The 2010 New York Jets Thread

[dabomb2045]

That's a bit of hyperbole.

I'd drive Leon to the airport myself if it meant getting a pick like the Niners 2nd rounder (#49). Take Hardesty, or whomever falls to them.

Or wait until the 3rd/4th and take McCluster.

Why are you okay with turning one of our strengths last year (RB) into a weakness next year?

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

As someone who played soccer very competitively for my entire life I have to ask: are you serious?

I know people underestimate the conditioning and physicality involved in top-notch soccer but please tell me the last time Cristiano Ronaldo was tackled by three 250lbs linebackers running full bore.

Comparing the two in terms of injury-risk and the ability to return from said injuries is ludicrous.

Why? The end result is a broken leg any way you slice it. Your anecdote failed to address how your experience in soccer gives you a better perspective on the nature of an injury like Leon's than a layman does. The collisions that cause a broken legs are violent enough to cause them, be it from a violent, full steam, misplaced slide tackle in soccer or from the body being contorted by a hit from a massive NFL defender.

[Snatch Catch]

Why are you okay with turning one of our strengths last year (RB) into a weakness next year?

It's not a given that Washington is the same he was pre-injury, and another back that can shoulder the load but still have the ability to break plays will absolutely be available in the 2nd round. I love Leon, but despite improving in his ability to carry the ball, he's not someone whom you can be really confident in being a feature back. Having a 2nd rounder will allow the Jets to get another legit feature back, a la Greene.

Hell, give me Anthony Dixon over Leon.

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

That's a bit of hyperbole.

I'd drive Leon to the airport myself if it meant getting a pick like the Niners 2nd rounder (#49). Take Hardesty, or whomever falls to them.

Or wait until the 3rd/4th and take McCluster.

Perhaps, but to trade him for an unknown in a draft pick doesn't do it for me. I can't say for sure that I think Leon is going to come back at or near the level he was at before. Still, Leon proved himself to be a gamebreaking offensive player when he was healthy, something the Jets don't have except maybe Edwards on occasion. We have a decent tight end, a good hb, great o-line, an average WRs...where is the offense coming from? We don't know what draft picks will turn into.

[Snatch Catch]

Perhaps, but to trade him for an unknown in a draft pick doesn't do it for me. I can't say for sure that I think Leon is going to come back at or near the level he was at before. Still, Leon proved himself to be a gamebreaking offensive player when he was healthy, something the Jets don't have except maybe Edwards on occasion.

Given the success the Jets have shown in player evaluation recently, I wouldn't call a 2nd round talent an unknown. They knew to trade up for guys like Revis, Keller, Sanchez and Greene. I'm more than happy to give them a 2nd round pick in one of the deepest drafts of all-time to replace a 28 year old change-of-pace back coming off a broken leg.

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

Given the success the Jets have shown in player evaluation recently, I wouldn't call a 2nd round talent an unknown. They knew to trade up for guys like Revis, Keller, Sanchez and Greene. I'm more than happy to give them a 2nd round pick in one of the deepest drafts of all-time to replace a 28 year old change-of-pace back coming off a broken leg.

The draft is indeed deep. But if Leon goes for a draft pick, there's another need to fill. The defense is still not a finished product and the offense is in need of talent at the skill positions. Sanchez has to be a well above average to elite QB to win with this offense as it is right now, and it's tough to expect every draft pick to be a success.

[Melan-cynic]

Why? The end result is a broken leg any way you slice it.

Come on now. You cannot be serious.

Hm, maybe the result is different because soccer players are not tackled by 300lbs defensive lineman on every play as Leon will be in 2010.

You are really pretending that the physicality that a soccer striker faces is equivalent to that which an undersized RB in the NFL experiences and it's just ridiculous.

Your anecdote failed to address how your experience in soccer gives you a better perspective on the nature of an injury like Leon's than a layman does. The collisions that cause a broken legs are violent enough to cause them, be it from a violent, full steam, misplaced slide tackle in soccer or from the body being contorted by a hit from a massive NFL defender.

