Jets fans could have multiple reasons to be happy today, one week before the team opens the stadium it will share with the Giants.
Apart from the return of Darrelle Revis, the Jets are expected to bring back fullback Tony Richardson.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Richardson could be re-signing as soon as this afternoon. (Actually, the source says that Richardson “should be” returning on Monday.)
We’re in the process of figuring out why the Jets would need to cut Richardson for one day -- and why G.M. Mike Tannenbaum’s comments about Richardson’s release carried a strong whiff of finality: “Each season, there are difficult choices when constructing the 53-man roster and this year is no exception. We appreciate Tony’s contributions and leadership over the past two seasons and have nothing but the highest respect for him as a person and as a player.”
Many believed that the Jets were simply trying to avoid having to essentially guarantee Richardson’s base salary of $855,000 by cutting him before Week One and bringing him back immediately thereafter. The truth simply could be that with an influx of three new players via waivers on Sunday the Jets had to scramble to decide which player(s) to cut. Any players with fewer than four years of service would have been subject to waivers. Since Richardson is a vested veteran, he became a free agent. Though other teams may have tried to sign him, no one had the ability to “claim” him against his will.
Our guess (and it’s just a guess) is that the Jets opted not to cut one of their cornerbacks before finalizing the Revis agreement -- and that one of the six cornerbacks will be getting the heave-ho today so that Richardson can be re-signed. Look for the Jets to get a short-term roster exemption for Revis, so that they can figure out in the next day or so who else needs to go so before activating Revis in time for Monday night.