The New York Jets have upped the ante with tight end Chris Baker in their protracted contract squabble.

A month after Baker didn’t practice during a mandatory minicamp because of an allegedly bad back, the Jets have placed him on the Physically Unable to Perform List due to the supposed injury.

Asked if the move, which as a practical matter bars Baker from training camp practices until he is removed from the list, was related to the dispute, agent Jonathan Feinsod said, “No comment, no comment, no comment.”

Last year, the Jets were dealing with another disgruntled veteran, Pete Kendall.  The dispute between player and team got ugly during camp, with Kendall alleging that the Jets were trying to get under his skin by, for example, assigning him to the rookie dorm.  Kendall eventually was traded to the Redskins.

This time around, keeping Baker out of practice could keep Baker from disrupting the team.  But, if he truly isn’t injured or if any past injury has healed, Baker should be able to challenge the PUP designation through a grievance.

Baker is the third veteran player, including Kendall and receiver Laveranues Coles, to claim that the team broke promises to adjust their contracts.  Baker was explicit in June regarding his criticism.

“Guys are definitely concerned about it,” Baker said .  “I can guarantee you after this is all said and done there will be someone out here going through the same thing next year and the following year because of the way things are handled here.

“My advice to guys would be if you’re going to do anything, as far as with this organization, get it in writing, because things may be said with a wink and then the next thing you know they say something has been misconstrued.  This is three times and, like I said, this is going to continue to happen.” 

As a commenter pointed out in response to one of our Jeremy Shockey stories from earlier in the day, a trade of Baker from the Jets to the Giant could make a lot of sense.