I think several teams would be interested in having TJ as their starting running back next year. He has had great production the last few seasons and there a lot of teams with very poor running games. I could see San Diego, New England, and maybe even Arizona being interested in him for a starting role. I agree with you that he is better suited at this stage in his career as a number 2 RB, but a lot of teams don't really have a guy that can handle the amount of carries TJ can.
We just created a hole on the roster that we didn't need to with limited ways to fill it. Until we replace TJ without sacrificing filling more important holes this is a shit decision that could really hurt our chances next year. In an uncapped year we can afford to pay a little extra for a team leader and the only reliable RB on a SB contending roster reliant on the run.
he was hurt, we don't make the playoffs w/o Thomas Jones last year and w/o the playoff spot there's no AFC Title Game appearance. He's still valuable, I wish we could bring him back but obviously in a reduced role. Imagine him and Greene fresh down the stretch w/ Leon as the change of pace?
The fact that he was worn down at the end of another 300+carry season is irrelevant for next year. We don't need him to be a 300 carry RB anymore, we need him to split carries with Greene so neither one of them is worn down when it counts most.
I see this as possibly hurting the team. If SG cannot carry the load for all 19 games, we will be in trouble. LW certainly cannot backfill for SG.
I have mixed feeling on this one. TJ is a strong back who has produced well for us but he is older and showed signs of wearing down last year. So I can see where they may be making this move to avoid having him when age takes it's toll. On the other hand he will be very hard to replace both as a player and as a voice in the clubhouse. When you are close to being good enough for a SB run you want to use your offseason resources to fill key holes in your team. Which RB was not one of them. I wish TJ all the best!
I wouldn't be surprised if that was what the Jets told TJ, too. I wouldn't mind having him back in that capacity at all. But do you think TJ, after a 1400+ yd 14 TD season, would be willing to step into the background and take a backup role? Right now, I do not. I don't think the fact that he got worn down and hurt is irrelevant at all. The dude has carried the ball 1861 times in the past six seasons. I challenge you to find another back that has carried the ball anywhere close to that many times during the same duration - much less remained even close to effective (and no, Emmitt Smith doesn't count). And now he's over 30 years old.
Hard to imagine any player would but TJ has stated time and time again that he is a team player and will do whatever he has to in order to help the JETS win. This may be the time for him to either play for less $$ and less role or to eat his words.
TJ will either get overpaid by another team that is weak at RB or he will come down to Earth and come back in a diminished role. If I had to bet on it, I'd bet he gets overpaid by another team. And I'd wish him luck.
there's the caveat, junc.....TJ doesn't want a reduced a role....nor does he want the paycut that comes with it.
I don't really care about TJs feelings, if we picked up his bonus he doesn't have any choice about his role. His days of 300 carries are over whether it is with the Jets or not.
No competitor wants a reduced role and I don't blame him for not accepting a paycut and trying to get one more good contract but we have him undre contract. It's an uncapped year and we owe him a $2 mil roster bonus which is alot to you and me and pocket change for an NFL team. It's risky, it may turn out that Greene is ready to carry the load and Leon is healthy and they'll pick up a decent vet to get some carrries BUT if it doesn't work out there will be alot of 2nd guessing. I understand the decision but i'd prefer to have him back.
we could speculate about this till we're blue in the face.....the Jets' braintrust obviously wants to move in a different direction. TJ has been productive for the duration of his time here....and he believes he can still carry the load. Good on him....and i wish him luck. The fact is....the torch is being passed whether we like it or not. Let's hope S.Greene doesn't crack like an egg...and lives up to expectations for an entire season/playoffs.
Now you know why alot of NFL players holdout. Cause alot of these players get screwed by their NFL teams. Jones earned this bonus thru his play and they just took it away.
His contract gave him plenty up front. This bonus was not a guarantee. He got 13 million the first two years of the deal. It's not like the Jets screwed him over.
I don't blame Jones for leaving. I think he can get more money, a longer contract, or both elsewhere. Good for him, best of luck. I hope he cashes in. He's been a good player for the Jets. He had better hope he goes somewhere with a good O line. The question for the Jets is whether the money they save on Jones can be effectively used towards a replacement and/or to seal up another player's contract.
