Jones’ Issues a Case of Déjà Vu: He’ll Be Ready When Needed
When Thomas Jones’ relationship soured with Chicago Bears management, his grief was perfectly understandable. Jones wanted his contributions to be reflected in his paycheck, and rightfully so.
His career was rejuvenated in Chicago, and the Bears took on a new identity off the strength of his legs. Ultimately, Chicago showed their appreciation by drafting a running back with their top pick in 2005.
Not only did Cedric Benson enter the league with arrogance, expecting to take Jones’ job away, but he was being compensated much better than the guy who was fresh off a seven-touchdown season.
How did Jones respond?
Jones, 27, has two seasons remaining on his contract, at base salaries of $2.25 million each for 2006 and 2007, but left the voluntary workouts in early April and did not return until the mandatory minicamp began.
Everyone knows how important voluntary workouts are. The “voluntary” portion is an irrelevant adjective. Players show up, or the coaches raise their eyebrows and find ways to make life difficult when it’s mandatory. No surprises there.
It’s still too soon to call this issue with Jones a trend, but the fact that it has happened in the past is enough to paint a picture of how this scenario is going to turn out.
He’ll be disgruntled, skip a few more voluntary meetings, and make everyone sweat—only to show up when it absolutely matters most. But don’t expect the Jets to budge, or for Jones to let it get too ugly.
The truth is he doesn’t have the right negotiation stance to demand a new contract. Fresh off a successful 2008 season, Jones’ production is intensified by the dismal 2007 campaign.
The Jets re-built their offensive line with the best available veterans, secured a fullback who has made a career out of opening lanes for Pro Bowl runners, and the yardage eventually followed for Jones.
Most importantly, he benefited greatly from the drop-off in production in the entire AFC. Jones’ established a new career-high in his touchdown category, but his rushing production was consistent with his best in Chicago.
When Tannenbaum worked his magic to steal Jones away from Chicago, the new contract he received paid him accordingly for where his production was. It was a fairly lucrative deal, averaging out to $5 million per year over four seasons. It wasn’t top running back money, because — realistically — he wasn’t a top running back.
If we’re being honest, Thomas Jones’ successful season is right in-line with the expectations Jets’ fans had when he was acquired to begin with! It took a year and a brand new supporting cast, but a 1,300-yard season was what Jets fans expected when the trade was finalized.
Fighting management and looking for better compensation may be familiar ground for Jones, but the chips aren’t in his favor as much as they were in Chicago.
The dispute isn’t as interesting this time, either. It’s only prolonging the inevitable.
See you in camp, TJ.
Filed under: Main Page, Opinion
he got good money 2 years ago.
His contract was front loaded which is why his base salary is low this year.
This can definitely impact our draft.
This was blown out of proportion. This is nothing and will turn out to be nothing.
Don’t worry TJ wont make a big deal out of this, well he better not. He’ll be camp there’s nothing to worry about here
i like tj and i think he can give us 2 more real good years… saying that I still think we should raft Leshaun Mccoy in the second round
I saw lesean McCoy play WV in Pitt…he tore them up! Draft Him
a lot of teams in the early rounds will be taking RB’s and WR’s.
Isaw one mock having us take The RB from Liberty college in the 2nd rd and Bey in the 1st rd sounds good to me even tho i do like the kid from Pitt in the 2nd and he will be there or Shonn Green
If he’s got a problem let him go. Realistically we can have a number of RB’s play very well with our line.
This is a brutal game where careers can end in a heartbeat. I don’t blame TJ for trying to get more- and I don’t blame the Jets for not wanting to pony up. I just hope we get a committed player this year.
I believe that once a player signs that contract the player is obligated to that pay structure until the contract ends. Shut your mouth and play!! Is it fare… not all the time but it works. In this case its can be re-evaluated.
Truth be told Tomas Jones will be the main leader on this offense this year no matter who is QB, and its not because the Jets are going to be a running team. The last few leaders for the offense are gone… Coles, Chad, Favre.
Thomas Jones is set to make about $900k this year, so I would bump him to $1.2 to $1.5 this year and call it a day.
1. He gets to feel like he won.
2. He gets to feel like he is appreciated.
3. The Front Office doesn’t take a big finical hit.
4. No messy confrontation to deal with.
Folks this is a win – win.
jets-fan-4-life,
if only it were that easy …
Jones for Cutler- the #1 rusher in the AFC last year for the #1 passer in the conference. Plus we’re swapping 2 players that aren’t so tactful
I’m a big Thomas Jones fan!!! That said, I don’t want to hear about another contract holdout!!! I mean, can we go into a season just once without some player bitching, and moaning about money??? With the currant economic situation, with people getting laid off, left, and right, TJ should suck it up, and get his arse to Florham Park…..PRONTO!!!! I’m 6′7″, 315 lbs., and would give my left nut, just for the opportunity to play in the N.F.L, and I’m sure I’m not alone!!!
