Mike Tannenbaum spoke as if Leon Washington would be a key player for the Jets, but the GM would not completely rule out a trade.
“You never know what happens if the phone would ring,” Tannenbaum said, according to NJ.com. “But our expectation is he will certainly be here.”
Washington expects the same. His agent said the running back signed his contract tender to play with the Jets, not so he can be traded to another team.
Alvin Keels used his Twitter page to say, “No trade talk at all on Leon. He is a Jet and is signing his tender to remain a Jet.”
Washington signed his tender contract offer Thursday and said he hopes to be recovered from a broken right leg in time for training camp, according to The Associated Press.
CANNIZZARO: LEON BACK WHERE HE BELONGS
A player who signs his tender can be traded by his team, as the Broncos did sending wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the Dolphins for two picks (which were lower than his tender compensation would have been).
Washington was rumored to be part of the trade for Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes, but the Jets parted only with a fifth-round pick in next week’s NFL Draft.
Washington, a fourth-round pick in 2006, received a second-round tender last month worth $1.759 million.
The former Pro Bowl kick returner suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula at Oakland on Oct. 25, and missed the rest of the season. He has been working out in Pensacola, Fla., since being tendered.
Washington, 27, said Thursday he will continue his rehabilitation at the team’s facility. He has been running for three weeks and says the leg is “feeling pretty good.”
“He’s running and progressing well in rehab,” Keels wrote. “He’s been working extremely hard and will rejoin the team to complete the final stages of rehab.”
With AP