Amen Whiteshoewillie! Watching Sanders play in those Monday Night games as well as Thanksgiving day were wonderful! Guy was a human highlight reel! Its a shame he walked away from the game, but I respect him for leaving on his own terms. As to Jones, we may want to keep him around until we see how our Rookie does. After that though, I am sure he will be gone. (still wish C-Mart was here).
A) Even in the unlikely event that we trade TJ, I don't think we would need Leon to take over as a feature back. RBBC is becoming a very effective trend in the NFL. B) I don't think Thomas Jones' running ability is any great shakes at all. But his backfield blocking, his receiving ability, and his durability are what make him special. He is hardly irreplaceable, but if we're going to be starting Sanchez this year, I would be more comfortable having him on the team.
Emphasis on the durability and ability to eat up carries. As an aside, if we were to trade Thomas Jones, I'd be highly in favor of picking up Ryan Torain as a young addition to the backfield. The Broncos had to cut him yesterday with Moreno, Buckhalter, Arrington, and Jordan eating up carries in the backfield. The only major problem with him, of course, is his lack of durability thus far. However, in a RBBC approach, he'd be a great addition.
You play to win the games, that's why. What is this, fantasy football??? You guys are nuts, trade TJ and count on a rookie and a 3rd down back to be your RB's when your team is gonna be a running team. Do me a favor, if Tanny quits don't apply for the job. THis is the dumbest thread ever
Imo, he is right about trading Jones when the team has said it will depend on the running game. I think that means a trade is not going to happen. Someone earlier mentioned Jones's bonus due this coming March. Other than paying it or cutting him, there is also the possibility of redoing his contract.
Redoing/restructuring his contract would be difficult. His base salary for this season is so low that it limits what we can do with him as far as a restructure if next season is uncapped. His maximum salary/signing bonus would be set at $1.17 million. I'm sure he feels certain he can command more than that on the open market. We'd have to tear up the old contract and give him a new one. That's a big part of why he was hoping for a new contract this offseason. If we had increased his base salary for this year, we'd have more flexibility to shift some of next season's money, while still remaining favorable to Jones.
Degree of difficulty might make it less likely, but I think the point that there is a third option remains valid. A contract redo can include payment of a signing bonus to replace the upcoming one, at a somewhat lower amount, of course. Would Jones rather be cut and try to sign with another team, losing the bonus completely in the meantime? If that sounds less than appetizing, he very well might be willing to redo the contract.
Right, but if he converts his bonus and signs a new contract, his base salary is still 2.8 million for next season. It would have to be a complete tear down. Restructuring his bonuses wouldn't work given his current contract. We'd have to tear up the old contract, and it becomes a matter of whether he feels our new deal would be commensurate with what another team would give him. After this season, he has zero obligation to the team. Either we offer him a new contract that's acceptable to him, or he knows we have to cut him and he seeks his highest offer. It very well could turn into a Laveranues Coles situation.
This team will go nowhere if they think they can solely depend on a running game. Right now with the receivers they have that is how it is shaping up.
Thanks for the personal attack--hope it makes you feel good. Point is Jones is unhappy with his contract, over 30, due a big bonus in March and will not be on the jets next year. He HAS some value now. We will get nothing for him when we release him next spring. I also advocated on this message board moving Pennington after his 2006 season with the same analysis--we didn't move him, he stunk in 2007, and we got squat when we released him in 2008 . I also significantly disagree with your label of Leon as "a 3rd down back." The man makes plays every time he is on the field and is much younger than Jones, who is on his 4th team. Washington/Greene = our future at RB, not Jones. By the way, I am an attorney who did negotiate a contract for a professional football player in 1999--No, I'll never want/get Tanny's job, but they would probably wait 5 minutes before throwing away my resume, but not wait that long discarding yours.
