¡Viva Leon!
So you wanna start a WhoDeyRevolution? It’s time the Jets quit stalling and give Leon a new deal!
With the news that Green Bay Packer WR Greg Jennings has gotten a new deal done with his team, the pressure might be now on the Jets to make good on a fair offer to Leon Washington. You see, Jennings is another fourth year player who has a contract that will expire after this season, but with the current CBA issues, the Packers could have let him twist in the wind until 2010, but the Packers chose not to do that, because … you know … he’s a player they want to keep happy. Hutch wonders what this means for the Jets.
It’s believed that the Jets are in agreement that Washington, a Pro Bowler, deserves a new deal. He has done everything the team has asked and been an ultra-productive player. But the organization is hesitant to pull the trigger because of the lack of a new CBA and the possibility of getting Washington on the cheap in 2010.
The Packers didn’t play hardball with Jennings and perhaps the Jets have taken note. With or without a new CBA, Washington, like Jennings, is a franchise-type player and it would seem to behoove the Jets to do the right thing and sign Washington to an extension before the start of training camp.
You’d have to think that Tannenbaum has to know what he has in Leon Washington, but the way they flirted with WR/RB/ST Percy Harvin (a player who projects to a similar role in the NFL as Leon has seen the past three seasons) leading up to the NFL Draft makes wonder. Now I’m starting to get concerned that the Tannenbaum will play hardball for the sake of playing hardball and squeezing a few dollars out of a player who has done everything the team has asked and more.
If you think Leon deserves a new deal (or not), you can tell the team via the Jets’ website. I’m not saying you should tell them … but you should tell them.
You should also tweet this cause, tell your friends, and re-post this to forums, etc. etc. etc. Let’s put the pressure on the team to do the right thing!
18 Responses to ¡Viva Leon!
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10 Ways for the Jets to win 10 games in 2009
http://turnonthejets.com/2009/06/24/ten-ways-for-the-jets-to-win-ten-games/
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lukeV says:
sign this man, will you!!!
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blee says:
I love Leon.. but he hasnt put up the production that Jennings has so far.. Leon’s gotten under 10 carries a game avg.. We dont know how much he can carry as a feature back..
No doubt he’s electric and an exceptional playmaker.. just not as proven as Jennings is..
Nevertheless.. Sign this man!
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MetsJetsDvls says:
LIL’ LEON GET PAIDD!!!!!!!!!!!!. Just sign him already.
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DKnyj says:
Easy there Hutch – Franchise player? Seriously? 10-12 carries a game is a franchise player? I know he is dynamic – but he’s not a franchise type player – this is another beat writer trying to make an uneasy situation and blow it way out of proportion.
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MEL31602 says:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/11888949
List of the bottom half of the players in Prisco’s top 50 NFL players list. Guess which two Jets show up on the list?
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Jeff says:
Jennings has been a full time starter for 3yrs! He put up big numbers for 2yrs straight. Leon is ou sparkkplug and until he gets more touches you cant give a SITUATIONAL player big time money. Maybe a decent deal, but nothing big.
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Wise Old Jet Fan says:
Good to see some rational thinking somewhere regarding Leon. He is a very good roll player until proven otherwise, he and Jenkins are apples and oranges. The drafting of Greene proves, rightly or wrongly, that they do not plan to use him anytime soon as a feature back, perhaps a mistake but that is the plan.
I want him signed, but both sides must compromise. No team can pay roll players like starters and remain competitive with a hard cap.
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majasko says:
Bassett,
I know you’re a fan 1st., but I expected a little more objectivity.
you assume the jets haven’t made a “fair offer”, how do you know? what if the player and/or his agent is asking for more then he should get?
