The Game of Risk: Leon Washington

It’s been about a month since the NFL season has officially ended.  Most of us have kept ourselves busy discussing free agents, trades, salaries, combine results, etc.  Many of these post season discussions have revolved around the news of Thomas Jones being released by the Jets this week.  In my opinion this is a huge move that can potentially disrupt the Jets ever potent running game.   What hasn’t been discussed enough however and commands more attention, regards our “other” star running back – Leon Washington.

Rich Cimini of the Daily News reported late last week that although it was not yet official,  Leon Washington, a restricted free agent, would be tendered at the 2^nd round level  ( $1.759 mil )

Let’s take a quick moment to review what this all mean.  Basically the Jets have until Thursday March 4^th  to make this tender official.  After that teams can sign Leon to an offer sheet and any of the following scenarios can occur:

1.        

           1.    If a team makes an unreasonable high offer:   

                The Jets decide not to match this offer and receive a 2^nd round pick in exchange for Leon

2.        2.    If a team makes a reasonable offer:

                The Jets decide to match the offer and keep Leon

3.        3.    If no offer sheets are presented:

                Jets keep Leon and pay him $1.8 million to play out the season

By tendering Leon at the second round level, the Jets have basically assured themselves that if they do end up losing him,  they will be compensated for it.  This move makes me believe that Tannenbaum does want to entertain offers.  If he really wanted Leon to stick around he would have tendered him at a first round level or at least a first & third.  No team would give up either of those picks for him and we’d be 100% positive Leon would be in a Jets uniform next year.

Most of Jets nation has found solace in the wake of Thomas Jones being released by banking on the fact that Leon will definitely be back next year.   Can you be so sure of that?

Many say that no team would be willing to give up a second round draft pick for a running back coming off a season ending injury.  Keep in mind though, Leon is ahead of his rehab schedule and in the world of sports medicine, it’s often easier to come back from a fracture as opposed to a ligament or tendon injury. 

The New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Kansas City Chiefs each have multiple second round draft picks.  There is a lack of running back talent in this year’s draft, and I have to believe that one of these teams would be willing to give up one of their picks for an explosive change-of-pace back like Leon.

For these reasons and more I worry that Tannenbaum is taking a big risk with this move.  The Jets led the league in rushing last season.  Say all you want about having a dominant defense,  this team would not have made it to the AFC Championship game without such a powerful ground and pound offense.

Is such a high risk worth disrupting the one strength our offense has?  The Jets could potentially be left with only Shonn Greene.  While I foresee Greene being a force to be reckoned with,  he hasn’t proven that he can carry the load for an entire season yet.

The Jets have a small window of opportunity to fill in some missing pieces and get the Championship we all know they are capable of.  The success of the team’s rushing attack is mainly due to the strength of our offensive line.  With Alan Faneca & Damien Woody getting older, the Jets may have only a few years left to capitalize on such a cohesive unit.  

March will no doubt be an exciting month with lots of potential moves to be made.  While I know the saying is true,  you don’t get anywhere in life without taking risks,  I can’t help but think that if something isn’t broke then why fix it?

I hope that I am wrong…..that this risk will pay off and we’ll see Leon Washington back stronger than ever returning the first kick-off in the new stadium next season.   

Hey Rex Hater....shut it!

A few weeks ago I was reading fellow Jets fan Jeff Capellini's (AKA The Green Lantern) sports blog.  If you haven't checked it out - I highly recommend you do.

In a nutshell,  it's a sports blog for sports fans...by sports fans.   Read about everything from the Islanders, Yankees, lacrosse  and even soccer all in one place.

The latest column was titled "Hey Rex - SHUT UP!".  I read it and couldn't help but laugh.  A great column written by a Giants fan on the reasons he hates our very own Rex Ryan.   

Knowing me,  I couldn't resist and not respond.  I immediately asked Jeff if he'd allow me to submit and post a response.  

Before you read below -  Take a moment to read the original Jets-hater column here first: 

"Hey Rex - SHUT UP" posted on The Green Lantern sports blog 

Hope you all enjoy my response below  (also at The Green Lantern Sports Blog):

When a Giants fan begins to advertise his or her hatred towards New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, there’s only one word that explains the justification:

jeal·ous 1. Fearful or wary of being supplanted; apprehensive of losing affection or position.

I’m sorry Giants fans, but it’s true. Jealousy is causing you to hate the primary reason the Jets found success this season. Ryan gives you nightmares. And as the definition states, you are afraid that for the first time your precious G-Men aren’t being talked about, and have lost the affection of football fans in New York.

I say be nervous. It's all happening right before your eyes.

Giants fans hate Ryan, but only because they wish they had a leader like him. Let’s be honest, Tom Coughlin is like your father; you’re always afraid to piss him off. Ryan is like your rebellious best friend, the guy your dad never wants you to hang around with.

