The Jets announced today that they will cut running back Thomas Jones on March 5. Jones was due a little over $5 million this season and apparently the Jets think that price tag is too much for an RB that had 331 carries and rushed for 1,402 yards and 14 TDs last season.
I think this is a bad move for the Jets. While Thomas Jones is 32 years old, creating concerns about his durability and health, Jones has shown he can be a productive running back at his age. Jones did not play much over his first four years in the NFL, leaving him with less wear and tear on his body than LaDanian Tomlinson or Brian Westbrook. Jones is also known as a quality character guy and locker room leader, who Rex Ryan has called “one of his guys.” The Jets are obviously a run first team, who depend on the run to set up play action for Mark Sanchez. Without Jones the Jets have to rely on 2nd year RB Shonn Greene, who was the change of pace back last year, and Leon Washington a game breaker who is coming off missing the entire 2009 season because of injury. The Jets are basically relying on two guys who haven’t had to carry an offense in their careers to shoulder the offense unless Sanchez makes a big improvement in his sophomore season. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, Thomas Jones’s $5 million price tag doesn’t seem like too much to pay for a workhorse back.
So where does Jones go from here? He immediately becomes the most desirable free agent back on the market. A number of teams with running back issues, ranging from Houston to San Diego to Cleveland to Detroit will come knocking for Jones. I don’t think it will take Jones long to sign with another team. Despite his age, Jones has been a thousand yard rusher the last 4 seasons and his leadership and workhorse style will be in demand. The Jets will miss that next season and are taking a big risk putting their offensive attack in the hands of two young players.
