Link: Curtis Martin Says Thomas Jones ‘Deserves All the Credit’
Rich Cimini gets some great quotes from Curtis Martin honoring Thomas Jones, who has carried to torch in Martin’s absence.
“I remember speaking to the front office when they were considering him,” Martin told the Daily News. “I said to them, ‘That’s a good guy. That’s the type of guy that can replace me.’”
After a so-so 2007, Jones was the AFC rushing leader last season (1,312 yards), and he’s on pace to top that total. Facing the Bills tonight at the Rogers Centre, he could have a monster game. In the last meeting, an overtime loss Oct. 18 at the Meadowlands, he rushed for a career-high 210yards.
“He’s a guy who, day-in and day-out, does what he’s supposed to do,” said Martin, the team’s all-time leading rusher. “He doesn’t allow off-the-field stuff get in the way of his job. And he’s tough. At running back, you need that type of guy. He may not run a 4.3 and he may not be the most elusive guy, but it doesn’t always take that guy. It takes consistency.
“I like the way he approaches the game,” Martin continued. “He deserves all the credit. Even though he doesn’t seek it, if I were there, I’d seek him out and tell him.”
Jones has been a big help to this offense over the past three years. While he was panned in 2007, a lot had to do with who was in front of him. Since getting better blockers, even at his ripe “old age” for a runner, he’s done remarkably well, trailing only Tomlinson in rushing yards since 2005.
It seems like ages ago, but this past spring Thomas Jones was asking for a new contract with a cap number of just $2.5 million against the cap. His request was declined by Tannenbaum and Ryan as he and looking to 2010, Jones has a cap number of $7.4 million, with a savings if $5.9 million if the team cut him. With the Jets current healthy cap status for 2010, along with a potential uncapped year coming, honestly I think that the Jets could be 50/50 on keeping him versus cutting him, especially with the low cap number that Leon Washington will likely occupy for the team. Jones’s production has been solid, but paying a running back over $7 million who is over thirty seems like a recipe for disaster, especially with a guy like Shonn Greene waiting in the wings. Like always, it’s going to be an interesting offseason.
25 Responses to Link: Curtis Martin Says Thomas Jones ‘Deserves All the Credit’
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greg sec 130 says:
I’ll be the first to admit I was wrong to think TJ was done and Greene would be carrying the load by week 12.
Nice work TJ. Keep proving me wrong.
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RichKotite2.0 says:
They have to keep TJ for next season. Leon is hurt, Greene hasn’t shown he can consistenly hold on to the football let alone carry the ball as much as TJ. I’m guessing a 2-3 year deal heavily front loaded that lowers his cap number for 2010 will do for both the Jets and TJ.
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Jeff says:
They can cut and then resign him. Hr shouldnt be selfish since he got most of the money up-front anyway
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Ryan says:
He hasnt shown any signs of slowing down, most other backs over 30 (tomlinson, etc) have shown signs of slowing down which has you worried, he hasnt yet, as a matter of fact he seems to have gotten stronger. I just cant see a good reason not to have him back for at least the next 2 years
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Electric Ham says:
There’s no way you don’t bring this guy back next year… new deal new money 3 years with an easy cut year on the 3rd
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JesusRevis says:
I’d love to hear from all of you “genius’s” who were all demanding we trade Thomas Jones
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reality jet fan says:
It is strange how many jet fans dont want him.
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hank/naples says:
Brian:
Where would we, The team, The coach, The QB be without TJ. It is absurd to NOT want TJ this Year AND Next year with the Jets.
I have been SCREAMING since pre-camp for Tannenbaum to HONOR TJ’s contract NOW!!
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BubbyBrister/shovelpass says:
JesusRevis – first Kerry and now TJ..what’s with all the calling out of everyone?!
were you loving the single TD season he had that much?
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TJ is a capable back, but he’s no superstar. With the O-line we have, I think there are several RBs that could put up decent numbers for us.
I’m just saying…
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Bent says: Hank – What does “honor his contract now” even mean? Do you want them to pay him in advance or something?
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SackDance99 says:
hank/naples,
You have it backwards. The Jets have honored TJ’s contract; it’s TJ who wanted his contract re-done.
I like TJ a lot and because Schotty hasn’t included him in the passing game, I actually think the Jets could get more out of him. But, I do think that TJ leaves yards on the table that Greene could, potentially, cash in. For the right price, I want TJ back, but I think that Greene should begin to get more carries, especially in the 4th quarter after TJ has softened the defense up.
And, like I said whenever Leon’s contract came up, Leon should be only a 3rd down/obvious passing situation RB. He should be the Jets’ Kevin Faulk and paid accordingly (not every down RB money). Running him between the tackles was a recipe for disaster and, coming off of an injury, he should never come in on 1st down. Let TJ and Greene run between the tackles; it’s what they do best.
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Bent says:
I guess Greene needs to grasp pass protection fully to get more carries. How far along do we think he is there?