A team needs to set a stanard on how it deals with its contract, regardless of who the player is or how much he the player values himself to the team; I love Leone as much as the next jets fan but in the few quotes I’ve read of his, he seems to think of himself as the next gayle sayers and I don’ think he there yet
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Harlan Lachman says:
Two kewpies:
First to DKnyj for posting what I would written. Great post. The only thing I would have tried to do is document the lack of comparison. Jennings is a dominating WR having caught 45, then 53 then 80 receptions over the past three years with an average gain of 16 yards per reception. He has 21 TDs during the past two years. Leon has not yet shown he can be an every down back and now is even less likely to get the chance (with the addition of Shonn).
Second to Majasko. I think the guys who operate this Blog, especially Bassett who does the bulk of the work, are great. But this tripe lacks balance, any inclusion of facts to support the point, and accuracy. Jennings (6.75) is settling for a lot less than Coles ($8 mil — whose stats — TDs and YPC — Jennings dwarfs) so that it is likely this deal is a bargain for this position. The deal Leon wants would likely create a new standard for KR and occasional back — especially one who might be available for bupkus over the next three years.
I hope Tanny makes sure that if he gives Leon something that he doesn’t have to give, that he gets something back. That is what normally happens in effective negotiations. Perhaps Tanny should insist on performance payments throughout the life of the deal (protecting us against injury or non performance). Perhaps a lot less guaranteed money. Perhaps less money over the deal — Keels acknowledging that risk goes both ways. Perhaps all three.
harlan
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SackDance99 says:
I want Leon back with the Jets, but he does not deserve feature RB money. He’s a weapon and could be the best 3rd down RB in the NFL. But, right now, that title goes to Kevin Faulk. Faulk’s contract is expiring in 2010, but when he signed back in 2004, his contract was 6 years, $15M with a $2.9M signing bonus. His 2009 cap number is a little over $4M. IMO, an average salary of @ $4.5M for 3-5 years is appropriate, with a nice signing bonus. Instead of the Jones-Drew or Michael Turner contracts, Keels should be looking at the Derrick Ward deal–4 years, $17M with $6M guaranteed. IMO, a deal of that size is fair and gives Leon the type of financial security his rookie deal did not. But, if Leon thinks that he can do better in the FA market, he’s seriously mistaken. The overwhelming majority of NFL teams have highly paid feature backs or looming contract issues with their RBs. Plus, there’s a perception in the NFL that RBs are fungible and decent RBs can be picked up during the 2nd day of the draft or by raiding practice squads. Leon’s awesome, but he just doesn’t deserve feature back $$$.
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MrJetGreen says:
Leon, take the 4 years at $17,000,00.00. and you’re good for life if you stay away from Mike Tyson.
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Harlan,
I never said Bassett didn’t do a great job on the blog, I’m only asking that we stop proclaiming Leon isn’t being offered a fair market contract especially when no one knows what is being offered. Iknow everbody loves leon but this notion that you pay him whatever he wants is crazy.
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Pingback: ¡Viva Leon! | JetsVine
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StvDoe says:
I’m glad to see so many proponents of what I’ve said all along.
Pay Leon, but no more than he deserves. I’m still in the 3.5 – 4 million per year camp. 4,5 tops. No matter how much we love him fiscal responsibility has to come first. The probable ending of the CBA, (and it’s effects on the RFA rules), must be part of the equation. We have the leverage and must use it.
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Wayne says:
Leon did not ask to be labeled a 3rd down situational back (1 carry, 62 yard TD?), and still not get the ball again in the game. Mangini and Tanny beleived that “tag” and treated him that way. You all are encouraging Leon to play this year out, go get a big commitment from another team, then force the Jets to match it. If that happens, we’ll lose him, and Ryan will commit career suicide like Mangini just did. Another year not making the playoffs because they think Leon should be happy with risking his career and life further so the Jets overpay a QB with 1 year starting experience in college. Wow! I see why I get frustrated with our horrible decisions about players. We risked $12 million last year on B.F., and lost. Wow! I guess I’m not surprised at some of your crappy assessments of Leon’s worth. Pay the man and give him THE DAMN BALL!
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Steve-O says:
Puhlease..
RELAX… This isn’t news at all don’t even waste the keystrokes.
He’ll be signed in a few weeks; before training camp starts I believe.