And your post fails to address how you compare a 5 foot 7 Leon Washington getting tackled by a bunch of 6 ft 3 250lbs linebackers and 300+lbs defensive lineman with soccer players who are far smaller in stature and make bodily contact far less often and far less severely. Please explain how you can correlate the two.

[dabomb2045]

Given the success the Jets have shown in player evaluation recently, I wouldn't call a 2nd round talent an unknown. They knew to trade up for guys like Revis, Keller, Sanchez and Greene. I'm more than happy to give them a 2nd round pick in one of the deepest drafts of all-time to replace a 28 year old change-of-pace back coming off a broken leg.

Why couldnt they just have kept what they had at RB (which was a big strength last year) and use their picks to address more important needs?

Now they just allowed a strength to become a weakness (a weakness if Leon is traded...right now its still good but not the huge strength it was w/TJ) which they now will have to use picks to fix. Doesnt make sense to me.

They did address one weakness w/Revis's sidekick at the other CB---lets hope we get the 06-07 Cromartie....beyond that this team did not have many weaknesses last year. IMO, they were a) our QB being a rookie b) lacking downfield speed at WR d) being weak at the 2nd CB spot and c) not having a pass rusher. All we had to do was keep what we had at RB which was a strength....we theoretically improved the 2nd CB spot....that leaves WR and pass rushing which could have been addressed with our early picks. Now we're gonna have to use one of those picks on a RB.

[Melan-cynic]

Ok, I thought he had the highest tender. Regardless, there's no way Seattle signs him. They're not giving up the 6th pick in the draft to sign Marshall to a huge contract. They're going to try and work out a trade with Denver if they're trying to land Marshall.

So. They trade down to the late first round of the draft, sign Marshall and get the big time receiver they covet [and know well thanks to two Seattle coaches Marshall knows and trusts] and then have an extra 2nd or 3rd round pick to use in addition to the picks they already had going into draftday.

[Snatch Catch]

So. They trade down to the late first round of the draft, sign Marshall and get the big time receiver they covet [and know well thanks to two Seattle coaches Marshall knows and trusts] and then have an extra 2nd or 3rd round pick to use in addition to the picks they already had going into draftday.

I doubt it. They'll work out a trade with Denver for less than the 6th pick if they get him. They already own Denver's 1st (14th), or they'll package a 2nd with some other stuff. The odds are almost zero that Seattle will simply sign him outright, and if they somehow did it (and gave up the 6th pick) would be rightfully laughed at by everyone and anyone in the NFL community. Even at #14, it's a huge price to pay for a WR that has numerous off-field issues.

Unless the team offering him a contract is in the bottom half of the draft (Jets, Saints, Colts) there's almost no chance that he's signed outright.

Logic says that it's a strong possibility that Marshall is traded when he moves, not signed. And if it's the Seahawks they're almost definitely trading for him.

[just-blaze]

Why couldnt they just have kept what they had at RB (which was a big strength last year) and use their picks to address more important needs?

Now they just allowed a strength to become a weakness (a weakness if Leon is traded...right now its still good but not the huge strength it was w/TJ) which they now will have to use picks to fix. Doesnt make sense to me.

They did address one weakness w/Revis's sidekick at the other CB---lets hope we get the 06-07 Cromartie....beyond that this team did not have many weaknesses last year. IMO, they were a) our QB being a rookie b) lacking downfield speed at WR d) being weak at the 2nd CB spot and c) not having a pass rusher. All we had to do was keep what we had at RB which was a strength....we theoretically improved the 2nd CB spot....that leaves WR and pass rushing which could have been addressed with our early picks. Now we're gonna have to use one of those picks on a RB.

Well, actually according to Snatch's scenario if we do get a 2nd rounder for Leon we would have a 1st and 2 2nd rounders. We could use those three picks to address the problems identified by you.

