Leon Not Looking Back
Like any good running back, he’s just focused on what’s ahead of him. The Star-Ledger’s Dave Hutchinson spoke with Leon and asked him about his contract status, and more importantly, his relationship with Alvin Keels.
The fourth-year pro insisted that he has no regrets about his contract situation and perhaps holding out until he got what he wanted. In training camp, he turned down a contract offer worth $5 million per season but the new money wouldn’t kick in until next season, which would drastically lower the average of the contract.
Washington, a fourth-round pick, earned a base salary of $535,000 this season and will be a restricted free agent after the season minus a new collective bargainning agreement. Under terms of that agreement, the Jets could play hardball and sign him to only a one-year deal worth between $1.2 and $1.8 million, the tender for a fourth- or second-round draft choice.
“No regrets,” he said emphatically. “If I could do it over again … no regrets.”
Washington said he has no plans to fire his agent, Alvin Keels.
Leon noted that Tannenbaum had him that the team would address his contract in the off season, but as noted above, it’s going to be interesting to see just what sort of a deal the team will give him. We’re glad he’s in good spirits, looking forward to coming back to the Jets, and we hope that he can be a productive player for the team for a long time, and be fairly compensated in the process.
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It was risky, very risky, especially in this game and as a RB…but if he stayed healthy and played as he’s been playing, he would be looking at more than $5 million a year (which, I didnt know, would not actually had been his true salary).
I just hope he stays a jet.
Let’s give Keels his props. That deal he recommended Leon turn down supposedly contained $10 mil in guarantees. So Leon would not have made more this year but he would have been protected against, guess what, an injury that hurts his value and no CBA.
How many of you think there will be a CBA? I don’t. Why would the owners not turn potential UFAs into RFAs for two more years, weakening the most expensive players’ positions (personally, I think it is only one season and the owners will demonstrate the noble art of Hari Kiri and lock the players out in the second year).
How many think the Jets tender only 1.8 mil for a second round pick when without any guarantees they can tender something like $3 mil ensuring a first round pick? Why not pay Leon two mill less than they already offered with no guarantee to ensure Leon or a #1 pick.
How many think Leon will get as much next year as he would have absent the horrific injury? Can I sell you a bridge.
And, yet, Leon still sings Keels paen. You gotta give a guy who earns that type of loyalty for giving his charge that type of royal f_cking his due.
harlan
I was curious where you were going with that Harlan, since you started off giving props to Keels. Very interesting though.
“Leon noted that Tannenbaum had him that the team would address his contract in the off season, but as noted above, it’s going to be interesting to see just what sort of a deal the team will give him.”
What?
“Leon noted that Tannenbaum had (told) him that the team…”
Can someone pleae explain to me just what the deal is for next year regarding the salary cap. I cant seem to get a hold of the whole situation.
Thanks I appreciate the help.
IN the NFL where any play is your last you take the money when its on the table.
Now after a 10 month minimum rehab where we leon and his agent be next year….CBA or not?
i love Leon and know he is a good dude but when your talent is your wheels and you break one….who knows if everything comes back 100%
Go as J Miller where he speed went since his injuries
sec133,
The NFL has a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the Players Union and the Owners. Under the current agreement, if a new CBA isn’t reached before 2010 (technically the last year of the current CBA) than the last year of current agreement (2010) becomes an uncapped year, and all players that were to be free agents with less than 6 full seasons of service become restricted free agents (Leon, Braylon both fall into this category).
Also, some of the main issues that will prevent a new deal from being struck:
Rookie salaries – I think everyone can agree that there needs to be a rookie pay scale.
Guaranteed spending – Every team must spend a minimum % of the total salary cap. Right now we’re in the mid 80’s I believe, percent-wise. This number raises I think 1% each year.
Minimum salaries – The salary cap rises every year (it’s based on projected revenue, and the NFL is a revenue machine, so the cap goes up every yaer) and with so does the minimum salaries a player can earn. This is sometimes more than teams want to pay for certain players.
Teams are also forced to pay a certain % of their revenue to player contracts. Owners dislike this for obvious reasons.
And a super mega huge issue: If 2010 is an uncapped year the Players Union says they won’t agree to a salary cap after that.
Brendan
They ABSOLUTELY have to have a rookie pay scale. Its getting out of control with guys who have never taken an NFL snap getting 40 million gaurenteed as opposed to a guy to is a good player as has to give his blood to a team to get ANY gaurenteed money.
THIS MEANS YOU VERNON GHOLSTON
Couldn’t agree more Eddie. The NBA got it right when they introduced a rookie pay-scale. You get drafted, you get a certain allotment of money for that draft pick, and that’s it. You sign your deal, it’s 3 years guaranteed, 4th year option, 5th year qualifying offer. If you’re worth the draft pick, the QA gets tossed because it’s too low. 4th year option and QA are percentage raises over the 3rd and 4th year’s salary.
NFL, get your act together. The fact that Jamarcus Russell is the worst QB I’ve ever seen and he is gonna get $32 million guaranteed (I believe he may have restructured his deal, but you see my point). There needs to be a rookie scale.
Brandon
Thanks for the explanation..
i didnt realize the impact this could have on the sport, football without a cap would be terrible.
What are the odds of something getting worked out?
I really think leon is going to loose $$$$ he is a great player and a sound guy but no way was he ever worth MJD money he’s never going to be a full time feature back
A 4 mill a season(including year 1 @ 535000) offer was more than fair, he should have grabbed it with both hands hindsight is a wonderful thing
Sec133, if it was just up to the lawyer Commish and the lawyer NFLPA, they would probably split the baby, realizing that danger that a lockout or strike could do in to their cash cow. Not to mention the fact that if a deal gets engineered, both have jobs.
But the owners, both of the big market teams who want all the unfettered rights of ownership and small market teams who want a large piece of the big market teams’ share because without them, there is no league and because they cannot compete in Buffalo and Tennessee with Dallas or NY without a shared pool will make the Commish’ job impossible.
And the players from the past who want a bigger piece of the pie for having created this with nothing to show for it and the young-uns with no sense of history or sense of mortality, the folks threatened by no CBA (the 4th and 5th years FA) or those enamored by no cap (the 6th year plus FA) suffering from self-interest and greed will make the NFLPA lawyers’ job hell.
I think most betting men would put the likelihood of a new CBA a lot worse than the Jets chance of a SB any time soon.
h