Jets to let Jones go

**centennialdawg** · March 2nd, 2010, 01:50 PM

According to some Redskins blogs, they will be looking for a running back because Portis has stayed injured for most of the last season and nobody believes he will be able to fully recover. A well seasoned, experienced and healthy running back like Jones would be a perfect fit for them.

**sup-rbeast** · March 2nd, 2010, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by centennialdawg

According to some Redskins blogs, they will be looking for a running back because Portis has stayed injured for most of the last season and nobody believes he will be able to fully recover. A well seasoned, experienced and healthy running back like Jones would be a perfect fit for them.

If they don't put together a line, the RB won't matter. The only things Shannahan needs to be successful is a good offensive line and a QB that can manage a game. All the other parts to his offense are expendable.

**sup-rbeast** · March 2nd, 2010, 02:13 PM

Here's the ESPN article... New York Jets to release Thomas Jones, team's leading rusher, this week - ESPN
Going back to the HOF possibility for TJ, I think he'll get in eventually. Right now he's 28th on the all time rushing list, and less than 200 yards behind Earl Campbell who is 25th. TJ has averaged 922 yards and 6 TD over his entire career. If he just does that over 3 more seasons he'll rank anywhere from 11th to 13th all time rushing. If he did it for 5 more years, he'd wind his career up 5th all time. IMO, I think he'll be inside the top 10 all time rushers when he retires

**Biggin** · March 2nd, 2010, 04:02 PM

i doubt SD. they just released an old back, and they didnt even tender Sproles, who knows what they are doing.

Cleveland is the best bet, it sucks but I bet thats where he lands

**sup-rbeast** · March 2nd, 2010, 04:32 PM

I think the SD rumor is prolly where he ends up myself. He posted some pretty good numbers vs. AFC West teams this past year..

**1inStripes** · March 2nd, 2010, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by Biggin

i doubt SD. they just released an old back, and they didnt even tender Sproles, who knows what they are doing.

Cleveland is the best bet, it sucks but I bet thats where he lands

The difference is TJ is an older back who has been productive 16 games a year the past few seasons that they might land cheaper than holding onto LT. It wouldn't surprise me if he landed there.

**Biggin** · March 2nd, 2010, 06:33 PM

they didnt even offer Sproles a tender offer, why would they pay more for an older, less explosive, playmaker?

LT for years was the best RB in the league, and put SD in the map. i just dont see them letting him go only to sign a back older than him.

**1inStripes** · March 2nd, 2010, 06:48 PM

Sproles would have commanded about 8 mil from them if I am not mistaken. They may be able to land TJ for 6. Plus their savings of cutting LT and drafting a new TB saves $$$.

**Biggin** · March 2nd, 2010, 07:03 PM

I think they will just draft a RB (ben tate? ryan matthews?), and sign a mediocre RB for cheap.

I think TJ ends up in Cleveland or New England, if NE isnt drafting one

**Diets17** · March 3rd, 2010, 11:13 PM

I dont really see Jones getting better than a 2 to 3 year deal worth no more than 3.5 million a year. Toward the end of last season he started to slow down quite a bit, maybe due to nagging injuries throughout the year.

I honestly think the Pats is where I'd want to be. You got Brady, good Wide Recievers that will keep a defense honest. Jones could really find some room to run there IMO. Even though the Jets have a great offensive line, their passing game still got no respect so it was easier to key in on TJ. Plus the fact that the Jets offense was terribly predictable, everytime Jones carried the ball I saw it coming when they were lined up.

I'll reserve my opinion for next season whether or not TJ will have a chance at winding up in the HOF. If he can go over 1200 again then and has the desire to play til he is 35 then he will no doubt break into the top 10 all time. Right now he's probably right up there with the "30 and over" all time record.

What hurts him with modern day running backs is that he really hasn't scored a lot of TD's in his career or had a lot of total yards. If somehow he can get to 90, or over 100 Td's he will get in. I seriously doubt that happens though. He's gotta get like 30 or 40 more. A ring would help more than anything. And the most underrated back ever was probably Curtis Martin. Though TJ last 5 years would put him right behind Martin IMO.

Anyone looks at the stats for the last 5 or 6 years and compare them to overall NFL leaders? I'd say TJ has to be the leading rusher for that timeframe or very close with LT.