RB's like McCluster, Dixon, McKnight will be available in the late 3rd round and beyond which would address the RB situation.

By your strategy, your assuming a 31 yr old RB will not regress and a 28 yr old that came off a broken leg will regain his old form. Which would give us a pick to address depth in whatever area is applicable.

Im not saying that youre wrong, but I would prefer the strategy Snatch went for if possible. Fresh legs at the RB position is valuable as Shonn Greene showed last year.

[dabomb2045]

I still think Jones has plenty in the tank...esp when you consider he wont be expected to carry the ball 300+ times next year. He'd be splitting time w/Greene...which would have kept both fresh--important for Jones cuz of his age, and important for Greene cuz his running style leads to getting worn down and nagging injuries. Then you have Leon as the change of pace guy who gets some carries and passes out of the backfield. I have some concern w/Leon but its much easier to recover from a clean break of a leg bone, then a tear of ligaments in a knee or something like that--I think he'll be okay.

IMO the Jets had a great thing here with these guys....and they blew it.

[just-blaze]

I still think Jones has plenty in the tank...esp when you consider he wont be expected to carry the ball 300+ times next year. He'd be splitting time w/Greene...which would have kept both fresh--important for Jones cuz of his age, and important for Greene cuz his running style leads to getting worn down and nagging injuries. Then you have Leon as the change of pace guy who gets some carries and passes out of the backfield.

IMO the Jets had a great thing here with these guys....and they blew it.

Meh....there are about 6-8 backs coming out in the draft that I would prefer to have over Jones or post-injury Leon all of which would be upgrades and would be cheaper than what Jones was asking for.

The Jets are playing the odds correctly, IMO.

[Melan-cynic]

Agreed.

[dabomb2045]

All I'm saying is that RB wasnt a concern prior to last week. Now it is. Now you have to worry about finding the right RB in the draft. Now you have to worry about Greene being able to carry a much bigger load (prob at least 250-275 carries).

Its another thing the Jets now have to concern themselves with in the draft. I didnt want to have to take a RB high in the draft....I wanted to focus on a pass rushing DE/DL (or two), some safety/CB help and a speedy WR. Now we'll have to use a high pick on a RB.

[just-blaze]

All I'm saying is that RB wasnt a concern prior to last week. Now it is. Now you have to worry about finding the right RB in the draft. Now you have to worry about Greene being able to carry a much bigger load (prob at least 250-275 carries).

Its another thing the Jets now have to concern themselves with in the draft. I didnt want to have to take a RB high in the draft....I wanted to focus on a pass rushing DE/DL (or two), some safety/CB help and a speedy WR. Now we'll have to use a high pick on a RB.

This is football, you always have to worry. I could just as well say that we should worry that Jones a 32 year old RB who over the past 6 years has averaged 300 carries will break down if he doesnt regress. And we also have to worry that Leon will come back and be effective.

Plus we are going to have to reload at RB at some point. Id much rather get a RB in the 4th round who normally would go as high as the 2nd or 3rd in most other drafts than get a DE in the 4th who normally go as high as 6th in other drafts.

And, I don't consider the 4th round as high in the draft and I feel there will be a quality RB there when we pick.

[dabomb2045]

Supposedly Tomlinson is visiting the Jets within the next few days. Meh.

Btw the latest Kiper/McShay mock has Kiper predicting the Jets take safety Taylor Mays from USC....while McShay has them taking DE Odrick from Penn St

[Snatch Catch]

I'd be really pissed about Mays. I don't think he makes it to them though, and have faith in Tanny that they wouldn't take him even if he did.

[dabomb2045]

I'd be really pissed about Mays. I don't think he makes it to them though, and have faith in Tanny that they wouldn't take him even if he did.

What guys are you looking at for our 1st rounder?

[Melan-cynic]

I'd be really pissed about Mays. I don't think he makes it to them though, and have faith in Tanny that they wouldn't take him even if he did.

