Jones Situation Still Bubbling
NY Daily News’ Rich Cimini digs a little deeper on Thomas Jones’ absence from the offseason conditioning program.
Jones’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, approached the Jets about a renegotiation at last month’s scouting combine in Indianapolis, according to a league source.
Rosenhaus didn’t return calls for comment. Jets spokesman Bruce Speight refused to comment. Asked if there’s a simple, non-contract-related reason for the absences, Speight once again declined to comment.
Technically, the offseason program is non-mandatory, but nearly every player usually makes it a point to attend, especially under a new coach.If Jones is angling for a new contract, it could mushroom into a messy situation for the Jets, who would like to sign Leon Washington – Jones’ backfield partner – to a long-term extension. Washington is entering the final year of his rookie contract; he attended the first day of the offseason program.
I like Jones a lot, but when you look at his numbers leading the AFC in rushing in 2008, they’re really not that remarkable. Granted, rushing numbers have been trending down in the last five years, but his numbers wouldn’t have even put him in the top five of the AFC in 2003. Yes he led the Conference in 2008, but he did it in a down year and he did it with a much improved line and lead blocker.
Jones isn’t going to win this one, in his first year with the team (when they re-did his contract but had no line) he averaged 3.6 yards per carry. In his second (once they re-did the line and had a QB that defenses respected) those numbers went up dramatically.
Jones might miss the optional workouts, but with a number of viable options in the draft likely available to the Jets in the first two rounds, and a lead running back who will be 31 at the start of the season, there’s no need to worry about what this holdout means for the team for the long-term.
AFC Rushing Leaders, Last 10 Years
2008 T Jones — 1312 yards
2007 L Tomlinson — 1474 yards
2006 L Tomlinson — 1815 yards
2005 L Johnson — 1750 yards
2004 C Martin — 1697 yards
2003 J Lewis — 2066 yards
2002 R Williams — 1853 yards
2001 P Holmes — 1555 yards
2000 E James — 1709 yards
1999 E James — 1553 yards
23 Responses to Jones Situation Still Bubbling
-
MS says:
I know this probably isn’t too realistic, but let’s send Jones (instead of all this Leon talk) and our first round pick to Denver for Cutler. I would much rather try to replace Jones than Leon.
-
mbi says:
Look what rookie running backs did last year. You dont need a veteran running back to carry the load. If he wont play for the contract that he is already under then he can be replaced easily through the draft.
-
DKnyj says:
TJ Relax – you are easily replaceable…um – Leon?
You cost $500k against the cap if cut, and all of these free agents could have rushed for 1300 yards behind that line last year just like you…
DeShaun Foster
Warrick Dunn
Ahman Green
Duece McCallister
Micheal Pittman
Dominick Rhodes
Aaron SteckerTJ isn’t exactly hitting home runs – you can’t tell me that these FA’s won’t be able to repeat your long runs in the same 290 carries?
TJ’s longs 2008…
14
16
8
9
8
31
17
23
20
13
19
59 – (Denver game – defensive lapse)
17
16
7
8In Leon’s 78 carries he had runs of 47, 60 and 61. EXPLOSIVE!
-
are-tee says:
One of the reasons the rushing leaders’ numbers are trending down is the practice by almost all teams to split carries among two or three running backs. Although the Jets didn’t do that, they did throw the ball a lot which reduced Thomas’s carries.
-
Brad says:
Good points! Do we really need TJ? If the plan is to draft someone early like it has been expected, than we should be looking to trade him; Mr. T trade someone valueable on the team, not just cut or release them u moron!(Coles, CP)
This would be smart, like the Knicks have been doing- making moves when the player is playing the best to get the most value for them, even though they might not be that great- part of the system! Sorry for the knicks comparison.
-
RK says:
Jones has 2 years on his 4 year $20 mil dollar deal. I think that is a decent contract for what he has done. One good year one not so good year. Play another year TJ or sit the bench when the Jets draft a RB.
-
jameson says:
Jones signed a front-loaded contract where he recieved $13M during the first two years. Now he wants to play games during a down year?!
