Jets News
Patriots re-sign Leigh Bodden, top cornerback on the free agent market (The Canadian Press)
Hutch Sounds Confident Leon Will Be Back
More photos » Kevin Rivoli - AP
With rumors swirling about Leon Washington getting in touch with the 49ers, Dave Hutchinson predicts the back will return to the green and white.
My take is that the 49ers are going to have to come up with a doozy of a contract -- complete with an infamous "poison pill," a clause that could drastically escalate the value of the contract, to deter the Jets from matching --- to pry Washington away. The Jets organization loves him as a player and person and truly believes he'll make a full recovery from injury.
Even so, I remain surprised the Jets gave Washington only a second-round tender, which invites teams to make a run at him despite his recovery from a career-threatening leg injury. Had the Jets spent another $800,000 and put a first-round tender on Washington ($2.5 million), it would've made a team more reluctant to sign Washington.
I trust Hutch as much as anybody when it comes to insider Jets information. He's got great contacts and doesn't have an agenda.
You can bet the Niners will do a complete physical to make sure the leg is healthy before making any sort of big contract. I know there's bad blood between the teams over the Michael Crabtree tampering charges, but you don't make a move this bold out of spite.
I'm a bit nervous about this. The Jets seemed lukewarm about extending Leon even before the injury. There seemed to be problems dealing with the agent. If Hutch says he'll probably be back barring a dramatic contract, I believe him. At that point, you just would have wished the Jets would have slapped a higher tender (again if they're giving him that kind of contract, their medical team says he's making a full recovery).
Poll If the Niners come calling with a contract for Leon Washington, what should the Jets do?- Match it
- Take the second round pick
92 votes | Results
Free agent Terrell Owens will meet with Bengals, who need a wide receiver (The Canadian Press)
Marques Murrell Signs With New England
More photos » Bill Kostroun - AP
Manish Metha tweets Marques Murrell is going to the Pats.
Robert Kraft announced on local radio that #Patriots signed former #Jets LB Marques Murrell today.
I thought Murrell was a decent special teamer, but this isn't as big as losing Wallace Wright. I trust Rex to assess the defensive talent. If he thought he could develop Murrell into something special, I'm sure the team would have shown more interest retaining him at a cheap price and certainly wouldn't have let him go to the Pats without a fight.
Belichick makes his annual move to tweak the Jets.
Kerry Rhodes Shows Why He Was Traded
More photos » Paul Connors - AP
Many including myself were critical of the Kerry Rhodes trade. Kerry did his best to make the Jets look smart with a childish rant on the radio today.
Rhodes, who clashed with defensive coaches Mike Pettine and Dennis Thurman, accused the Jets staff of stripping him of a leadership role in favor of the former Ravens players Bart Scott, Jim Leonhard and Marques Douglas brought in by Rex Ryan, calling it "a slap in the face.’’
Right, so the team shouldn't look to upgrade its talent because the millionaire safety is insecure with his spot on the team.
I still don't love the trade. I don't like opening a gaping hole for a midround pick. Plenty of talented guys are difficult to deal with. In any event, Kerry looks totally childish.
Rhodes rips Jets on radio
Jets To Host Marlin Jackson
More photos » Michael Conroy - AP
So along with Pool, the Jets will also Host Marlin Jackson, a former Colts player who was also not tendered so is free to sigh with any team. According to Rich Cimini:
Ditto, Colts CB Marlin Jackson, who is heading our way for a visit. Jackson is a former first-round pick, but he finished the last two seasons on injured reserve because of serious knee injuries. He also has visited the Ravens and Eagles, who see Jackson as a free safety. It's very possible the Jets also will look at him as a safety, considering their Rhodes-less safety situation.In typical Mike T fashion, no stone will be left unturned. I have already said that I'm a big fan of bringing in Pool even with the health concerns, 41 games in the last three years, I'm taking a whirl.
However Marlin Jackson is a different kettle of fish, a former Michigan stand out, he appeared in just four games last season and didn't start in any. Add that to only appearing and starting in 7 games in 2008 and he is a very serious health concern. He played one full season for the Colts and that was 2007, where he compiled 86 tackles, 4 pass defences and 1 interception. Jackson is coming off ACL surgery and recently visited with the Baltimore Ravens.
This is all down to how we can evaluate his injury problems, and whether the team think that it is a risk worth taking. Do you think it is? and if so, where do you see him? a FS or CB?
Jackson also has a visit with the Eagles planned for Wednesday.
Former Jets RB Jones joining Chiefs
Chiefs sign Pro Bowl free agent running back Thomas Jones to beef up backfield (The Canadian Press)
Ex-NY Jets running back Thomas Jones signs with Kansas City Chiefs
Cleveland Browns release quarterback Derek Anderson, who made Pro Bowl in 2007 (The Canadian Press)
Former NY Jets safety Kerry Rhodes rips coaching staff
Browns release QB Anderson
Browns release former Pro Bowl QB Derek Anderson (AP)
Thomas Jones to KC
More photos » Mike Groll - AP
Farewell, Sir Thomas.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) Jones has signed a Two-year deal worth $5 Million.
