Jets coach Rex Ryan has a response for a report that the Jets are currently shopping Thomas Jones.
It’s no surprise he performed the typical coaching trade denial with much gusto:
“I promise you, that is ridiculous. Shoot, I’m not going to
trade that,” Ryan said. “You know what I’m all about. This guy is huge in our plans.
I’m not going to trade the running back that led the AFC in rushing. We
ain’t dealing him. No way.”
Ryan’s emphatic response would seem to shut this story down before it really got going. Then again, what else is a coach going to say?
On paper, the Jets could afford to lose Jones. They want Leon Washington to get the ball more and third-round pick Shonn Greene is likely their future starter.
But Jones is under contract for only $900,000, and there isn’t any pressing motivation to move him. After some early trouble, Jones isn’t making noise about his contract situation.
If Jones is going to get traded, 2010 appears to be the more likely time to do it.
“If Jones is going to get traded, 2010 appears to be the more likely time to do it.”
Except Jones is due a $3 million bonus on the 5th day of the league year and a $2.8 million salary
And for those that will chime in and say the Jets are screwing Jones over, he’s cashed $12 million in checks over the first two years of this deal, the first which he scored only 1 TD.
as or after they sign leon, they could ditch jones. weirder stuff has happened. and in nyc.
My bet is that Ryan is off the team before Jones is.
Ryan’s “John Wayne meets Rodney Dangerfield” act won’t work as head coach.
@ endzoneview
I am a long time Jets fan and couldn’t agree w/ you more regarding Jones’ early financial gains. TJ has nothing… Nothing… to complain about, as he was given, as he requested, the brunt of his contract up front!
“On paper, the Jets could afford to lose Jones. They want Leon Washington to get the ball more and third-round pick Shonn Greene is likely their future starter.”
on paper you would have to be a jackass to think a 3rd down back and a rookie can take the place of a work horse who happened to led the AFC in rushing.
Shone Green is gonna be a good player I think.
“Then again, what else is a coach going to say?”
Could, “just say no” -
I believe him.
i agree with sprint. jones’ age and expected decline is where i was going.
have always liked jones as a runner, and he may have one decent year left. but he is on the wrong side of 30 even though he hasnt had that much mileage.
1312 yards is also kind of low for a “conference leader”. so i wouldnt overplay that card.
I think that the Jets would be making a bad mistake if they trade Jones. With a rookie at QB (it’s a pretty safe bet to say that Sanchez will be the starter very early on if not on opening day) the Jets will be running the ball plenty (as the Ravens did last year). With that being said I think that keeping Jones is a no-brainer. The risk in trading Jones would more than likely outweigh the reward, at least in the short term. In Washington while very talented he is smallish to be a three down back, and while he has potential, Greene is an unproven commodity at the professional level. Plus if one of them gets hurt (not hard to imagine) ………