Rosenhaus is launching the agent equivalent of Operation Anaconda! Diabolical! I would work Leon into the offense more this season to prove he can stay healthy while being a focal point on the offensive side of the ball. You can't extend him now and not Jones. I would not let Leon reach the end of the season without a contract extension. I would try to lock him up in December or so. Jones is an aging back with an average skillset whose only truly impressive talent is his ability to stay healthy. He played great behind a very talented oline and poorly behind one that wasn't very talented. He's only getting up there in years. I would let him play out his contract and go.
i would force him to honor his contract...or sit the F**#@ out the year.....screw these guys that hold your team hostage because of 1 good year.......they agreed to AND signed their own Gdamn contract......F' em set an example and play hardball
Hawkeye fan...first post on this board. No worries Jets fans. Shonn Greene is the real deal. LW can hold out and you won't end up missing him.
we will cause leon washington is no worst than the 2nd best kick returner in the league and someone you can line up in the slot, and someone who can take 10-20 carries a agame (depending on the development of the game) IMO behind a good line. which is why all jets fans believe hes underutilized. threat to score anywhere. the whole point of picking up Shonn Greene being so big for us is its sposed to be Washington/Green fort the next 5-6 years or unless one explodes to ultimate potential and we cant keep both and make them as trade bait far far down the rode. thomas jones is gone after this year. plain and simple. avoid the inevitable with a possible no cap next year its way more sensible to lock him up now. plus people expecting to finish out his 4th rd rookie contract after proving to be probably the most versatile and overall effective player on the team. (offensive threat +return demon even if he doestn score his field position he provides us gives the offense a much easier situation) and if his knee got blown out itd be, aww shucks, tough break leon.
God, as much as I love Washington, why resort to this kind of tactic? I know, I know, this is the nature of the beast, high contracts in sports, all sports, but these spoiled prima donnas get paid better than good and then have one hot season and want their money right then and there. It's a fucking joke. It cracked me up to see the Jets go 0-4 on the West Coast this past season and then hear guys bitching about all the travel. How has any team on the West Coast ever won anything before?? These guys get a private plane or at the very least, 1st class service on the plane, 1st class hotels, 1st class EVERYTHING. Try telling a guy or gal who commutes in traffic or on the train five days a week both in and out of the city and paid considerately less to do said work (that most of them can't stand and work way too hard) that these spoiled millionaires can't handle flying cross country to play a three hour game. Actually, ask the guys and gals that still have jobs and haven't been laid off. Again, it's a fucking joke, and as much as I love Leon and hope the Jets bite the bullet and extend him asap, it all makes me sick. Sorry for the rant.
Yes on both ideas but if the Jets let Leon get past the midpoint of the season without an extension they are insane. By then they'll know what Shonn Greene is capable of and they'll know if Leon can handle more reps. At that point they should extend Leon and phase Jones out of the offense and let him go at the end of the year.
The general opinion around here seems to be "just pay him". Not surprising given the hard-on that most Jets fans have for Washington. Calm down. Take a step back and look at the big picture for a second. First things first: I love Leon and think he is as explosive a player as they come in this league. But the reality is that he's a situational guy who is demanding the salary of a starting RB. Are we really in the position to pay starter's money for a rotational, change-of-pace back/kick returner? IMO, the best case scenario for the Jets is to ride out Leon's hissy fit and re-evaluate the situation at some point during the mid to late stages of next season. It will essentially buy us another year to see how he handles an increased role in the offense and also allow the coaching staff to get a good idea of what Greene is capable of at the NFL level. Leon is a RFA next year so ultimately we are in the driver's seat as to whether or not he remains a Jet. I realize that this post will not be popular, but it's the reality of the situation.
It would be a lot easier for me to join the Pay Leon crowd if I knew how much he wants to be paid. If he's willing to sign on for 5 years at $6M a year, then do the deal. But none of us know just how much he wants to get paid.
