Dont’a Hightower’s free agent pitch from the Jets included cupcakes, birthday gifts

The Jets have a complex plan to lure Patriots Pro Bowl linebacker Dont’a Hightower to New York. Step one: cupcakes.

New England’s arch rival is trying to lure the game-changing linebacker to flip allegiances in the AFC East by killing him with kindness. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Jets pulled out all the stops when it came to hosting Hightower for a free agent visit that happened to coincide with his 27th birthday. The franchise shipped his mother a cache of team merchandise, rigged all the monitors in its facilities to say “Happy birthday Dont’a,” and even took him out to a special birthday dinner.

It was a grand gesture for a grand player. Hightower is one of the best free agents on the market in 2017 after developing into one of the league’s top inside linebackers. The former first-round pick earned second-team All-Pro honors after emerging as the backbone of the Patriots’ top-10 defense. He also showed a penchant for making big plays when his team needed him the most; his strip-sack of Matt Ryan helped spur the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.

The Jets don’t have much to offer aside from birthday cheer and boatloads of cash. New York fell to 5-11 last season thanks in part to a defense ranked 28th in the NFL when it came to points allowed. While young pass rusher Leonard Williams emerged as a Pro Bowler, the rest of the roster disappointed, leaving several holes for the franchise to fill this spring.

Adding an impact All-Pro would be a huge signing — especially if it comes at the expense of their arch rival.

Hightower hasn’t made his free agent decision yet, but has been tied to other AFC teams this March. He visited with the Titans last week and fought through a snowstorm to meet with the Steelers on Tuesday. New England is still in the running to retain its defensive leader as well.

The Patriots have gone 8-2 against the Jets since drafting Hightower in 2012. If anything, the dynamic linebacker is used to getting at least two cupcakes each year from New York.