I’m with Bob
-
- May
- 29
Bob Glauber wrote a solid column for Newsday today about Thomas Jones and his contract with the Jets. The running back is slotted to make $900,000 in base pay this year. That would be for me like winning the lottery, but Jones will be looking for another line of work in five years or so and his production has earned him more compensation than that.
Last year the running game was solid. This season Rex Ryan wants to run the ball. Those are strong enough reasons to try to get deals with Jones and Leon Washington done.
I gave my take on Thomas Jones way back on April 18. Rather than tell you what a genius I am, I will merely give an excerpt of that post.
“(Mike) Tannenbaum was asked about Jones and made the ridiculous argument that he was happy with the running backs here, including Jehuu Caulcrick, Marcus Mason and Danny Woodhead. No disrespect to those guys, but Jets coach Rex Ryan wants to run the ball, and they are unproven in the day-to-day role.
The last two seasons, the Jets have had holdouts in C Pete Kendall and TE Chris Baker. The first time, losing Kendall contributed to a blown season. Last year the Jets came to terms with Baker but only after so much ill will had built up that Baker felt pretty alienated even though he was frequently used. He went to the Patriots soon after the last game of the year.
The Jets should avoid that with Jones.
Making the laughable argument that he is a replaceable cog in the Jets machine just makes all the other statements Tannenbaum makes ring hollow. Mason, huh? And I see you claim to like the in-house quarterbacks, too.
(Translation: Watch for Mark Sanchez in the first round.)”
p.s. Mason was cut the week after the draft.
This entry was posted
on Friday, May 29th, 2009 at 11:38 am by Jane McManus.
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Jane McManus 
I agree, it would be great to keep him happy but I don’t think what jones did last year was that crazy good to deserve a raise! He’s making $900k this year because he got a big bulk of his salary in the first two years..the first year he didnt even have a rushing TD (if memory serves me correctly!). Overall he’s been a solid player the last two years, but I can’t see breaking the bank, or extending his deal..
I think you’re right about Jones being an irreplaceable part of the team, at least for next season. Greene is an unproven 3rd rounder, and Washington is a(n amazing) change-of-pace guy who would struggle in an every down situation. And the passing game is going to be the weak link of the team, with Ryan choosing from one of two unproven quarterbacks, and a WR core of Crotchery (a great #2) and a bunch of slot receivers. So Jones will be a huge part of the offense.
That being said, I don’t think Tennanbaum should renogtiate. He’s not making .9M, he’s making 5M for four years. Any complaint he makes that references his base salary this year should ring hollow. Now, who is technically right might not matter if it means Jones won’t play unless a new contract is negotiated. But I don’t think this will happen. Jones did rejoin the Jets, and many months before the season started. This proves that, whether Jones realizes he’s really making 5M or not (or maybe he doesn’t think 5M is enough?), he’s willing to play. He’s signed, let’s make him play.
However, after reading the article you posted, I can see why just giving him his roster bonus upfront would be ok. Just no new contracts or new money – that defeats the purpose of front-loading a deal.
Also, what precendent was Glauber referring to about Coles?
BG may have a solution here, but I think Jones has to give a little here. Take the 3 million due in March, discount it 50%, giving Jones a 1.5 Roster bonus + 900,000 in salary giving him a total compensation of 2.4 for 2009. For 2010 TJ foregoes his roster bonus and plays for straight salary as per his current contract at 2.8 for 2010.
This is a Win/Win. Jones gets more money this year, part of a bonus that he was never going to see. The Jets save 1.5 on the overall contract, get a good RB for two years.
The only downside for the Jets is that because 2010 is an uncapped year, they have to eat the whole 1.5 against this years cap, which means that this deal doesn’t get done until at least September.
The Jets won’t redo Jones’s deal…They will however rework Washington’s deal. And, they’ll both end up playing.
We all hava a boss. Tannenbaum has shown his ability to obtain Big Time Free Agents, he has shown that he can minipulate and deal in the draft, he signs his draftee’s relatively quickly, he manages the CAP with dexterity. The question is can he save Woody some money. The Tight End drama, is about bucks, it is easy to keep Chris Baker on at 3million a year, but if Martez Milner can do relatively the same job at 400,000 its a win for the Cap, its a win for Woody, its a win for the Jets.
Advancing Jones 3 million, of your Boss’s money , puts your own job at risk. What’s the justification, Tommy’s sad ?
I think I could go into my Boss, showing some overall cost savings, show that Jones is a team player, rushing title 1300 yards, protection of Sanchez investment, yada, yada…
A GM has priorities, draftee’s to be signed, Leon, possibly Mangold and then maybe Thomas Jones. As I previously posted, looking to compromise. 1.5 this year and forego the bonus of 3mm next year, Win/Win…