Stalemate continues as Jones, Washington skip Jets OTAs
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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - The stalemate between the Jets and their two unhappy running backs still hasn't been resolved, but Rex Ryan is confident that Leon Washington and Thomas Jones will be around when the Jets kick off their mandatory minicamp next month.
The Jets' new coach doesn't think the situation will stay unresolved for a lengthy period of time and said he's sure both will be with the team come the Sept. 13 season opener.
So even though Washington and Jones are skipping the organized team activities because of contract squabbles, Ryan said he anticipates that the disgruntled running backs will participate in the June 9-11 camp. They'll be looking at stiff fines if they don't.
"Yeah, because that word mandatory - to me, I'm not the smartest guy, but I think you should be here when it's mandatory," Ryan said after the Jets wrapped up OTAs Thursday afternoon. "But no, I would expect him to be here. I expect Thomas to be here as well."
Washington, who's entering the final year of a rookie contract that will pay him a base salary of $535,000, has talked openly about wanting a new contract but also said he planned on being around for all the workouts. He did an abrupt about-face not long after switching agents, going with Alvin Keels instead of his original representative, Alan Herman.
"We all understand that this is a voluntary camp and all that stuff," Ryan said. "Would I like him to be here? Absolutely. No question I would like for Leon to be here and Thomas. But he chose not to be here and that's unfortunate."
Ryan said he's a little surprised that Washington changed his tune and elected not to show up. "I was disappointed, but again, it's voluntary camp and things like this come up every year on every team," he said. "Leon is a great guy, and who knows where he's getting advice from or whatever. You know, voluntary camp.''
Jones is looking to renegotiate the contract he signed after being traded to the Jets by the Bears. Jones already has collected $13 million of that contract and is due a base salary of $900,000 this season and $6 million total in 2010. He led the AFC in rushing with 1,312 yards and also rushed for 13 touchdowns. He hasn't participated in any of the team's offseason activities since March.
Ryan isn't ready to sound the alarm just yet. "These are voluntary camps," he said. "Thomas Jones is not the only veteran player that's having whatever issues . . . I haven't heard anything. He's not here and that's unfortunate. But I look forward to seeing him when we have our mandatory camp. I really do."
Rookie Shonn Greene, the Jets' third-round pick and Jones' probable successor, likely won't sign until shortly before training camp. So that means Danny Woodhead, a second-year player from Division II Chadron State, is getting most of the work in the absence of Jones and Washington.
"Obviously, we'd love them here because those guys are key cogs in the whole offense," right tackle Damien Woody said. "But you've got to deal with the guys who are here. All that other stuff, it will all settle itself out."