Filed to ESPN: Thomas Jones signs in Kansas City: two years, $5 million. Chiefs have their running back. No need for Willie Parker to visit. Thomas Jones deal is for $3 million this year, $2 million next year and another $500,000 in incentives
Had a great career here, was as consistent as they come. We will surely miss his ball security, excellent vision and ability to hit holes -- but it's time to move on.
As long as he's not in a Blue/Red/White uniform, we're happy. Although it is interesting he will be with a lot of ex-Pats : Vrabel, Cassel, Romeo Crennel, and Weis to name a few.
Leigh Bodden Signs 4-Year Deal With Patriots
Patriots standout CB Leigh Bodden has decided to stay in NE with Hoodie and Co.
NE signed him to a 4-year deal worth $22 million. The deal also includes $10 Million guaranteed.
(Wasn't going to write this initially as it's not Jets news, but it IS big divisional news as Bodden is a very solid corner. Since he is a member of the Cheats, he doesn't warrant a picture on this post, but he does get a blurb!)
Jets To Meet With Brodney Pool
More photos » Amy Sancetta - AP
Adam Schefter confirmed today that the Jets will meet with former 2nd round pick Brodney Pool on Wednesday:
Pool a potential replacement for Kerry Rhodes recorded 11 pass defenses and 4 interceptions in 2009 while starting 10 games. Which give him an impressive total of 11 interceptions and 34 pass defenses as well as 275 tackles over a 5 year period in Cleveland.
The one problem I see is that Cleveland did not tender Pool and they did not cut him either, which means he hit the market as a UFA, and with restrictions, that could make it tricky to sign him, although there are ways around such problems.
From the NFL Director of communications:
“If an RFA is not tendered, he’s a free agent, but not a UFA. . . . So Final Eight teams can sign him.”There we go, no restrictions on him at all
Pool has played both safety and cornerback in the NFL, and had his 2009 season cut short on December 2nd when he suffered a concussion.
NY Jets running back Leon Washington, San Francisco 49ers chat, report says
Jets Flight Connections 03-09-10
LG Alan Faneca is organizing an event to "Block out Epilepsy."
Dave Hutchinson follows up on his story about WR Laveranues Coles.
GM Mike Tannenbaum confirmed that contact has been made with the free agent.
However, he also added that "nothing is imminent."
Tanny also joked that FB Tony Richardson would remain a Jet "unless something changes."
Chillicothe, Ohio native TE Ben Hartsock will remain a Jet.
Chillicothe, Ohio native TE and LS James Dearth, however, is in a holding pattern.
The team wouldn't comment on the cash advance for CB Antonio Cromartie.
You can listen to the conference call by the Jets GM.
C Nick Mangold, CB Darrelle Revis and RB Leon Washington are hosting an event to fight hunger.
More connections after the jump.
SNY.tv has video of Cromartie talking about Gang Green.
SNY.tv also debates whether dealing FS Kerry Rhodes was a good move or not.
The Cardinals have video of Kerry's press conference in Arizona.
Rich Cimini thinks Kerry got a culture shock in the desert.
USA Today: Rhodes wasn't seeing eye to eye with the coaches.
JetNation.com debates the Cro and Kerry moves.
JetNation.com also asks owner Woody Johnson to be reasonable.
TurnOnTheJets.com asks where we go from here.
NewYorkJets.com has the top RB performances.
LilMissNYJet lauds T-Rich.
New England is interested in LB Marques Murrell.
CB Leigh Bodden is still a Patriot.
S Ryan Clark is not a Dolphin.
QB Chad Pennington will be a third stringer.
But he can fight for the starting job and get paid for it.
Miami is going to need a nose tackle with Jason Ferguson's suspension.
Marty Schottenheimer, Kim Bokamper and and Keith Sims talk about the contract of LB Karlos Dansby.
The Bills have signed OT Cornell Green, who is excited about the run game in Buffalo.
The Panthers have released FB Brad Hoover.
Here is the state of the Ravens, a 2010 Jets opponent.
Retired players want to fire their union lawyer.
Jets Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)
Maybe Thomas Jones should blame Bill Polian. As it turns out, Indianapolis' decision not to pursue perfection, orchestrated by its team president Polian, may wind up impacting the Jets much more than the Colts.
Jones, who will turn 32 in August, had career highs in both carries (331) and rushing yards (1,402) for the Jets last season, his third year with the club, but was released by the team. The Jets wanted Jones to take a pay cut, but he refused to rework his contract.
The Jets' subsequent playoff run after their win over the conceding Colts on Dec. 27 gave then-rookie running back Shonn Greene a chance to showcase his talents, while the effects of a nagging knee injury during the post-season suggested that perhaps the 31-year-old Jones is about to decline.