Jones will most likely be cut before next season. His cap number is high but there would be a savings if cut and no dead money.
It's a tough call... I love the guy but we don't know if he is a feature back. He is a great situational player and one of the best KR men in the game. The problem is you don't spend tons of money on a guy that plays his role in the offense. I'm in the minority as I think Jones who was the leading rusher in the AFC for a team that Chuck Favre taking nearly every snap last year should get paid as well. They both have earned their money but the Jets have made it pretty clear that Jones is on his way out either trade, cut or via FA next year. I say you give Leon more than what his contract says we owe him but as far as how much I really don't know.
6 Mil a year is almost franchise tag salary for an RB... most running backs, even the great ones don't make the kind of money you would expect. RB's are usually highly susceptible to injury. The best feature backs in the NFL barely make that much. I love Leon as a player, hard working, legs churning til the whistle, makes every step count. He is one of the most explosive kick returners in the game, he has the potential to score every time he touches the ball... he's worth a lot, but he's not a workhorse like LT, or LJ, or Portis, and he's not worth 6 mil a year. I'd like to see something to the tune of: 5 years, 20 million, 5 mill-ish in guarantees... If he wants much more than that.. he's not worth it. For a guy who could stop producing any minute, at one of the most dangerous/physically demanding roles in any sport, period... It's not worth 6 million a year, especially for a guy who isn't going to play every snap on offense or defense.
With a Jets offense that's not very explosive, we need a play-maker. We need a guy like Washington that's able to score on every play. Tanny and Westoff know how valuable he is, so let's hope they get a deal done.
Great post. I totally agree with this. The fact that they are comparing the money Leon is seemingly pursuing to the money Darren Sproles just got with the franchise tag is just absurd. No way Sproles earns that kind of money, and neither does Leon.
I agree with many of the posts here... at the end of the day it all depends on how much money Leon wants and what his role on the team is. If he is our Pro Bowl KR + change-of-pace RB then anything up to 5 mill a year is good... otherwise if you don't think he and Greene can be a productive tandem at RB I'd give him 3.5 or 4 max. In the end I'm sure we'll work out a deal. The focus right now is signing Mark Sanchez... after that let's see how much money we have left and let's do the math.
Leon/Jones -or- Moorehead/Greene that 'lil moorehead kid (hope i got his name right) always reminded me of leon. small, very fast, great yards in college (albiet 2nd tier college). IF (big if) Rex thinks the moorehead/greene combo can be just as good as leon/jones, then it's time to stockpile picks for next hear AND get a TE and WR in the fold.
From a Cmini article from April 9th: "Leon Washington said today that contract negotiations are still ongoing and that he is ?hopeful? something will get done. The running back and special teams? returner is entering the final year of his deal and is believed to be seeking a long-term extension worth at least $4 million per year. ?Things are going,? Washington said. ?The main thing that we have and they have is we both want to get something done. The Jets have been expressive of wanting to get something done. The Jets have done the right thing traditionally with Jerricho (Cotchery), Kerry Rhodes, with guys who have played well for this organization and have done the right thing.? Washington, however, made it clear he will continue working out and attending all voluntary sessions unlike his backfield mate Thomas Jones, who was not present at yesterday?s voluntary workout. Jones, the reigning AFC rushing champ, is believed to want a new contract." Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2009/04/leon-hopeful-new-deal-will-get.html#ixzz0FI5ABToE&B Sounds like things have turned south in the past month. It went from "at least $4M per year" to $6M per year (allegedly). And after saying he would attend all voluntary workouts he is now sitting out? WTF? I realize this is a profession but approach it professionally douchebag.
The man has been one of the bright spot on our O.... He just brings thee excitement that were not use to, making you jump out your seat and start saying he has a chance to go to the House!!!! I don't remember many players like that for the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets.... Pay the Man!!!
I wonder what offer they made that was insulting. I'm sure it had at least high 7 figures maybe 8 figures in insulting guarantees.
