The 2009 NFL season is months away, but already the Jets have headaches.
Leon Washington, the Jets’ dynamic do-everything running back and kick returner, has joined fellow back Thomas Jones in a boycott of the team’s organized team activities (OTAs) over unhappiness with his contract.
Jones, who won the AFC rushing title last season and wants a new deal despite already cashing some $13 million of his four-year, $20 million deal in the first two years, has been missing from the Jets’ Florham Park facility since the offseason strength-and-conditioning program began in March.
But now that Washington, who’s been participating in the program until this week, has opted to stay away, Jets management has become agitated, according to two team insiders.
Team management, according to the insiders, is disillusioned with Washington.
Washington has one year remaining, worth $535,000.
He’s believed to be seeking the same kind of money a couple of similar players to him in the league are making — such as Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew, who signed a five-year, $32 million deal that includes $17.5 million in guarantees. Chargers running back Darren Sproles, another player comparable to Washington, signed a one-year, $6.621 million deal.
If the Jets wanted to, they could lay the hammer down with Washington since, under the current collective-bargaining agreement, he won’t even be an unrestricted free agent after this season; he’ll be restricted.
That leaves him with less bargaining power. Under the CBA, players cannot become unrestricted free agents until they’ve been in the league six seasons.
The Jets, however, aren’t inclined to be that hard-line, considering the way they’ve handled their other young stars — WR Jerricho Cotchery and S Kerry Rhodes — as they approached the final years of their respective first contracts.
Technically, neither Washington nor Jones is breaking any contractual obligations by not being in camp right now, since the OTAs are voluntary. However, all other players are participating.
The key dates to watch are June 9-11, when the Jets have their mandatory full-roster minicamp.