NFL

Non-tender means Wright can fly away from Jets

The Jets yesterday officially announced the tender offers they have doled out to their restricted free agents, leaving only one mild surprise.

Wallace Wright, one of the team’s best special-teams players and a backup receiver, wasn’t tendered at all, leaving him free to sign elsewhere, with the Jets getting no compensation.

As previously reported, running back Leon Washington and receiver Brad Smith were tendered second-round offers, which will pay them $1.759 million in 2010 unless they are signed by another team and the Jets don’t match.

Receiver Braylon Edwards, whom the Jets acquired in a trade with the Browns last season, was issued a first- and third-round tender offer, meaning he’ll make around $5 million in 2010.

Backup quarterback Kellen Clemens received an original-round tender offer (he was a second-round pick), but because the Jets used second-round tenders on Washington and Smith (both of whom were drafted in the fourth round), they would receive a third-round pick as compensation if another team signs Clemens. The quarterback will make $1.176 million in 2010.

The other players to whom the Jets issued tender offers included safety Eric Smith (third round, $1.176 million), tackle Wayne Hunter (third round, $1.176 million), cornerback Drew Coleman (sixth round, $1.176 million) and safety James Ihedigbo (undrafted, $1.101 million).

Aside from Wright, the other players not tendered were linebacker Marques Murrell and defensive tackle Howard Green.

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As expected, the Jets released cornerback Lito Sheppard, who was due a $10 million bonus and had lost his starting job late in the season.

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Two former Jets were released — receiver Laveranues Coles by the Bengals and tight end Chris Baker by the Patriots. Don’t look for either player to resurface with the Jets, though Baker, 30, is more of a possibility than the injury-prone Coles, 32.

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One situation worth monitoring is that of safety Antrel Rolle, who was released by the Cardinals. Reports out of Arizona say the Cardinals want to re-sign Rolle, who was due a $4 million roster bonus today, but the safety is free to sign anywhere.

If the Jets plan to trade Kerry Rhodes, who is due a $2 million bonus on March 12, they could make a run at Rolle, though he reportedly is seeking around $8 million a year.