Source: Jets to cut NT Po'uha
Jets defensive tackle Sione Pouha walks across the field during practice at the Atlantic Health Training Facility. (June 13, 2012) Credit: Joe Epstein
The Jets plan to part ways with nose tackle Sione Po’uha, according to a source, in advance of the 4 p.m. start of free agency.
Po’uha, a locker room favorite, had been nursing a back injury since the preseason and missed four games in 2012. He made 10 starts.
Po’uha – who signed a three-year, $15 million deal last March – was due a fully-guaranteed $4.9M base salary on March 15. Po'uha's cap number would have been $6.167 million, but the Jets save $3.8 million by cutting him now.
The money saved could also go towards keeping free-agent defensive tackle Mike DeVito, who has garnered a lot of attention in the open market.
Po'uha, who started 55 games during his seven-year Jet career, excelled at stopping the run. With DeVito's future uncertain, the Jets have backups Kenrick Ellis (who missed a chunk of time last year due to a knee injury), Damon "Snacks" Harrison and Tevita Finau, who is signed to a reserve/futures contract.
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