Please get this guy signed, face-to-face negotiations usually get a deal done, so we'll know one way or another pretty soon.
Just noticed there haven't been any posts in the Leon thread for three days. Any news that anybody is aware of regarding contract talks?
According to the NY Daily News: "The Jets' other disgruntled running back, Leon Washington, remains a no-show at off-season workouts, with no end in sight to his contract dispute. His agent, Alvin Keels, met with team officials Monday in Florham Park, but there wasn't much progress and no deal is imminent, sources said. Washington has one year left on his rookie contract." http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2009/05/20/2009-05-20_thomas_jones.html
The whole article: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2009/05/20/2009-05-20_thomas_jones.html Pro Bowl running back Thomas Jones, who hasn't participated in any of the Jets' voluntary workouts because he's unhappy with his contract, will end his boycott next week and report to practice Wednesday, according to his agent. The Jets' other disgruntled running back, Leon Washington, remains a no-show at off-season workouts, with no end in sight to his contract dispute. His agent, Alvin Keels, met with team officials Monday in Florham Park, but there wasn't much progress and no deal is imminent, sources said. Washington has one year left on his rookie contract. It's not clear what prompted Jones' change of heart, as his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, didn't return calls. Speaking to NFL.com at the owners' meetings in Fort Lauderdale, Rosenhaus said he's having "some discussions with the team. (Jones) is not unhappy, there is no acrimony and who knows? He may even be showing up in the near future. I don't think this situation is as bad as people are making it out to be, and we're hopeful he will be back in the fold and there won't be any issues." The agent confirmed on his Twitter page that Jones will report next week, but Rosenhaus didn't say if Jones has dropped his demand for a new deal. Jones has two years left on a four-year, $20 million contract. Meanwhile, the Jets signed their sixth-round draft pick, former Nebraska offensive lineman Matt Slauson.
I thought there was a post somewhere that implied that the end of the CBA next year was having an impact upon negotiations.
As explosive as Leon is, it is my opinion that the Jets front office simply cannot justify cutting that fat a check for a #2 RB/ST standout. It's probably one of those situations where you have Keels drilling into Leon's head the "they need you more than you need them" mentality and the Jets are sticking to their guns. I commend them for that. Look, I love Leon as much as the next Jets fan, but you simply cannot build a franchise around paying situational players the salary of a starter. It doesn't work that way. Leon is a RFA next year, so we are in the driver's seat either way. The absolute best case scenario for the Jets is for Leon to go out and have a monster year which will more than likely set his RFA tender at 1st & 3rd round picks. THEN we would really be at a crossroads with Leon.
so you'd rather wait for him to have a career year next season, and really fuck the Jets with the contract negotiations? That doesn't make any sense.
It really depends on what the number is. If it's the $4.5 million number that's been thrown around lately, that's exactly in line with what he should be making. If it's the $6+ million that some have reported he's seeking, you're absolutely right. Either way, there's really no tangible downside to letting him become an RFA next season, as you said. I expect his role to evolve into that of a more heavily involved back, and he'll merit that kind of consideration from teams. The only downside comes in the perception of how we deal with our homegrown players.
as much as i love leon a first in next years draft would be pretty nice compensation for him. add on a third in a deep draft and i think we could replace his playmaking abilities.
in the grand scheme of football - yes, replacing Leon can be done. Finding that next player who is just like him is the trick to replacing him. But we are talking about the guy who, during the season, we collectively wanted to have the ball in his hands more because he was our best offensive weapon, and now its about maybe him being replacable because he wants starter money. He isn't the #2, he's RB #1b. I find it very inconsistent on the fan bases part.
