No News For Washington Yet
No real news on Leon Washington’s new deal as of yet, but Dave Hutchinson reports that the Jets and Keels were in talks in Florham Park yesterday and might find common ground sooner rather than later.
Washington, who is due to earn $535,000 in 2009 and is boycotting offseason workouts, was a no-show on Monday for the start of the second week of organized team activities. He had been attending workouts until last Monday when the Jets “lowballed” him with their initial offer.
Keels is said to be determined to keep the lines of communications open and return Washington to the team’s OTAs as soon as possible, the person said. It’s [unclear] if Washington will attend the mandatory minicamp next month.
It’s believed that both sides will reach an agreement sooner rather than later. Washington is a key player in what the Jets hope to do offensively this season. Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum realizes this and wants to do right by Washington, who is a popular figure within the organization.
Any time there is a young or unfamiliar quarterback in an offense, having a back who is helpful in blocking and catching on third down can be crucial to the success of that quarterback and by extraction, the offense itself. Leon will of course be more than that, but that’s where he and Clemens/Sanchez can be most effective at least early in their time playing together.
6 Responses to No News For Washington Yet
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JetOrange says:
I just have questions.
How many years ? From a Jet perspective you want a few years to amortize Bonus’s, but with a RB there is a significant risk due to injury, and in Leons case if he loses a step, how effective can he be. My Guess is four years, five maybe too many.
How much Bonus Money can the Jets pay Leon in 2009 ? The next question is how much of a cap hit can the Jets take this year for Leons contract ? My guess Leon can get a max of 8,000,000 bonus this year, that works out to a 2,000,000 cap hit in 2009. Tanny usually has a big bonus in the second year of the contract.
Bent, your expertise is required, do we have anything left in cap space after signing rookies and Leon ?
2010 is supposed to be an uncapped year, but if it is not and the Cap stays around 128 million, what kind of shape will the Jets be in ? -
Bent says: Per my discussion with Jason (nyjetscap) a few days ago, the latest is:
-With the extra cap adjustment announced last week, plus some minor differences between reported/estimated and actual figures, they are currently about 14.5m under the cap
-The rookie cap is set at just under 3.5m, leaving 11m
-We reckon they need to hold back 5m for potential incentives, leaving 6m
-Apparently most teams, including the Jets, are expected to err on the side of caution with regard to the uncapped year, so that 6m is most likely going to be used to advance money to 2009 and reduce potential 2010 cap hits (this may include Jones).
-Washington could also sign an extension that kicks in in 2009 or, they might give him one that doesn’t kick in until 2010. Obviously, any deal that increases his 2009 cap hit will come from that 6m too.I realize there will be a temptation to spend that 6m on players rather than financial prudence, but I know what I’d rather see them do, especially when they already have so much of 2010′s money invested in unproven commodities.
Also note that 6m still wouldn’t have been enough room for the Jets to get Owens or Ochocinco without further moves.
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Bent says:
Sorry, I didn’t really answer part two. If 2010 is uncapped, I still expect the cap will increase. Even if it doesn’t, I’d say they are in better shape than at this point last year, other than the fact I noted above that a lot of the 2010 money is committed to unproven players (although hopefully they will have proven themselves a bit by next year). They have much more flexibility, with a number of guys that could be released to save money.
If lower-priced guys like Clowney, Stuckey and Devito can continue to step up, the cap outlook will be a lot rosier, though.
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Bent Thank You,
As the voice of reason and fiscal responsability you give us a perspective, on the how and why the Jets do what they do…. Thanks again -
Another thought, an example of that perspective, with a little hindsight. You begin to understand the Jets interest in Miles Austin ( although I think he bombed on his interview). The Jets could have created more competion at the WR position, if they could reduce the compensation (a second round Pick) and just as important sign Austin for under a 3million hit in 2009, Although as you point out this may be cutting us alittle close in the cap. Well the deal didn’t get done, pick your reason, but you begin to understand why the Jets pursued this caliber (price) of a player.
Tannenbaum lock down Leon and get this deal done already!