But he runs so fast!! Just think, he and Ghost can have benchpressing competitions. That should win them some games, right?

[dabomb2045]

Speaking of Gholston....why is he still here? His contract is a sunk cost at this point. Just admit you blew the pick...and cut his ass. I'd rather use his roster spot for a less talented but plays hard type guy (Mike DeVito) then use it on a guy who cant do a thing.

[Snatch Catch]

What guys are you looking at for our 1st rounder?

The consensus amongst Jets fans in the draft know is the hope that Earl Thomas falls. If not him, than an OLB (Kindle), DT (Cody), or DE (Dunlap) that falls, or even a CB like McCourty. Additionally, there's been recent buzz about taking Pouncey out of FSU to help build the future of the OL. Also, if Ryan Matthews is somehow available, you obviously take him.

There's a lot of really nice football talent (i.e. not Mays) that could potentially be legitimate building blocks available this year.

[CallOfTheCrow]

Jets signed Brodney Pool to a 1 year deal.

[Snatch Catch]

He's got a serious concussion issue, I believe. Can't see this amounting to much except some articles in the sports sections and maybe a bad ending.

[Brooklyn Yankee Fan]

A rotation, so to speak, of Greene, Leon and Tomlinson (with the right mindset of him knowing his role) would be .

Tomlinson apparently knows what his role would be with the Jets (and even Vikings), which is a very reduced role, essentially the third-string back.

His receiving skills are pretty underrated, and with Sanchez throwing the ball more next season, LT could be a good fit. He still has a knack to find the endzone.

[dabomb2045]

If we sign LDT....then the "we got rid of Jones cuz he was showing signs of decline" excuse no longer holds any water. Tomlinson has looked finished for two years now.

If we do sign him, I will hope for some kind of rebound season w/him as the backup...but its head scratcher to sign him while you could have just held on to Jones and paid him his $2.5M bonus.

[Melan-cynic]

Do.not.want.

[just-blaze]

If we sign LDT....then the "we got rid of Jones cuz he was showing signs of decline" excuse no longer holds any water. Tomlinson has looked finished for two years now.

If we do sign him, I will hope for some kind of rebound season w/him as the backup...but its head scratcher to sign him while you could have just held on to Jones and paid him his $2.5M bonus.

I agree.....I want no part of LDT. Jones>LDT Apparently this is fueled in most part due to Brian and if this is the case, its just another reason for him to leave now.

In terms of the 1st rounder, Tate is intriguing. What I really would love is if we traded up to get Thomas. If Dunlap or Kindle fall they would be great.

Or we could trade back, get an extra pick, and take Williams USC, Hughes TCU, or Cody.

A lot of options for our needs picks.

[Brooklyn Yankee Fan]

http://twitter.com/Adam_Schefter/status/10487471218

Filed to ESPN: it's official. LaDainian Tomlinson is a Jet. He reached agreement on a two-year contract. Done.

For those who have doubts, think of it this way.

Tomlinson knows his role coming in, and it's to just be a contributor. He is not a Jet to be the savior in the RB department. Anything else he gives the team is a plus.

[dabomb2045]

I hope we dont trade Leon now and solely rely on Tomlinson as our 3rd down back. Sigh. I really do not like the decisions at RB this offseason.

[Brooklyn Yankee Fan]

I hope we dont trade Leon now and solely rely on Tomlinson as our 3rd down back. Sigh. I really do not like the decisions at RB this offseason.

I want Leon back as well. Despite the injury, I think you just have to bring him back. He's a playmaker, and I'm sure he will be in a reduced role as well because of the injury.

[PinstripePride]

I hope we dont trade Leon now and solely rely on Tomlinson as our 3rd down back. Sigh. I really do not like the decisions at RB this offseason.

I'm with you man. Not a huge fan of this move, and if it means Leon is out the door, I will be very unhappy.

[PinstripePride]

I want Leon back as well. Despite the injury, I think you just have to bring him back. He's a playmaker, and I'm sure he will be in a reduced role as well because of the injury.

