Five days into the free-agent signing period the Jets have acquired three new starters on defense. That’s what you call quick, aggressive work.
Now the Jets hope it all works out on the field in 2009.
With yesterday’s anticipated signing of free agent safety Jim Leonhard to a three-year contract, the Jets have now added two starters off Rex Ryan’s 2008 Ravens defense.
Linebacker Bart Scott, the other ex-Raven, was signed on Friday.
While Leonhard was agreeing to terms with the Jets yesterday, the Jets were introducing Lito Sheppard to reporters on a conference call.
Sheppard, the former Eagles cornerback, was signed over the weekend and is expected to start opposite Darrelle Revis.
Leonhard, an overachieving ball-hawking player who’s also valuable on special teams as a punt returner, is expected to supplant Abram Elam and start opposite Kerry Rhodes.
Leonhard, 5-foot-8 and 186 pounds, played in 16 games last season after taking over for the injured Dawan Landry. Leonhard started 13 and finished with 68 tackles and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown.
He was a star in the postseason, with 16 tackles, a half sack, one interception, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
“Jim Leonhard is a playmaker,” Scott, who actively recruited Leonhard to come to New York, told The Post. “He took advantage of his opportunity when Dawan Landry went down. He went from a guy that signed a waiver to practice to a sought-after free agent.”
Leonhard is a valuable special teams player who averaged 11.6 yards on punt returns last season and 12.8 yards in the postseason.
This could be key for the Jets, who want to take a load off of Leon Washington’s shoulders to allow them to incorporate him into the offense. Look for Leonhard to take over on punt returns for Washington, who will remain the kickoff returner.
“Obviously, to be reunited with Coach Ryan and (defensive coordinator Mike) Pettine on the defensive side of the ball is a great opportunity,” Leonhard said.
“I’ve liked Jim since his days at Wisconsin and was excited when we were able to bring him to Baltimore last season,” Ryan said. “He was everything I expected him to be in 2008, when he bailed us out at safety after we had some injuries. He’s a smart player that can get guys lined up in the secondary and was one of the best tacklers on that Ravens defense. He’s always around the ball, brings everything he has on every play and will be a great addition to our group of defensive backs.”
Sheppard, who fell out of favor in Philadelphia after issues with his contract and some injury problems, was supplanted in the starting lineup by Asante Samuel. Sheppard said yesterday he believes the change in scenery will rejuvenate his career.
The Jets, of course, would love to see him resurrect his career the way nose tackle Kris Jenkins did with them last season.
“That was one chapter in my book and I’m starting a new one,” Sheppard said. “The best thing for me, if I wanted to continue to play football, was to go elsewhere. Change is not always bad. Sometimes change can rejuvenate a player. If a player is not completely happy, it can affect his play, so the best thing for that player and the organization is to let the player go elsewhere.” The Jets also made official their re-signing of fullback Tony Richardson, a valuable blocker and classy locker room presence.