Coaching is all about getting the most out of the talent you have on your team. It’s pretty obvious that Rex has clearly won that battle this year. Coughlin has a disciplined way about him, a style that can really wear on players. In large part, that's the reason why the Giants were non-competitive this season. They showed no fight. Coughlin, himself, admitted that his team suffered from a lack of leadership. If that’s the case, then as a Giants fan, you are complaining about the wrong coach.

Ryan is emotional and brash. He’s a breath of fresh air to an organization that has always had a losing mentality. He’s changing the Jets' culture as we speak. The players and fans are taking after their coach. The players believe in themselves as much as their coach always has, and look at the success that occurred as a result.

Rex does “talk a big game." It’s not bragging, it’s believing in your system and instilling confidence in your players. You say that “talk is cheap” and that Rex has to “win something to talk." Well, what more do you need to see? Have you not watched football since Week 17? The Jets were the team representing New York in the AFC Championship game while the Giants were at home perfecting their golf swing.

You can complain about his emotion and arrogance all you want. Giants fans should also be accused of being arrogant when they were 5-0 this season and predicting a SuperBowl win. Oh how quickly things change.

Stop acting like the Yankee fans of the 1980s. Poor us! Praise us for our past!

Your team lost this year and it was no one’s fault but their own. The Giants defense would be lucky to have someone like Rex to fire it up to play to its potential. The key to success for the Jets defense is that Ryan allows his players to be themselves. He’s a players' coach and his players want to win for him.

So yes, as a Giants fan you should be worried. You should hate Rex. He doesn’t care that the Giants have a more prestigious history. He made every Giants fan cringe when he suggested the new stadium be named “Jets Stadium."

The years of the Jets treating the Giants like a big brother have come to an end ... so deal with it. 

Still Just A Dream...

“I will survive.”

That was my motto Sunday. Win or lose, I promised myself I was going to walk away from the AFC Championship game with my head held high.

After watching the Jets lose, I stayed positive. I drank some more Kool-Aid and believed all the people saying to look forward to next year, that this team will be in the same spot again next season.

It all sounded great, and masked some of my wounds.

But …

Like a shot of cortisone, its effects wore off quickly. It’s the next day and I’m not feeling so happy after all.

The Jets have made me happier than ever this season. Like most fans, I have never been prouder to support this franchise. They have blown away my expectations and, yes, I am proud of their accomplishments.

But …

Despite these sentiments, the realist in me has taken over. I keep hearing over and over again to forget this loss, to be happy with their success, and look forward to a Super Bowl win next season.

Has Jets nation forgotten how difficult it is to get to this point in the season? Has everyone forgotten all the pieces that needed to fall into place to get us into the AFC Championship game?

I have been nothing but grateful for every win this season, every milestone met by this team. They are all moments that I have never taken for granted, because I know how infrequent they occur. If you know the NFL, you know that making it to the Super Bowl is not only about the talent on your team; at any given point matchups can be in your favor, things sometimes fall into place leaving some of the most talented teams sitting at home watching the playoffs continue.

I know this team is talented. The Jets deserved their spot in the playoffs and proved that to the world by beating the Chargers. I simply cannot forget how very close we were to saying goodbye to this team and this season a month ago.

This team does have a bright future. The hierarchy has constructed a roster that has the potential to go far for years.

But …

While all this is true, to say that the Jets will be in the same position next year just doesn’t make sense to me. There is simply no way to guarantee it.

As a Jets fan, above all things I’ve never felt excitement like I have this month. Do I cringe at the thought that it could be years before I feel that excitement again? Of course. Call me selfish or pessimistic, but winning felt so good I can get used to it. The problem is no one is assured anything in this world.

I’m excited about Mark Sanchez and the growth he’s shown this year. I know the return of Leon Washington and Kris Jenkins will only make this team better, and I couldn’t be happier to have a coach like Rex Ryan on my sideline.

But …

Isn’t that just stating the obvious?

What I really want is to be able to experience what was just 33 minutes away Sunday. I don’t want the feeling that the Jets owned New York for once to come to an end. I’m not okay with switching gears today to focus on the Yankees, as if their success makes this loss any easier. Maybe to some it does, but to me it’s no comparison.

It’s been a great ride, but I’m just frustrated it’s over. There’s no one to blame for the loss, and I wouldn’t even start to analyze the shoulda, woulda and couldas of the game because, like I said before, the Jets exceeded all expectations.

If you know me I’m a very honest person. I can’t pretend that knowing this team is talented is enough to make me go on smiling today. I’m looking forward to the draft and seeing what the off season brings. For now, I’m going to allow myself to be upset that my Miami trip is not happening.

The taste of victory became a drug to me. I had a little taste of it and now can’t seem to let it go.

I guess what I said at the start of the season still stands true … a girl can always dream.

Right?