Jets football blog

Leon a no show

The opening of the Jets' offseason strength and conditioning program yesterday was marked by one prominent player missing and one present.

Running back Leon Washington, who is recovering from a compound fracture of his right leg and is an unrestricted free agent, was not at the team's facility in Florham Park, N.J.

But receiver Braylon Edwards, who in recent years with the Browns worked out on his own away from the team facility, showed up having signed his $6.1 million restricted free agent offer sheet.

Rex Ryan and Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum had strongly urged Edwards to be a part of their program, which is technically voluntary. Continue

Eric Smith signs tender offer

Let the competition begin to replace Kerry Rhodes as the Jets’ new starting safety.

Just days after the Jets signed former Brown Brodney Pool to a one-year, $1.3 million free-agent contract, Eric Smith yesterday agreed to the tender offer the Jets assigned him at the beginning of free agency.

Smith, who started in place of Rhodes when Rhodes was benched last season, is perhaps their most valuable special teams player, signed for $1.176 million for the 2010 season. (NY Post)

LT has something to prove

LaDainian Tomlinson has heard all the chatter about how he doesn't have it anymore after producing numbers the last nine years that undoubtedly will land him in the Hall of Fame.

He has heard the talk about what a mistake it was that the Jets signed him to replace Thomas Jones, whom they released at the start of free agency.

Jones, after all, rushed for a career-high 1,402 yards last season while Tomlinson had his worst season as a pro, gaining only 730.

Tomlinson, too, has heard the projections that, after being the Chargers' featured back, he'll be relegated to only a few carries as Shonn Greene's backup. Continue

Jets get RB Tomlinson for 2 yrs

LaDainian Tomlinson and the Jets have reached an agreement on a two-year deal,according to espn.com.

The report states that Tomlinson told the Jets he would return soon when he left the team’s facility on Saturday and it seems he will be true to his word. The specifics of the deal are not yet known.

Tomlinson visited with the Jets on Friday, but left New Jersey without a contract. Tomlinson spent time with the Vikings on Thursday before his visit with the Jets, when he reportedly was wined and dined by Rex Ryan, Mark Sanchez and other team personnel. Continue

Tomlinson leaves without a deal

LaDainian Tomlinson once known for his coast-to-coast runs, went coast-to-coast Saturday.

After a two-night stay in New Jersey, where he was romanced by the Jets, the free-agent running back left without a deal. Tomlinson took a morning flight and returned to his home in San Diego, where he will mull his next move. He could pick a team - Jets or Vikings - this weekend or he could decide to take more visits, perhaps to the Saints.

Continue

Why are Jets interested in LT?

LaDainian Tomlinson left Vikings headquarters Thursday without a contract and now will be wined and dined by Rex Ryan and the Jets, who are very serious about signing the future Hall of Fame running back, according to multiple league sources.

The only thing that could have short-circuited the trip to New York was an 11th-hour deal with the Vikings to back up Adrian Peterson. Barring that, Tomlinson will meet with the Jets, who want to team the former NFL MVP with Shonn Greene. Continue

Thomas Jones signed by KC

Waived by the Jets on Friday, Jones signed a two-year, $5-million deal with the Chiefs Tuesday. He'll form a tandem with Jaamal Charles, who led Kansas City in rushing last season with 1,120 yards and seven touchdowns.

Jones, 31, was cut loose by the Jets after he refused to restructure his contract. He was due a $3-million roster bonus on top of a $2.8-million base salary, and the Jets weren't about to shell out that kind of money to Shonn Greene's projected backup despite Jones' career season (1,402 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns). Continue

Rhodes hits the road for 2 draft picks

Kerry Rhodes is a goner.

File that in the "this should come as no surprise" department.

The Jets told Rhodes to hit the road yesterday when they traded him to the Cardinals for a fourth-round pick in next month's draft and a seventh rounder in the 2011 draft.

On Friday, these were Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum's words when asked about Rhodes: "We expect Kerry to be here . . . unless something changes. We expect Kerry to be here for the offseason program and to be with us next year and beyond."

Based on those words, you may also file this development under the "never-believe-what-a-GM-says" department. Continue

Jets nab CB Cromartie for 3rd round pick

Even with a lock on their checkbook, the Jets managed to make the first big move of the NFL's new year, swinging a trade Thursday night for enigmatic Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie.

On the day they officially released Lito Sheppard, the Jets wasted no time in finding his replacement, sending a third-round pick in 2011 to the Chargers, according to an NFL source. The pick can escalate to a second-rounder.

The Jets said they have reached an agreement in principle. Presumably, Cromartie still has to pass a physical.

Cromartie, the 19th overall pick in 2006, is entering the final season of his rookie contract and is due to earn $1.7 million this season. As of now, the Jets have no plans to extend his deal. That should provide motivation for Cromartie, whose star has faded after a brilliant 2007. Continue