Brandon Moore was released by the Jets around this time last year because management didn’t want to pay a roster bonus, so he knows exactly what’s going through the mind of running back Thomas Jones right now.
With the March 5 start of the NFL’s 2010 calendar year fast approaching and Jones due a $3 million roster bonus, there’s been rampant speculation the Jets want the 31-year-old running back to take a pay cut to remain on the team.
That’s a harsh reality of the business considering Jones won the AFC rushing title in 2008 and ran for 1,402 in 2009.
Moore, who was re-signed by the Jets days after being released, is one of many players on the team — which led the NFL in rushing offense in 2009 — who doesn’t want to tinker with a good thing.
“You don’t want to mess with that success you’ve had, with that team chemistry we’ve had,” Moore said. “I’d love to have ‘T.J.’ back. Besides the obvious yards he’s had for us, he brings a lot to us in terms of leadership and passion. Those things are priceless on a team.
“It’s disheartening,” Moore said of the prospect of not having Jones in 2010. “I’ve been through it. I went through it last year. But you accept it as a player; you learn it as part of the business. As cold-hearted as it sounds they’re still going to line up when training camp starts no matter who’s on the roster.
“If you lose [what Jones brings] you have to have people take up that slack. You’d love to see him back, but you understand it’s a business and you move forward.”