Leon Washington speaks By Rich Cimini Leon Washington, who suffered a gruesome broken leg three weeks ago in Oakland, said he's "reasonably optimistic" that he'll be ready for next season. He said he's on a 6-to-12 month timetable. He also said he has no regrets about the way he handled his contract situation. "I'm reasonably optimistic I'll be good to go by the start of the 2010 season," Washington said in a phone interview with columnist Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union, his hometown newspaper in Jacksonville. "When the team gets back [for offseason workouts] in March, it's my goal to be moving around pretty good." It was a devastating injury -- a double open fracture in his right leg that required emergency surgery. Washington is showing up every day at the Jets' facility, but he has remained out of sight from the media. Players say he's using a motorized scooter to get around. "Getting injured was the last thing on my mind," Washington told the newspaper. "When it happened after my first carry of the game, I was almost in shock. It really didn't hurt that much. I felt a pop in the leg. It felt like slow motion, like it came 10 second after the guy rolled on my knee. "I could feel my right leg dangling by itself. I was real nonchalant, thinking, 'I broke my leg.'" Washington addressed his contract situation. He turned down a long-term offer by the Jets, opting to play out the final year of his rookie contract. He's making $535,000; he turned down $10 million in various guarantees. "I knew the risks going into the season," Washington said. "I didn't even think about the contract [situation] when I'm playing football. That's the risk-reward. I've moved on from it. Obviously, the contract they offered me, I didn't agree with. The important thing now is to get back healthy."
Seems like he is in good spirits despite his leg getting snapped in two. I sure do hope he is ready for the start of next season. Also good to know that he is taking the contract issue in stride. Do you think the Jets will offer him less of a deal after the injury? That is the question on my mind. Get well soon Leon.
this injury is way too serious for a RB of his type to come back the same at the start of next season. It may take a while, or he may never be what he used to be.
He acts like it wasn't a big deal but on SoundFX we could hear him SCREAMING about his leg. That doesn't add up.
I'm going to disagree with that... if he was an every down type of back taking a lot of punishment I think it might hurt him more. But he's a shifty kinda guy... so long as he gets his speed back he'll be fine. The bigger obstacle might be the mental aspect. Can he go back to playing fearlessly?
My prediction is that the Jets offer him a significantly smaller multi-year deal with a lot of incentives. If he fulfills those incentives he can make his money and we will all be happy.
he broke his ankle, not his fibula which was coming through his skin. much less severe. I don't think he spent time on a scooter.
the argument about him being an every down back is tough because he was never allowed to have 20 carries. his height and weight ratio allows for him to carry the load that many times, and he's a very strong guy. I think he could carry the ball 300 times in a season, but it'll never been seen. His agility will be the big question, because an injury this severe may take away from it. I can't see any player jumping back on the field after something like that and doing what they did pre-injury right from the beginning. Its rare to see. The mental part I agree with - I think that'll take some time too.
Jets would be insane not to offer him less of a deal. Especially if Jones and Green get the job done this year. Look, I feel for Leon, I really do. But if you are a GM of a football team, you owe it to the entire organization and the millions of fans around the world to put the best possible product out there. The amount of money offered to Leon was an all star like money, with the idea that we will have an all star type of guy on the roster. Tanny simply can't offer all star money and a lot of CAP room to someone who may not even be starting caliber player any longer, because he will not be able to put the best product out there for millions of fans. He has to give Leon a fair contract, as per the assessment of his abilities and potential at the time contract is offered. That means nowhere near the deal he was offered before. Leon did not accept that deal, because he decided to take a chance. Unfortunately for him (and all of us) his plan didn't work out. Negotiations will have to start from scratch, given current situation, which sure is different from before.
the big question is what to do with t.j.before the injury it was a foregone conclusion that he was gone next year.if leon is on a 6-12 month sched. maybe he needs to stick around.
There is always a chance he'll have an issue with speed/agility coming back... hopefully it heals as it should and his rehab isn't compromised in any way. He does make his bones on his agility out there so we'll see. I think he'll be alright though.
He?ll be offered the upper RFA tender. I think it is 1.5 million. Under the current CBA if there is no agreement reached by March 1st. The Jets have him another year as a RFA. If Leon is able to play at his former level they will talk to him serious again after the 2010 season. Sad, but that?s the route he choose to walk
agreed, and lets not forget that before he broke his leg he wasnt having anywhere NEAR an all star season. May be time to give up on this whole Leon dream folks. Add RB to the long list of positions we need to address
