Sheldon Richardson remains a Jet as NFL trade deadline passes
New York Jets lineman Sheldon Richardson celebrates after sacking Chiefs' Alex Smith at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sept. 25, 2016. Credit: AP / Ed Zurga
The trade deadline has come and gone, and Sheldon Richardson is still a Jet.
The organization reportedly was “actively shopping” the versatile defensive lineman as Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline drew near. But the Jets didn’t pull the trigger on a swap. According to ESPN, they called the Cowboys, who have pass-rushing needs. But Richardson’s price tag may have been too steep for owner Jerry Jones.
The 2013 Defensive Rookie of the Year and 2014 Pro Bowl alternate is due to make a little more than $8 million in 2017 after the Jets picked up his fifth-year option in May. After that, Richardson will be seeking a big-money payday like linemate Muhammad Wilkerson, whom the Jets signed to a five-year, $86-million extension in July after failing to pull off an offseason trade.
A league source confirmed to Newsday on Sunday evening that Richardson’s name was being circulated but cautioned that the Jets wouldn’t get their asking price because “he is a two-strike guy.” Richardson, 25, was suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy and missed the Week 1 game against the Bengals this season because he violated the NFL’s personal-conduct policy stemming from a July 2015 arrest for speeding in suburban St. Louis.
After the Jets’ 31-28 win over the Browns on Sunday, Richardson told Newsday that he first heard he was being shopped via a text message from a friend that morning.
“It’s big business. That’s what it is,” the former first-round pick said. “We’ve got a surplus of defensive linemen that are capable of being starters. And they drafted Leo (Leonard Williams), paid Mo . . . So we’ll see.
“I can’t let myself think about it,” he added as he left the visitors’ locker room at FirstEnergy Stadium. “It is what it is. I’m here on paper until Tuesday. I’m still here. So we’ll see.”
Jets claim RB Davis. The Jets did pull off one move, claiming running back Knile Davis. Green Bay released him Monday, only two weeks after acquiring him from Kansas City. He has six carries for 3 yards and four receptions for 18 yards in six games this season. Running back Troymaine Pope was waived to make room on the roster for Davis. The Jets also signed tackle Jesse Davis and receiver Myles White to the practice squad and cut center Kyle Friend and linebacker Reshard Cliett.
