Aaron Maybin, ex-Bills bust, joining rival Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Aaron Maybin is getting a second chance to jumpstart his NFL career with the New York Jets.

Coach Rex Ryan confirmed that the Jets had reached an agreement in principle Wednesday with the former Buffalo Bills first-round pick, pending a physical.

The once-promising linebacker was waived by Buffalo on Monday after two disappointing seasons in which he had no sacks and was never in the team's starting lineup. The Jets will give Maybin the opportunity to fulfill the potential he showed when the Bills made him the 11th overall pick in 2009 out of Penn State.

"We're going to find out what he brings," Ryan said. "He wants to be a Jet."

Maybin was at the Jets' facility Wednesday morning and taking his physical. He will be signed if he passes.

Maybin — nicknamed "Maybe" by some disappointed fans — struggled to keep his weight up while with the Bills and appeared in only 11 games last season, inactive for five straight. Still, several teams were reportedly interested in Maybin.

He'll serve as a backup — if he makes the team — to a solid group of linebackers that includes David Harris, Bart Scott, Bryan Thomas and Calvin Pace.

"I always spoke high of him when he was in Buffalo," Ryan said.

The team also announced it had waived wide receiver Cordarol Scales and cornerback Richard Taylor, apparently making room on the roster to add Maybin.

The move to bring in the 23-year-old Maybin is somewhat curious considering the Jets gave up on their own former first-round pick in Vernon Gholston when they cut him before the lockout. Gholston, like Maybin with the Bills, was expected to add an instant boost to the team's pass rush, but the former Ohio State star had trouble fitting into the Jets' system and failed to register a sack in three seasons after being the sixth overall pick in 2008.

Gholston has since signed with the Chicago Bears.

A switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense — something the Jets run — didn't help Maybin succeed in Buffalo.

Ryan, who once declared that if he couldn't turn Gholston into a player no one could, is going to try to do the same with Maybin.

"We'll see how he does," Ryan said. "I think he's got some talent, some pass-rush ability and, if he sticks with our team, he would be a pass rusher for us. We don't need him to be a starter. We've got two excellent starting outside linebackers already. We'll give him an opportunity to help on defense and help Mike Westhoff on special teams."