While a number of big-ticket free agents were secured for massive amounts of money in the opening hours of free agency, the Jets have been rather quiet – publicly, that is.
While the Patriots sent shock waves throughout the AFC East with their blockbuster signing of former Ravens LB Adalius Thomas, the Jets have been working quietly under the radar in an effort to find life after Curtis Martin and bolster their sagging rushing attack.
You can bet your home or first-born child that the Jets will not enter the 2007 season with Leon Washington and Cedric Houston as their two-headed rushing attack.
Who’ll play alongside Washington is something the Jets are beginning to formulate.
According to two NFL sources, the Jets have begun talks with the agents for Ahman Green from the Packers, Dominic Rhodes from the Super Bowl-champion Colts, both Chris Brown and Travis Henry from the Titans and T.J. Duckett from the Redskins.
It’s believed they, too, have some interest in a possible trade for Ladell Butts from the Redskins. And, they’re also keeping a close eye on what happens with Willis McGahee, who wants out of Buffalo. The Giants appear to be going after McGahee the hardest, and it’s unlikely the Bills would trade him within the division.
Another interesting possibility for the Jets, who averaged only 3.5-yards per carry as a team last season, is Thomas Jones, who wants out of Chicago with Cedric Benson poised to get the bulk of the carries.
Former Patriots RB Corey Dillon, whose agent Steven Feldman has stated publicly that Dillon would love to play for the Jets and be a complement to Washington, remains on the radar.
“Depending on what happens with McGahee, a lot of dominos have to fall before the running-back market starts to shake out,” one prominent NFL agent who represents one of the backs the Jets are interested in told The Post yesterday.
Perhaps the most unlikely of the above-mentioned backs to land with the Jets is Henry, who’s not only one strike away from a year suspension in the NFL’s substance-abuse program but, according to one league source, is asking for some $12M in guaranteed money.
The Titans released Henry yesterday after negotiations failed to rework a contract that contained an $8.3 million bonus due tomorrow. He was flying to Denver to talk with the Broncos, but the Titans remained hopeful that they can lure him back.