Kansas City signed running back Thomas Jones to a two-year deal worth $5 million. That's not a bad signing for the Chiefs, he has been an extremely consistent back for a long time now, and pretty much guarantees 1,200 yards. I think that he will be a perfect fit in KC and Jamaal Charles will be a great 1,2 punch. I really thought he was going to be a Patriots, but he went to the Patriots B squad.
If Jones can have a good year, and if Matt Cassel can build off the late season chemistry he had with Chris Chambers, they could be a surprise team.
The Jets are looking to cut Thomas Jones this week. Jones was due a $3 million roster bonus on top of a $2.8 million base salary this season. He and the Jets failed to reach a compromise on restructuring his contract; the team wanted him to take a pay cut. The 31-year-old is coming off a season in which he set career highs by rushing for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Jones is a little bit of an anomaly. Nobody respects him, but he is damned good. my early prediction is the Patriots because Bob hates him. You have to understand the Jets side of it too, because Shonne Greene is ready to go, and I think Leon Washington is coming back. If anyone wants a quick fix at RB this is the year as Thomas Jones, Ladainian Tomlinson, Darren Sproles and Jamal Lewis are all free agents.
"Michael Lombardi of the National Football Post has heard "talk" that Thomas Jones could be back on the trading block, depending on what the Jets see out of draftee Shonn Greene through this offseason. In mid-May, Lombardi suggested that if he ran the Seattle Seahawks, he'd be on the phone this offseason to the Jets about a trade for Jones. The Cleveland Browns have also been linked to trade rumors regarding Jones, with Braylon Edwards as the bait to land the veteran ball carrier (ESPN)."
I hate the Jets, but this is a good idea by them. I think Thomas Jones is overrated and the Jets have a lot of good RBs (Washington/Greene). What they could really use is a play making WR, but I think the Jets are going to be a year away from being a playoff team. Sanchez is going to need time to grow, and I don't believe in any of their other QBs. If they could get a player like Edwards it could really help Sanchez grow as a QB, but draft picks could also help the team in the long run.
"Two of the New York Jets' top running backs -- Leon Washington and Thomas Jones -- are reportedly unhappy with their contracts and are skipping offseason workouts (ESPN)."
To be honest I think both these RBs are overrated. Thomas needs to shut up, he has been one of the most over paid RBs, and now he is just pissed off because he took all the money up front instead of having it spread throughout his contract (which is smart). Now he is getting near the end, and it has decreased a lot, but he had to know that this was coming. I assume he read his own contract, but who knows. Washington on the other hand has somewhat of a point. He is only scheduled to make $535,000 next year. The Jets came out and tried to give him a new contract, but whatever they offered Washington found "insulting". Anyways, the Jets are going to need a strong running game no matter who they have at QB, and this is not a good sign for them entering the 2009 season...
After their loss to Miami last week ProBowl back Thomas Jones spoke out about his feelings towards Brett Favre and his performance in the game. I love it when athletes come out and say things like this so candidly. Right or wrong we will discuss, but the act alone is much appreciated by this DC writer. While the 'mature' thing to do may have been to go to Favre himself face to face and discuss such things, but he didnt so now we all get enjoy.
Here's where i stand on issues like this. During the course of the season, if drama peeks its head up amongst teammates, it should remain in house. For example, the Cowboys couldn't contain their issues to the environment of the looker room, and the next thing you know they get blown out in the most important game of the year.
but this is a different situation. Jones and the rest of the jets (excluding Favre) actually have a very good team. They should be in the playoff, and since they didnt make it i know some of those people on the team are not satisfied. The game againstmiami was given away by Favre. The Wildcat offense was there, but Favre threw 3 picks and simply didnt look like an affective quarterback.
I like that jones came out with this statement because its the end of their season. hes not messing up looker room moral, hes talking publicly to force favre to consider whether or not coming back another year is really whats best for the jets, and for him.
Counterpoint though..... Last year jones only had 2 rushing TDs under Pennington. This year hes rushed for 13 TDs AND makin The Probowl with Favre as his quarterback.
All in all Jones is most likely worried about the New York Jets. They need a quarterback that they can rally believe in and one that doesnt have a generational gap between himself and the rest of the squad. Even though Jones spoke up about this, i know theres more players on the Jets that feel exaclty the same way he does.
