Video Link: Will Leon Return?
SNY asks will Leon be back with the Jets?
(We think he will … )
22 Responses to Video Link: Will Leon Return?
-
Wolf says:
I lobbied for this team to draft Leon all those years ago, and was one of the few who expected him to be a great NFL player.
But this is disturbing news. If Leon doesn’t want to be here, get rid of him ASAP. There is no room for players who are not on board. It won’t be as great of a loss as everyone thinks, and we can get a draft pick or two for him.
We are drafting Golden Tate anyway, no room for Leon if he doesn’t want in from day 1.
-
James in TN says:
Goodbye Leon
-
I dont think Leon is going to be back. I cant believe that this mini-holdout is really about getting in shape to run for another team. I just cant see it making a difference to another team. This is about trying to force the Jets hand. I have a feeling this will drag on much longer. Hopefully it does not, but I guess we will see on the 15th.
-
Jets4life says:
Trade leon and our second rounder for brandon Marshall
-
Ben Nevis says:
As I said on another thread, I doubt any team is going to give us a second rounder for Leon. Right now, LW still can’t work out for any team that might be interested.
Keels has said that Leon should be able to run in two weeks or so. I don’t believe anything Keels—or any other agent—says. But there’s Liitle chance that LW is going to be anywhere near 100% before April 22.
Which means that any team that signed him would be betting in the dark, taking a risk that he’s going to come back not only healthy, but at the same level of performance before the injury.
All of which means it’s very likely that Leon is a Jet this season.
-
greene says:
trade him for a 7th round pick, thats what he’s worth now with kheels around.
-
lol…. actually, would any be team actually be interested in losing a 7th round pick for a guy that was asking for 6 million a year as a change of pace back?
-
Dylan says:
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Source-Gerhart-to-visit-Chargers-work-out-for-Jets.html
Leon is G-O-N-E!
The Jets are working out RBs. -
Dylan-
If Leon is gone, it’s because Mike T is going to cut him. Which seems unlikely. For all of Rex’s anger at Leon for not showing up at the offseason program, LW, if healthy, is one of the most potent weapons we have. And we’re not going to pay very much to keep him.
As for working out Toby Gerhart, this might just be the FO doing its due diligence. But it might also be the FO realizing that if Shonn goes down this season with an injury (or if he continues to fumble), then we don’t really have anyone who could fill that hole. Leon is not an every down back, even when healthy. And LT is here as a back-up. Period. We shouldn’t expect more than ten carries a game from him.
So I wouldn’t read all that much into this yet.
-
Ben Nevis,
Why couldn’t Tanny trade him? He couldn’t get a 2nd back, but he could probably get a 3rd or a 4th. Cutting him would make literally no sense.
-
One more thing, Dylan-
By back-up, I meant a RB who spells Greene, but also LT is here for short-yardage and goal-line downs. And maybe a couple of receptions, per game, out of the backfield.
-
Dylan-
Leon can’t RUN yet. He can’t work out for any team that might be interested in him.
And as I said above, LW is not going to be anywhere near 100% before the April 15 deadline or the April 22 draft. So what team is going to bet blind on Leon being healthy this year, and not only that, but bet blind that he comes back at the same level as before the injury?
I agree that cutting him makes no sense, and suggested this above. But I can’t see how we get anything like value for Leon if he can’t run yet, or work out, or prove to any potential trading team what he’s now worth.
-
Ben Nevis,
The Jets have been saying that he is making great progress and should be ready for the season. When healthy, he is one of the most dangerous backs in the game. It might be worth it a team to risk a 3rd or 4th round pick. I think you are underestimating Leon’s value a little bit. Also remember that there is still a month before the draft. He could be healthy enough to work out before then.
The Jets gave him a 2nd round tender, which makes me think that the Jets are willing to part with him. If they really wanted to get rid of him and thought that he had no value, they would have put a 4th round tender on him. If they really wanted to keep him they would have used a 1st round tender.
-
Dylan-
Therer are two main reasons the FO put a 2nd round tender on Leon.
First, it means we don’t have to pay him very much this season. Which is the reason LW (following the advice of Keels) left the Jets’ facility to rehab in Florida as soon as the 2nd round tender was announced.
Second, the FO is betting that no other team is going to offer a second rounder for LW when he still can’t run or work out or prove his worth to any other team.
If another team wants to bet blind that Leon comes back healthy—and bet blind that he comes back at the same level as before the injury—then fine. But that seems highly unlikely. Especially when this draft is so deep.
-
Ben Nevis,
Its only a difference of less than 1mil. I can’t imagine the Jets would risk Leon holding out just to save a little money.
I also don’t think that signing Leon would be a total shot in the dark. Teams have doctors and trainers that can evaluate injuries. Also Leon could be able to work out before the draft. The Jets are in no rush to trade him. They can take their time and be patient.
-
Dylan-
The April 15 deadline is in TWO WEEKS. The draft is in three weeks. Leon still can’t run yet or work out. In that very small window, the odds are very slim that LW can be anywhere near the level he’d need to be at to impress another team with his worth.
You yourself say that the Jets know where Leon is at right now in terms of rehab. If we thought LW was anywhere even remotely close to 100%—if we thought we could get value for him—why would Rex be saying publicly that Leon’s NOT going to have the role he had last season, that Leon’s going to gave a diminished role, that he would rather put Shonn & LT on the field than Leon, that Leon’s value now isn’t clear?
If the Jets wanted to trade LW, it would make NO sense for Rex to say anything like this. This kind of talk only DECREASES Leon’s perceived value to any other team.
Which seems to suggest that the Jets want Leon back, but on OUR terms.
-
neauone says:
Leon will be a Jet if he signs the tender. Will he remain a Jet? Who knows for sure, but I for one say no. As for the Jets trading him, yes I can see it. But Leon doesn’t get a long term deal from any team until the end of 2011 after he has proven he is fully recovered and is the player he was. So be it with the Jets or another team he will have to prove himself. Compensation could come in the form of a 3rd or 4th rounder next year escalating to a second rounder depending upon playing time or health. Someone is going to take a good look at him.
-
Ben Nevis,
If Rex said that the Jets needed Leon, he would be giving Keels leverage. By saying that the Jets don’t expect him to play as big a role, they are giving themselves negotiation power. Its important that Keels knows that Leon needs the Jets more than the Jets need Leon.
-
Dylan-
I agree: but it isn’t just leverage—it’s true: Leon DOES need the Jets more than the Jets need Leon. At least right now, he does.
Until Leon can prove that he’s the same RB he was in the first seven games of the 2009 season, he has NO leverage whatsoever with any team in the league.
And LW won’t be able to prove that—if he can—until the season is well under way.
All of which is to say, the Jets offered Leon a multimillion dollar contract last year, and Keels turned it down. Now Keels will be lucky to get Leon the money the Jets were willing to pay when we put a second round tender on him.
It’s a shame, really. Keels has virtually ruined LW’s career.
-
Dylan,
i think you are over-estimating Leon’s value.
Leon is coming off a major leg injury.
Leon is a ROLE-PLAYER, not a every down back.
Leon was asking for 6 million a year.
Alvin Kheels comes with the package.
As a coach/GM, i wouldn’t want trade a 3rd/4th on him. I’d trade a 6th/7th.
-
Bkkilla says:
i think its a win win situation, a second round pick has its value, we could draft reshad jones and toby gerhart with our two seconds or if leon is back he’ll have something to prove and obviously, he can do things!! but his running style makes me worry about that injury
I say he gets traded on draft day for some picks….or A pick.
I think the Jets hate Keels. I know I do !