time they have had a halftime lead this season. Vinny Testaverde has yet to prove his determination in three games, though he has run for two. Laveranues Coles has the only touchdown catch among receivers. Moreover, the Jets despite of scoring early are hurting themselves with mistakes and penalties. One reason is their inability to do much on first and second downs that has put the Jets in nearly impossible third-down situations. The team’s defense is also terrible particularly when the offense cannot sustain a drive or score. The team’s defense can get a tremendous lift if it could play with and protect a lead.