Now there are two of them.
I'm late in posting this (so very, very tired), but in case you haven't heard,
Leon Washington isn't happy with his contract situation and is holding out of the Jets' offseason training activities, or OTAs. Washington is in the final year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to earn $535,000 in 2009. It's believed Washington wants a new deal worth around $6 million per season.
Washington joins disgruntled running back
Thomas Jones, who has also been MIA during the OTAs.
Reason for concern? Well, the Jets did say that they wanted to pound the football this upcoming season. Kinda hard to do that without your No. 1 and No. 2 running backs.
Still, these OTAs are non-mandatory. Obviously, Washington and Jones aren't skipping them just because they are "voluntary," but I think both guys will show up once training camp rolls around.
Whether both guys get new contracts is a different story.
Washington recently switched agents (going from Alan Herman to Alvin Keels) and that may be a reason for his OTA absence. Word on the street, and by that I mean what I read in the May issue of
Jets Confidential, is that Washington didn't like the idea that Herman had what he perceived to be a buddy-buddy relationship with Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum. Herman is from the old school while Keels is a product of the new way. Check out Keels'
Twitter page.
Anyway, I think the Jets and Leon will reach a deal soon. The Green and White have gotten themselves into trouble in the past by not taking care of some of their own, but Washington is a dynamic offensive force on a team that is lacking in that area. It's believed the Jets are waiting to bang out a deal for Mark Sanchez before they turn their attention to Washington.
I'm not too sure about Jones, though. TJ rushed for an AFC-best 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns last season and also hauled in 36 receptions for 207 yards and two touchdowns. Great, great numbers. But unlike Washington, Jones has two years left on the four-year contract he signed with the Jets, will be 31 years old when the 2009 season begins and while he'll "only" be making $900,000 this season, he earned $13.1 million during the first two years of the deal. Jones is afraid the Jets will cut him after this season since he's slated to earn $6 million in 2010.
And he's probably right.
But what can he really do about it besides hold out during the OTAs? Sit out for the whole season? Unlikely. Force the team to trade him? Maybe, and there have been rumors about a Jones to Cleveland deal for wide receiver
Braylon Edwards, but I just don't see that trade happening. I think for better or worse, Jones will have to stick with the Jets for another season. And who knows, maybe he could turn in another solid season and sign a fat deal with another team for the 2010 season.
Meanwhile,
Danny Woodhead has been getting the bulk of carries for the Jets during the OTAs. This season's third-round draft pick Shonn Greene is not allowed to practice with the team until Iowa's spring semester ends. Woodhead signed with the Green and White last season as an undrafted free agent from Division II Chadron State, but ripped up his knee early on in camp and was lost for the year. Woodhead was a machine at Chadron State, rushing for 2,756 yards in 2006, and finished his college career with 9,749 all-purpose yards.
But if you're still worried about the Jets' running back situation, I've got something that may take your mind off things. The
Jets Flight Crew are putting together their first-ever swimsuit calendar.
It's all about perspective, people.
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