Paging Agent Keels
Agent SmithAlvin Keels has a goal this summer: get Leon a new contract.
“June was pretty slow but I’m looking to have a big July. Lets go! I would love to have a new deal in place for Leon Washington before camp starts as well as locking in on a deal for rookie Andre Smith.” – Keels
I know, of course that’s his goal, he gets paid when Leon does and finally he is publicly making it a goal of his.
With guys like Maurice Jones Drew and Greg Jennings getting deals from the same draft, Keels better get moving on Leon’s deal and stop using the CBA as an excuse.
Ulterior motives? Yes, albeit when you have a player that can impact your team [or your credibility] sometimes people are willing to push the boundries. I highly doubt Mike Tannenbaum is willing to throw away Leon’s services but with the signings of Jennings and Jones Drew, ‘T-Baum’ is going to find it increasingly difficult to play hard ball.
I think the FO is scared to give Leon a big (money)/long contract because he is a leg injury away from being out of this league. He is all about the speed. If he ever gets slowed down because of an injury, he will never be the same.
Maybe Mike “the Christmas Tree” Tannenbaum is afraid because it seems like when ever he gives a player money, they disappear the following year.
Let’s assume the media reports are correct and Keels wants $6 mil per year and a big guarantee. Tannenbaum would be a moron to do a long term deal with Leon now.
There are two possibilities and in both we win by not giving in to that type of deal:
A) There is no CBA and a lock out in 2011. Leon is a RFA in both 2010 and 2011 (but again I doubt there is a season then). By doing nothing, Tanny pays him less than a total of three million for the next two years and less than two mil more if there is a 2011. This is about 25% of what Keels supposedly wants and Leon has zero leverage. He plays or gets nothing. Advantage Jets.
B) There is a CBA. Leon is a FA next year. Again we pay him bupkus this year and tag him in 2010 and pay him something like $6 mil. The average of the next two years is something like $3.7 mil. This is also a lot less than what Keels wants and even less than the what the Jets are likely to be willing to pay (about $4 mil per). Again, by doing nothing, Advantage Jets.
The other issue is guaranteed salary. For a RB, a player whose careers are often short, not guaranteeing a lot of money for a long time is a good gamble because there are few Curtis Martins with ten year solid and consistent careers. By doing nothing, Tanny gets at least two years cheap with Leon having no leverage and the Jets have no risk. Because if Leon gets hurt in 2009, we don’t have any commitment to 2010. If he gets hurt in 2010 and there is a season, we have zero commitment to 2011. Again, Advantage Jets.
And, lets forget that the Jets have to count against next year’s cap any big guarantee if the following year is uncapped. No guarantee means no problem with our salary cap. Again, Advantage Jets.
The reason there is no deal is that Keels wants his percentage and is unwilling to find a deal that both protects Leon if there is no CBA or if he gets hurt but (OTOH) offers the Jets a bargain if there is a CBA and Leon is healthy. Negotiations usually require both sides to give something up.
Can we stop talking about this. Please.
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RESIGN LEON WASHINGTON!!!! :)
Harlan,
I agree totally, and we’ve both stated so previously.
Leon has no leverage.
Give him 3.5-4 million per year, or let him stew.