The dude was talked about as the offensive MVP before he got hurt, and now he's being written off my 75% of the fan base. I'm not sure why. I know it's a deep draft, and a 2nd round pick for him would be good, but still..

[dabomb2045]

The dude was talked about as the offensive MVP before he got hurt, and now he's being written off my 75% of the fan base. I'm not sure why. I know it's a deep draft, and a 2nd round pick for him would be good, but still..

I'd be much more concerned if he was coming back from a knee injury i.e torn ligaments or an achilles....something that really could rob his lateral quickness and speed.

A clean break of the fibula...assuming it heals properly...I dont see that robbing him of any of the skills that made him the game-changing RB that he was.

[dabomb2045]

Btw one thing I'm hearing is that the Jets liked LDT better cuz he is a better at catching passes out of the backfield. I'd point out that he only caught 20 passes last year.

Jones gave the Jets a chance to match the 2-year $5M deal KC gave him...they declined. I have a hard time believing they signed LDT for cheaper then that. So it basically came down to Jones vs LDT with money not being in the argument. They chose LDT. I disagree wholeheartedly.


By Tim Graham
The New York Jets will have some explaining to do.

[+] Enlarge Christopher Hanewinckel/US PresswireLaDainian Tomlinson chose the Jets over the Vikings.


Wooed over the past four days, free-agent running back LaDainian Tomlinson chose the Jets over the Minnesota Vikings. The future Hall of Famer signed a two-year contract, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

The Tomlinson signing is a sexy acquisition, even though he'll likely be Shonn Greene's sidekick. But how does Tomlinson look better in the Jets' backfield than Thomas Jones would have? We don't know the monetary terms of Tomlinson's contract, but it's hard to imagine a substantial discount over what Jones was asking.

Jones would've made $5.8 million for the Jets under his old contract. The Jets released him rather than pay that much. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs for two years and $5 million. He reportedly gave the Jets the option to match the offer and retain him, but they declined.

The Jets released Jones also because he'll turn 32 in August.

While he is 10 months older than Tomlinson, Jones is coming off a twice-as-productive season.

The decision to cut Jones didn't go over well with, at the very least, a majority of the offensive line.

"A passionate guy like that, with the intensity he brought at certain points in the game, it ignited sparks in everybody," right guard Brandon Moore told New York Daily News reporter Rich Cimini when the Jets cut Jones. "You would've liked to have kept a guy like that."

Jones rushed for a career-best 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns. He averaged 4.2 yards a carry.

Tomlinson rushed for a career-low 730 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 3.3-yard average was a personal-worst.

Imagine if Greene were to suffer an injury that sidelines him for a significant period. Could the Jets feel confident moving forward with Tomlinson and Leon Washington, who's returning from a broken leg? Or would Jones' presence be more comforting?

About the only way I see Tomlinson as a more attractive option than Jones is that he makes the Jets' backfield more multidimensional. Jones and Greene are the same type of bulldozing back, although Jones is a far better receiver than Greene is.

I'm sure the Jets view Jones as nearing the end of his shelf life. Maybe he already reached his sell-by date right before the playoffs, when the Jets made Greene the featured back.

But I think we know for sure Tomlinson has reached the twilight.
Tags: New York Jets, Leon Washington, Thomas Jones, Shonn Greene, LaDainian Tomlinson, Free agency 2010

[Melan-cynic]

I didn't cry bloody murder when Jones left because he is replaceable, but this move makes zero sense. Tomlinson is cooked and the Jets didn't sign him for peanuts. Therefore, I am totally against this move.

This is PSL-driven, certainly not a football move.

[NJ Fan]

IMHO, the Jets should offer big contracts to both Cromartie and Tomlinson. After all, they were the key players in the Jets making it to the AFC Championship game!

[just-blaze]

Agree with the majority here........Jones>LDT.

