My take, again, on the situation...from the other LW thread. To sum it all up in a nutshell, it just isn't the time for Leon to be bitching about his contract. ...and...
I agree 100%. Jones has no leverage, and we shouldn't pay him anything more than he was originally set to make.
I think Leon does deserve a new deal, but holding out is lame. Get in to practice and let your agent do the deal whilst you concentrate on the game.
It would be more beneficial to The Jets to get Leon under a long term deal than Jones. It does not matter what each has left on their current deal. Leon has also outplayed his contract Jones has not. To act as if they are a similar situation is way off base.
Leon has no more leverage than Jones does right now. What's he gunna do - sit out the whole year? Not a smart move when you are a RFA next offseason.
Also not a smart move to let a guy with Leons talents walk away from the Jets next year. That is his leverage. It is either pay him now and keep him happy or match some huge offer sheet that some other team will offer. Leon is worth it. IMO
There is another thread where this is drawn out completely. Its a Shame you made a Leon thread to talk about Jones. Jones is a good back. He put up good numbers. Ok numbers in 2007, behind a shit line, good numbers in 2008 behind a much inmproved line. This is not Barry Sanders. Its Thomas jones, a serviceable, but replaceable back. He is due 900k this year and will be cut before next season, His replacement has been drafted and the staff feels strongly about greene. You can tell from the cost to move up to secure him on draft day. Jones should not and will not get another Dime and most likely not be a Jet in 2010. Leon Should be in camp and needs to be fined for missing mandatory OTA's and traning camp. He also needs a new contract. The Jets have been vocal in the past about not reworking Deals with two or more years left (Jones) and tyring to resign players in the last year of thier contract (Leon). All the facts lead to leon getting paid and Jones getting the shown door next year.
I think the flaw in your argument is thinkign that Leon is only a #2 back / ST guy. He will most likely be splitting carries with Greene next season and at this point is the only threat to take it to the end zone on any given play. With the hard line stance that Jones is most likely to get the Jets should be working on the Leon deal. If he and his agent are asking for the 6 mill type of Deal Sproles is gettting then they can go to hell, but Leon is one of the guys that we should be trying to tie up before they hit RFA at this momment, with Mangold being the other.
Until he proves otherwise, that's all he is right now - a situational player. It would be foolish to ink him to a fat contract based upon the assumption that he will be able to handle and flourish in an increased role. The deal wouldn't be at the stalemate that it is if he wasn't looking for Sproles type money...
I'll give you the Sproles type money thing, but as our #1 back for half of 2006 Leon did Just fine. Is he situational because of his skills or because of the coaching staff? Now days almost every running back is a situational player. The days of the 3 down runner are long gone. Almost every back in the league splits carriers and only 5 guys topped the 300 carry mark. He had 9 combined TD's last season, only Jones had more. He is a rushing and receiving thread out of the back felid and an All-pro return man. He is currently our most explosive weapon on the offensive side of the ball. Washington is worth more then he is making, but I would not pony up 6 Million a year.
lol no doubt there. That in it self is proof how crazy things can get in the NFL in a hurry when it comes to contracts. Its going to be scary to see what the Asomugha contract does to the cornerback market.
All valid points and I do not disagree with you. I too believe that Leon deserves more money. However, I am not in favor of caving in to a Sproles type contract just for the sake of getting him signed. With Leon being a RFA next year, the Jets have nothing to lose by taking a "wait and see" approach right now. Worst case scenario is we have to match an offer sheet.
Yikes, what a terrible analogy. If Dustin Keller, entering year two of a five year contract, who just received 1.2 million and is scheduled to make roughly 1.3 million this year, held out after a decent rookie season, not only would he be the laughing stock of this website, he would also be the laughing stock of the professional football and business worlds. There is no double standard whatsoever. Leon has received fourth round money for three years now- peanuts. He deserves a raise. The size of that raise is up for discussion. Thomas Jones received feature back money for two years. He does not deserve a raise, nor would it be a prudent business decision to give him one. With that said, the OP has had a few too many silver bullets and just doesn't grasp how business works in professional sports.
Yea, if his demands do not come down the wait and see attitude will work. I hope he comes to his senses, I have little doubt that dumb as agent will.
Your totally ignoring the fact that a player is under CONTRACT to play for the amount of money they are getting paid. It is different to be working without a contract and asking for a raise as most of the people you told to stfu probably have.
I love how you always make a general statement about the board instead of growing a sack and addressing the comments you have a problem with in particular. Maybe you should 'stfu' until your balls drop.
If Leon is not overpriced yes I agree. But 100% disagree about Jones. Many players redo contract with 2 years remaining. He simply is listening to his Agent. Is a smart move. Leon has no contract for next year and it is kinda late. so lookin like he might be allowed to go at seasons end.
He's not going to be simply allowed to go at season's end. We have a great deal of leverage thanks to the fact that he'll be an RFA. That's probably the biggest reason why we haven't signed him yet. We don't have to jump in unless the contract is right.
In answer to your question, no. On the subject of Leon, I doubt they will negotiate with him until they have Mark Sanchez signed.
