Id keep him for at least one more year... He is solid, and with a good QB next year could be the Jets year. Why take a risk on a young buck? But if the Jets are not successful next year, i could deff see a trade of some sorts.
I knew there was a thread on this somewhere. www.jetsdaily.com The Pros and Cons of trading Thomas Jones
nice read, Mack....good points for both arguments. I guess it would depend on how the draft plays out...if the Jets draft a stud/workhorse HB...that would make Jones expendable....which i'm not opposed to happening in the right circumstances. If we keep Jones....the Jets run game is still in good shape.
Many have focused on the unlikelihood of getting a second, but the other thing wrong with the OP is referring to a young guy to replace TJ. Meaning drafting an RB? To get a starter, you would need to go pretty high, and the team has greater needs elsewhere, like CB, WR and Safety. Even DL and LB need filling. Washington is a great player, but he's not an everydown back. I understand the part about declining value, but the RB combo the Jets have now is a case of if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
We got Jones for practically nothing past his contract, and that was following a year where he was the starting back for a Super Bowl team. At this point, I don't see too many teams giving us much for him.
I was referring to the draft, and I agree we have a lot bigger needs. If we could get a high pick for TJ he could be replaced by a draftee who could be around a lot longer. But as many others have pointed out we probably couldn't get a high pick for TJ. I don't following NCAA much at all but from what I've heard the RB crop is pretty good/deep. Behind this o-line I think a lot of backs could do very well. I also don't see any reason why Leon couldn't carry the load or at least a lot more of it. What evidence is there to suggest otherwise?
You may be right, IF they could get a second for him and IF the Jets can get starterse at CB, WR or safety elsewhere than the draft. But while Leon could probably carry the ball more, part of his benefit is the change up he provides, and he just doens't look big enough or strong enough to run between the tackles when you need that to be the only good RB on the team.
When given the opportunity he has done well running between the tackles. I understand people are apprehensive about his size, but there are plenty of examples of RB's his size having success as a feature back in the NFL.
You Are correct in that. Priest Holmes and Willy parker come to mind very quickly in that respect. Leon could be an every down back, but the bigger problem is the every down back is quickly going the way of the two way player. Soon they just will not exisit any more. I would have no problems getting a good young RB in the draft if we did not have so many holes on D that could be filled and did not have a good working RB combo ATM. As things sit right now we can wait a year or two till we have to worry about drafting a RB.
Jones stays, he's a beast. He never gets injured either. He lost one fumble in two years. Giving him up would be foolish.
Took the words right out of my mouth. Another factor is Jones has yet to have the wear and tear on him that Martin had at the same time in his career. Jones is a must keeper. I am OK with potentially using our 17th pick for a new RB if a good one should fall to us, but I do not htink it is a must have, yet.
Jones is durable, but he's certainly also replaceable. I remember saying things about Curtis Martin like 'He's hardly ever injured and when he is, he plays through it.' And then Curtis Martin's career ended with injury. Jones is getting up there in years for a runningback (especially a grind-it-out type of cutback runner) and if we could find a suitable replacement for him at a younger age, I'd be all for it. I just don't think too many teams will gamble draft picks at that position for a guy like TJ.