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brian311 says:
i have to say that this season has fully established TJ as one of my favorite Jets. he is as valuable to us as any player not wearing #24. his on the field production aside, he is an amazing teammate and lockerroom guy, by all accounts. if we want Greene to be our workhorse back for the next 5 years, we should be rooting for TJ. TJ has taken him under his wing and shown him what it takes to be a pro.
i fully support bringing this guy back for 2010.
go JETS
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Bent says:
I think they should retain Jones and have been saying for some while that they will retain him if it’s an uncapped year and extend him for two more years if it isn’t.
However, some feel he is not worth it. Jason of nyjetscap.com fame recently made this comment:
“In general Jones just is not very good… If you take his biggest runs out of the equation his 2nd down numbers drop to 2.3 YPC. Last year he was 2.8 YPC in the same spots.
If you want to compare to last year, there is really only one area where he falls way short. He is way down in attempts of less than 2 yards from last season (he is on pace for 13, and last year he had 22) and completely ineffective in that role this year. He has 8 yards on 8 carries with a long of 11, so he effectively gains nothing. Last year he averaged 5.1 in that spot. His 3-7 totals are nearly identical. He gets caught in a ton more 2nd and long 8-10 yards spots this year than last. The stats are identical though, but because they run him more his overall numbers look lower. The other area where he is way off is the 2nd and 11+. The Jets have given up using him in that situation.
I think the Jets problems really come on 1st down. They dont pass nearly as much as last season (nor should they with Sanchez) and its leaving them in a ton of 2nd and 8+ situations where they are forced to turn to Jones again and in general Jones is no good. I dont care much for Schottenheimer but he has been saddled with a running back that puts up big season numbers because he occasionally breaks a big run and is one of the few 1 back system players remaining, but is not very good. Its not a Sanchez problem or a Schotty problem its a personnel problem in that regard. Where Schottenheimer is guilty is that when Jones is going well (such as the Bills game this year or that Eagles game in 2007) he still loses faith and stops using him in crucial spots.”
I note that he struggled at the end of last year, but hopefully that was symptomatic of a team-wide downfall and won’t repeat itself this season. As long as it doesn’t, I do think they should bring him back because his leadership alone (remember the halftime rousing speech he apparently gave before they came out and beat the Pats?) outweighs any deficiencies in his game.
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john l says:
i was a doubter of t.j not of his talent but where his mindset was after they drafted greene and put leon into more packages. t.j was definately not the young curtis martin but he very well can be the veteren curtis without the knee problems….. now that would be dangerous.
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bleedsgreen&white says:
TJ is a keeper. Ive always been a thomas jones fan since his days with the bears. He just gets the job done just like curtis. You cant put this guy down hes putting the team in his shoulders after leons injury and a rookie qb in the backfield. Its all on him, schotty doesnt help him out much with his lack of creativity but the biggest mistake the jets can make is to get rid of this guy and try to let greene whos basically a rookie take over full time. Greene just doenst have the mentality or the skills yet at being a full time back. TJ is a consummate jet and the best thing we could hope for since Curtis Martin was taken from us so early.
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Bent,
All rookies struggle with pass protection. I’ve wondered about this a bit. Schotty tends to have an FB and in certain passing situations, either the RB or FB usually goes out for a pass. So, besides knowing how to chip block, why does pass blocking have to be such an impediment, especially since the Jets have TJ for their base offense and he is a good pass blocker. If Greene and T-Rich are in, let T-Rich pass block and send Greene out for a pass and if max protect is an issue, then have a blocking TE in and not Keller when Greene is in. My point is that the Jets should figure out a way to get Greene more carries and not let his pass blocking prevent him from coming on the field and toting the rock, especially since the Bills are not good at stopping the run.
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Bent:
No, ne went through that already with the first $13 Million. I mean the bean counter should, for once, not cut the player in his last year in order not pay him.
He should guarantee Jones contract NOW. And if he was smart, he would extend TJ one more year !!!
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Tos9987 says:
I say lock TJ up for at lest a few years obviously Green needs some time to develope .
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greg sec 130 says:
Bent — good point on first down. Another problem is it seems this year Jones has had a lot of trouble early on in games. First down he may get stuffed and it makes for a very difficult first half, then in the second half he finds more room and things seem to loosen up for everyone. Maybe SCHOTTENHEIMER should figure out a way to fix this by now.
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schotty? figure something out? good luck! that guy’s like a cold blooded reptile….all instinct
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Thomas Jones.........(the man) says:
With Leon hurt and a 3rd round rookie back, Thomas Jones has led the NFL’s #1 rushing team. Anyone who doubts him or thinks he shouldnt get another contract at this point should put the pipe down. Pay tha man what he deserves…..period.
2 year contract isnt going to kill them by any means.
Not gonna lie, im on the Jones wagon. Keep the guy for next season.