I have a feeling this was really fueled by Schott, he probably has wet dreams of using LDT in all sorts of sillyass circus plays he has dreamed up.

LDT is the better receiver, but outside of that......Jones is better.

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

Rex Ryan underwent weight loss surgery on Saturday.

http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2010...stomach-today/

Best of luck.

[RhodyYanksFan]

I didn't cry bloody murder when Jones left because he is replaceable, but this move makes zero sense. Tomlinson is cooked and the Jets didn't sign him for peanuts. Therefore, I am totally against this move.

This is PSL-driven, certainly not a football move.

Sadly I think you're right. The people that can actually afford PSLs more often than not aren't super fans. Most actual fans know that LDT is done.

[Snatch Catch]

I'm not that mad about the LDT signing. I think Jones is actually more cooked than him, and LDT will see a slight rejuvination after getting healthy and playing behind the best O-Line in the league, and for a guy who knows very well how to use him, while also not being anything close to a feature back.

For 2010-2011 I'd rather have LDT than Jones. Obviously Jones had the much better year last season, but if we're talking only about the small window for which they were signed and what is being asked of them, I'm fine with swapping LDT for Jones.

[Melan-cynic]

The devil you know is better than the devil you don't.

[Snatch Catch]

I think it's exactly because they know TJ so well that they were so willing to let him walk.

[Melan-cynic]

I think it's exactly because they know TJ so well that they were so willing to let him walk.

That was my hope.

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

I'm not that mad about the LDT signing. I think Jones is actually more cooked than him, and LDT will see a slight rejuvination after getting healthy and playing behind the best O-Line in the league, and for a guy who knows very well how to use him, while also not being anything close to a feature back.

For 2010-2011 I'd rather have LDT than Jones. Obviously Jones had the much better year last season, but if we're talking only about the small window for which they were signed and what is being asked of them, I'm fine with swapping LDT for Jones.

I agree. LDT should be good for the 10 or so carries a game he'll get. I never thought TJ was a great halfback anyway, it seemed like he was somewhat easy to tackle...always seemed to go down after the first hit. His success was a combination of him being a capable NFL hb and the play of the o-line.

[keg411]

I'm not that mad about the LDT signing. I think Jones is actually more cooked than him, and LDT will see a slight rejuvination after getting healthy and playing behind the best O-Line in the league, and for a guy who knows very well how to use him, while also not being anything close to a feature back.

For 2010-2011 I'd rather have LDT than Jones. Obviously Jones had the much better year last season, but if we're talking only about the small window for which they were signed and what is being asked of them, I'm fine with swapping LDT for Jones.

Agree with this.

[dabomb2045]

I dont get how Jones is more "cooked" then Tomlinson. Tomlinson has done nothing the past two seasons. Jones had another real good season and tailed off towards the end when he was less then 100%.

He prob can no longer handle 300+ carries anymore but he def isnt finished. Tomlinson is done IMO and I dont see how he helps the Jets at all.

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

The Giants won a "coin toss" *cough cough* and have won the right to host the first game at the new 50/50, joint stadium. Giants Sunday afternoon of week 1, Jets Monday night of week 1.

http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2...th_play_h.html

Interestingly, the NFL's press release says Goodell flipped the coin last Friday, one day before the Jets posted on their web site a coin flip was to come.

[BillBuckner]

The Giants won a "coin toss" *cough cough* and have won the right to host the first game at the new 50/50, joint stadium. Giants Sunday afternoon of week 1, Jets Monday night of week 1.

http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2...th_play_h.html

Yeah I chuckled a little bit when I heard too. Don't really mind though, a MNF prime time game isn't a bad way to start either.

[yankeesAZ]

The Giants won a "coin toss" *cough cough* and have won the right to host the first game at the new 50/50, joint stadium. Giants Sunday afternoon of week 1, Jets Monday night of week 1.

http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2...th_play_h.html

Don't know why the NFL would want the weaker Giants team opening the new stadium.