I think the player should pick what he wants before he signs a contract…
1. A long term secure contract.
2. A short “prove yourself” contract so that if the player does good he can sign a new contract for more money and if not then we can pay you the same “prove yourself” contract
none of this half way through a contract wanting a new one.. if players know there gonna be the next big thing they should put themself in a position to where after their breakout year they gonna go into free agency.. i know thats hard to predict but that shoud be why they pick one of the two options…
Only in the NFL can a player just feel like changing his contract all of a sudden.
In the other leagues, you sign a contract, and that’s that until it runs its course.
Why in the world does the NFL let players run these childish games?? I will never understand it.
IDK, is there something I dont know? I’m just a casual fan, but please, someone enlighten me.
The problem here is that it’s looking like ever jet feels if they b!tch mgt. Is gonna cave in. The jets need to stop the trend that’s starting to form and announce they will stand firm with current contracts and not give in… Steelers are the champs and they don’t give in ever unless THEY want to extend and it has worked pretty well over the last couple of years. I like TJ but he is collecting interest on the money they gave upfront!!! Stop crying!!
Isles Fan -
Actually, the NFL treats players a lot worse relative to other sports. In the NBA, there’s much more guaranteed money, and in the NBA and MLB, there are longer contracts. Only in the NFL can GMs put ‘roster bonuses’ into contracts to fill them out and then cut players the day before they’re supposed to see that money. You think the MLBPA and NBAPA would be down with that?
Don’t get me wrong, I think the NFL has it right and there’s a reason it’s so financially successful, because you get paid related to how you perform, but thinking of the NFL as a league that turns on the whim of whiny players is backwards.
TJ should get a pay raise if we can afford it. If we can’t, he should report to camp. TJ’s a good guy, and anyone painting him as greedy is misguided. He’ll be in camp busting his ass no matter what, if slightly disgruntled.
Normally I tend to side with the players on these issues. However, Thomas Jones was given a new deal when he arrived at the Jets, and he has already made over $13 Million over the first 2 years of the deal. Keep in mind the contract pays him an average of $5 Million per year which is more than fair.
I’m guessing he thinks that at age 31, this could be his last shot at a pay day, but trust me people, it’s NOT happening. If he had leverage, maybe…but he has none. And he should know this. If he’s smart, he will just show up for work.
I think the jets should draft shonn greene in the second round he is really good and would a steal in the second round
The Jets have overpaid for Jones in the first two years,
Jones does deserve a raise, and I think its in the Jets best interest to to make a mimimal effort to keep Thomas next year. Therefore, move up 500,000 from his bonus due next year and throw it into salary in 2009. Puts him at 1,4 thats a pretty good raise. Even if the Jets draft Wells or Moreno, I would like to see Jones hang around for another year at a reduced rate
I guess he wants to play out his contract, but wont be able to: His problem is that no money left is guaranteed, and he will receive a $3mio bonus march 2010 and nearly the same amount in 2010 salary. No way the Jets are going to pay that a then-32 year old RB.
I can understand his point of view – playing this season for less then $1mio and then getting cut doesn’t sound great.
If the 2010 year is uncapped, why wouldn’t they pay that? It probably is, by the way, so they may just guarantee some of his salary for that year and then move on.
However, Rex Ryan has already been quoted as saying “we do not renegotiate deals for veterans”, so it will be interesting to see if he stands firm on that. No indications whatsoever from TJ’s camp so far that this is going to be a problem. Maybe missing the voluntary workouts would be as far as his protests go.
Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone turned up early with a serious “we mean business this year” attitude? Shame one of our veteran leaders has missed the opportunity to make such a statement, which might actually have increased his chances of a raise.
re – Bent
Could you please explain what it means when you say un – capped. I’ve heard the term before but don’t really get it. Is it just one season where you can sign players without it counting against the cap or is the cap going bye-bye?
I think TJ has a case here. I know he sees the writing on the wall….. He’s 31……Leon is ready to take on a bigger role…..and we will draft a RB…..new coaching staff etc…
We restructure deals all of the time to help out our cap. Give the guy a little cash for his work the last 2 years
This should not be a big deal
In 2010, there is no cap. Should be an interesting year. The JETS Lito Sheppard is due a $10 million roster bonus in 2010.
As I have been saying all along before TJ decided that he is more important than the team, the JETS will draft a RB at #17. Take it to the bank.
ive allways backed the players on the money issue, but the jets tend to frontload most of their guys.T.J spent his $15mill and now wants more?!! come on.we paid you good for 1 good season and overpaid to rebuild a line for you and now you want your own cake.
No problem JD.
Basically, the current agreement between owners and the players association is about to run out. If they don’t negotiate a new one soon, then there will be no salary cap in 2010 and then if they still don’t manage to agree one, 2011 will be a lockout. (I’d imagine it won’t get to this point).
In 2010, there are complex transitional rules for existing/ongoing contracts but yes, effectively, teams will be able to spend pretty much what they want in that year and will look to structure deals accordingly.
There has already been some of this. The Skins are set to pay Haynesworth a 30m bonus in 2010, which will obviously need to be renegotiated if the year is not uncapped.
Even the Jets are hedging their bets. Both Bart Scott and Lito Sheppard’s new deals have a 10m bonus in 2010. Again, these may be restructured (to spread out the cap hit over several years) if 2010 is not uncapped.
