Baker Stays Home

Courtesy Of The NY Jets

The New York Jets announced Friday they have re-signed veteran tight end Chris Baker, who was an unrestricted free agent.  The announcement was made by Jets’ General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.  Baker, 26, is a veteran of four NFL seasons, all of which have been spent with the Jets following his selection in the third round of the 2002 Draft with the 88th selection overall.  The native of St. Albans, N.Y. (Queens) graduated from Saline High School in Michigan before matriculating to Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI. 

“Chris provides us with a strong blocking component in our offense,� said Head Coach Eric Mangini.  “I appreciate the fact that he is committed to developing as a player and fitting into the team concept that we are building.�

The 6-3, 258-pound tight end has played in 52 regular season career games with the Jets and had moved into the starting lineup in 2005 over the course of the first eight games before being sidelined with a broken left fibula suffered in game eight against the San Diego Chargers on Nov. 6, 2005.  Prior to his season–ending injury, which landed him on the Jets’ injured reserve list on November 8, Baker had posted a career-high in receiving yardage with 269 yards on 18 receptions (tying his career-best, 2004).  He also added a touchdown reception and his 14.9 receiving average also represented the highest total of his career.

In the season opener of the 2005 season at Kansas City on September 11, Baker had the seventh-most receiving yards in a single-game by a Jets’ tight end when he caught seven passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. 

Baker has registered 52 career receptions for 602 yards for an 11.6 receiving average and five touchdowns, while also serving as a fixture on a majority of the Jets’ special teams, racking up 46 tackles through the first four seasons of his career. 

In postseason play, Baker has played in four games and recorded seven receptions for 41 yards for a 5.9 average and scored one touchdown receiving.