Tony Richardson released, Clowney and Chauncey cut

Step on up John Conner. Your time is now, kid.

In a move that's stunning despite the subject being broached on Wednesday's episode of "Hard Knocks," the Jets have released veteran fullback Tony Richardson today. Richardson was signed as a free agent in 2008 and was an integral part of the Jets' rushing attack the past two seasons.

He helped pave the way for the Jets' top-ranked ground game last season, which stockpiled a franchise-best record and NFL-leading 2,756 yards, and averaged 172.3 yards per game. With Richardson gone -- though there's always the possibility he may be asked back after the completion of Week 1, when his veteran's minimum salary wouldn't be guaranteed -- that means Conner assumes the starting role.

Besides releasing Richardson, the Jets also waived WR David Clowney and RB Chauncey Washington. They completed their 53-man roster shuffling by signing OT Patrick Brown (Minnesota), DT Marcus Dixon (Dallas) and WR Patrick Turner (Miami).

“Each season, there are difficult choices when constructing the 53-man roster and this year is no exception," GM Mike Tannenbaum said. "We appreciate Tony’s contributions and leadership over the past two seasons and have nothing but the highest respect for him as a person and as a player.”

To understand just the type of person the classy Richardson is, he almost chuckled when talking to me one day during training camp in Cortland, after I asked him how difficult it is to basically be tutoring his successor.

"Well, I think that's the biggest thing about our league," Richardson told me. "From a leadership standpoint, you always want to pass it forward, and that’s going to better our game. Obviously from the fullback position, I was fortunate to be around some great fullbacks from a far. Me and Lorenzo Neal are really good friends, Sam Gash and those guys, you know just talking to them about the position when I was really trying to come into my own.

"I’ll be doing this league a disservice and obviously doing John a disservice if I can’t teach him the things that some people have taught me over the years. I’m going to go out and do my job, I’ve been competing since 1994. So that’s one thing I’m not afraid of is competition. And so just come out and bust your butt and work hard and obviously help the young guys, and that’s all my guys in my group.

"As the leader of that, anything I can do from a pass protection standpoint, run block, whatever it is, I’ve seen it from all different aspects.”

By sliding into Richardson's shoes, Conner, the rookie fifth-round, pick gives the Jets two new starters up front. Second-year pro Matt Slauson gets the nod at left guard, replacing another guy who was let go in an unpopular move -- Alan Faneca.

While Richardson's release wasn't expected, Clowney's dumping could be seen coming. The coaching staff kept waiting to see Clowney take that next step, but never saw much of an improvement from the fourth-year wide receiver with great speed. The staff wanted him to step into the special teams role that Wallace Wright flourished in the previous two seasons before leaving this past offseason and signing with the Panthers.

Clowney, who was trying to shed his preseason wonder label because he'd done so well in the previous two exhibition seasons, caught 15 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown in his days with the Jets.

His release came in part to make room for Turner, the USC product who dressed for only two games with the Dolphins his rookie season in 2009, both mostly as a special-teams player.

Brown, a 6-5, 310-pound tackle who was signed by Minnesota as an undrafted free agent in 2009, spent last season mostly on the Vikings’ practice squad.

The 6-4, 295-pound Dixon came into the league in 2008 as an undrafted free agent and spent his first two seasons on the Cowboys’ practice squad.