Jones shouldn’t get another dime. His contract more than paid for his contributions. He has a short memory of the up front money he received. It was to his benefit to receive the majority of his contract in the first two years. Draft MORENO! He reminds me of Curtis Martin both in style and personality and he;s a Jersey guy.
There will be rb”s in the 2nd rd for the taking its his dumb ass agent that putting these thoughts in his head I hope he analyze the fact that’s he is 31yrs old and there’s other backs that’s unemployed that will love to run behind this line
Thanks Bent
P.S. Rex is scheduled to appear on ESPN radio (1050) at
1:40pm today. For any one that is interested.
I think people are underrating TJ here. We plan on running the ball A LOT this year. We have 1 WR and an unknown at QB. You can’t rely on Leon and a journeyman RB or even a rookie to carry the load.
Hoz??
Who are these RB’s that you are talking about?
Maybe since Rex keeps stating how we are going to be a run first team, Jones may be thinking that he will be the workhorse which in turn means he might be a little more prone to injury. One bad play and jones’ career is over. I know that could happen at any time but he is getting older. It could be this as to why jones is wanting a new contract. Im not saying it IS the case but I havn’t seen anybody else look at it from this point of view. Just a thought.
Jones is a warrior. This is a violent game and anyone’s career could end at any moment. He has zero guaranteed money. Rex has already stated that the offense is going to be run-oriented, meaning that Jones should have well over 300 carries this year. At his age, and with these many carries, this may very well be his last effective year. I certainly can’t blame him for trying to get a little more now. He just led the AFC in rushing and set a Jets record for TDs.
And yes, I know he signed a contract, but it’s not like the teams ever honor the complete contract anyway. Look at how many guys get cut or are forced to renegotiate. If Jones were to put up mediocre numbers this year and then the Jets cut him before he could receive his money next year, would we be outraged because the Jets ownership signed a contract and then were weaseling out of it? This is just how the business works. There are no Carl Pavano deals in the NFL, so there’s got to be a constant give and take between the owners and players.
Jones knows this is his last contract. He will be almost 34 at the end of the contract and be basically unemployable as a starting RB. He (or his agent) is trying to squeeze as many $$ from the Jets as they can because this is the end of the line. It has nothing to do with his value to the team. Get his replacement now!
Dan in OK: You beat me to the point.
mole57,
You put it a little better though
1-Large Barge – Can you play NT??
2-JD – Thanks for the 1:40pm heads-up on ESPN Raido
3-NFL live said on Monday that TJ has a $100K workout bonus hanging in the balance, they doubted if he’d give that up and this was more of a statement than a true holdout.
Why was every one trashing Coles, but TJ is ok for wanting to get paid?
Not sure of the difference, both guys have only a short window left, I am all for the players getting paid, but T Jones is replacable just like Coles was.
The difference is Coles has dont this for every contract he has had……including leaving us to go to Washington
Coles always felt disrespected even when he got paid.
I give TJ a “slight” pass here.
Coles also had guaranteed money. TJ has none.
Samari Rolle was supposed to make 4 million this year, but Baltimore cut him. Now he’ll probably get veteran’s minimum. If this is SOP for teams, why wouldn’t the players — especially those in Jones’s situation — try to get as much as they can right now? Next year’s contract terms (unless they are guaranteed) mean absolutely nothing.
we LOVE you TJ….we’ll work it out.
Football is the most dangerous of the top 3 sports. Both management and the players are at fault when it comes to signing these deals. The FO has built in incentives so that they can end the contract whenever they choose . The player signs for a longer time at more up front money which doesn’t last or he outperforms it and sees a VG making crazy money and making no contributions.
I know that this would never fly, but I think the best solution for all sports is 1 year contracts and a cap that is fan friendly in that it accounts for economics and performance. The game is beoming so over priced that I just watch it on TV. TV is sponsored by advertising. The companies that advertise are losing money by the buckets. If they cut back on the commercials then the league cuts back on salaries because they don’t have the TV money nor do they have the PSL cashola from fans .
This whole problem may work itself out in all sports.
I hope so.
Really there is no difference why a guy holds out it always about money. The NFL is an owners league, the players are slaves, they can be cut at a moments notice w/ no defered compensation. I am all for the players getting as much as possible, and I will never knock a guy for wanting to get paid, and neither should any of us!
He’s just whining because his taxes went up.
He has a front loaded contract doesnt anyone remember the 1 lone rushing TD he had in 2007, did anyone ask for that money back? Yes he had a good year, yes he will have another good year with this O-line in front of him and having a young QB ( we are not geting Culter) So we will rely on the running game. He will have to spell some of the carries to get Leon his touches. Average out the money and I believe TJ so far over the three years has been paid accordingly.
I still don’t really care….as long as he shows up for work, that’s fine with me
Trade him to Cleveland, pick up a number 2 and draft a RB, end of story. Danny Woodhead, L.W. and a 2nd round draft choice would do nicely.
Thanks for explaining it to me. I wasn’t sure about this.