Lets trade the “AFC leading rusher”. He can be replaced in this draft.
-
Gregory Rasputin says:
M.r Jones is fabulous. He fumbles so rarely that it’s a memorable trauma when he does.
That said-The team can’t constantly renegotiate,so as lamentable as it is He should be traded so that he can be happy,be paid well,and so we won’t set the wrong precedent.
I’ll miss him…he’s a great guy.
-
vinnywasthebest says:
Pay the man, he has a nasty stiff arm.
-
Don’t pay him anything, he is due 7 mill against the cap next year which means we really only have him for one more year. Draft Shonne Greene and if Thomas wants to hold out then he can sit on the bench and Shonne Greene and Washington can get the carries.
-
I think I’d opt to give him an extra few hundred thousand dollars. His ability to control the ground game last season was a major reason the Jets performed as well as they did. A leading AFC rusher should make 7 figures in this league.
-
JL says:
Jeffdolini raises the issue that is at the heart of the matter: Rosenhaus is trying to use what little leverage he has now to renegotiate or move his client. The Jets won’t cut him because it would cost them 3Mil in dead money. Next year, however, it’s half that number and they’ll actually save almost 6 mil by cutting him. If he doesn’t get a new deal now, TJ is for sure GONE next year.
It may actually be less about $$$ and more about security for the future beyond this year.
I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, because he’s said and done everything right since he’s been a Jet. Also, 2007 wasn’t as good as last year, but he earned every single inch he got in 2007.
If you want to hate somebody, hate Rosenhaus.
-
Jones to the Donkeys for Cutler straight up. The AFC’s leading rusher for the league’s leading dumba$$
-
PAY LEON while you’re at it. (I think Mr. T is waiting to see what kind of long-term deal Sproles gets)
-
AKA….Drew, your last name isn’t Rosenhaus, is it?
I mean, I like TJ, too, but if anyone in the backfield is a priority right now, it’s Leon Washington. Let’s make him happy first, and if there’s a little money left over, we can do something for TJ.
-
JerryB says:
TJ has not out-produced his contract, $20MM/4yrs. He probably thinks (correctly) that he will not see the 4th year. I would not give him an extra dime.
-
frank m says:
lets trade him and the first round pick for Cutler and a second round pick. we can draft a running back and a receiver . the new coach needs to start with an offensive core that will be arround a few years.
then we can build like the good organizations do for the future.
We have spent four decades searching for a solution to our failures
Its a new dawning for the Jets. lets take advantage of it. the prior drafts were, except for few players were horrible. QB was no exception. -
I agree that Jones does not have a ton of leverage here. He is an older player for his position. He never has shown any game changing ability at any point in his career. For the most part he is entirely replaceable. I understand why he is doing this—he feels the Jets are going to run him into the ground this year and cast him off next February—but it doesn’t mean its going to work out for him. The Jets are not going to cut him and if Jones just decides he does not want to play for a million dollars the Jets will be more than happy to have him sit out.
-
trevor says:
offer the man a little
3yrs/$15milif he doesnt like that release him after this yr and u get ur 7 mil back and look at other rbs
hes a very hardworking back with a lot of strength..probably the strongest back in the league
hes not fast but he can guarantee 3-4 yds a carry
leon is our explosive guy who will be fast and be the guy who gets 8-12 yds a carry
combine these two guys and give leon a few dozen more carries and ur good
-
great duo of rbs a combination of power and speed
u might want a guy who has both when u look at jones and leon but its a tough load and the nfl is now a 2 baack system
give the man an offer and leave it alone
There is alot to like about T Jones. he is a tough runner, a team first guy, and a team leader. I understand where he is coming from. He led the league in rushing (down year or not) and he knows he’s 31 and we have Leon and will probably draft a RB in the first 3 rounds of this draft.
I wouldnt mind restructuring his deal to get him some upfront money and keep him happy for another year or 2. He has taking a beating for us the last 2 years and he should expect the same again (maybe more) in 2009