Barnes, who was signed as a free agent in the off-season, hasn't seen
game action since late October against the Bengals, and has only
appeared in five games for the Jets this season. Although his playing
time has been sporadic, Barnes did help pave the way for two of
Jones's hundred yard performances. That's an interesting statistic
considering Jones only has only eclipsed the hundred yard mark on
three occasions.
The team's philosophy toward two tight-end sets appeared to have
ultimately cost Barnes his job, as the Jets have often elected to
utilize players like Joe Kowalewski as an H-back lined up in the
backfield. Their ability to do so made the fullback position somewhat
disposable.
"There have
been different times he was active or not active. We have multiple
tight ends on the roster right now," Mangini said during his Wednesday
press-conference. " The way that we're set up, you can go in and out
of the one back sets or the two back sets with those players, and it
just gives you some more flexibility."
The rugged fullback was active in all sixteen games for the Dolphins
last season and the Jets had high hopes for him. However, much like
most of the 2007 off-season, their hopes failed to materialize.
"It really comes down to the whole group and who can play those spots
the most effectively on game day," Mangini said when asked why Barnes
wasn't able to crack the starting lineup of any of the special teams
units. "The way that worked out is there were other guys in those
positions, which if you're not considered there on a regular basis, it
makes it hard to be active consistently."
While he may be currently unemployed as a football player, his
professional plate is still very much full.
Earlier this month he
reached a deal with NEHST Studios to have his comic-book concept
produced into an internet based animated series. The comic, titled The
National Triumph League, is based on professional athlete characters
that harbor super-human powers and spend their time off the field
fighting crime.