Is it possible that Thomas Jones isn’t finished with the Jets after all?
Though the Jets told Jones earlier this week they were going to release him today rather than pay him the $3 million roster bonus he was scheduled to earn, a report surfaced yesterday that said they were interested in re-signing Jones after he was released.
Though the Jets would not comment about the possibility of Jones remaining with the team, a source familiar with the Jets’ thinking told The Post that likelihood is remote, though the door was not completely closed.
Should the Jets choose to bring Jones back, there is a precedent for this kind of maneuver.
A year ago, the Jets released guard Brandon Moore, then re-signed him to a new contract one day later.
Not wanting to pay Moore a $7 million roster bonus, the Jets let him go and tried to sign Steelers guard Chris Kemoeatu. But Kemoeatu re-signed with Pittsburgh and the Jets quickly brought Moore back with a four-year, $16 million deal with $10 million guaranteed.
The Jets, too, had hoped to re-sign receiver Laveranues Coles last year, but the Bengals quickly signed him to a huge $28 million deal with $9 million guaranteed. The Bengals released Coles yesterday.
It makes sense for the Jets to do anything they can to retain Jones for a number of reasons.
* Shonn Greene remains somewhat unproven, having not played a full NFL season despite how well he punctuated his rookie year with a big postseason performance.
* Leon Washington is coming off the compound fracture of his right leg and no one knows whether he will return to his Pro Bowl form.
* Jones is hugely popular in the locker room and word of his release has had teammates grumbling. One of the hardest-working players on the team, Jones not only was a critical mentor to Greene in his rookie season, but also took quarterback Mark Sanchez under his wing.