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Jets GM on Jones, Cromartie, Rhodes, Sanchez, Washington

March 12, 2010 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum appeared on WFAN this morning to talk about a variety of topics.Here's some of what he had to say:On Thomas Jones:Tannenbaum would not confirm reports that the Jets were given... Read on

Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum appeared on WFAN this morning to talk about a variety of topics.
	 
Here's some of
	 what he had to say:
	 
On Thomas Jones:
	 
Tannenbaum would not confirm reports that the Jets were given a chance to match the offer Thomas Jones received from the Chiefs, but he did not deny it, either.
	 
Jones was released by the Jets rather than paying him $5.8 million to stay, a choice that upset some players and fans heading into a season without a salary cap.
	 
"It was really a hard decision for Woody (Johnson), Rex (Ryan) and I because he meant so much to our program," Tannenbaum said. "In this job sometimes you have to make the hard decisions and that certainly was one of the tougher ones
	 
"Even without a cap we still have budgets. ... Economics played a part in it but it was not the only part in the decision. Once we made it we had to move forward and we turn to the next option."
	 
That option right now is free agent LaDainian Tomlinson,
	 who is visiting the Jets today.
	 
On Antonio Cromartie:
	 
Host Boomer Esiason asked Tannenbaum how the Jets felt comfortable with the cornerback's off-field issues.
	 
"This is more a referendum about what we feel about our organization; we feel great about our resources here and we're gonna work with Antonio to give him the best chance to be successful," Tannenbaum said.
	 
"Look, a guy at his age, with his production and athleticism, shouldn't be available, we all realize that, so we understand that there are issues we are dealing with, but we felt the risk was well worth it.
	 
"We can get him to maximize his ability, and if he can, he can be a very productive player for us."
	 
On Kerry Rhodes:
	 
Tannenbaum said he did expect Rhodes to be back with the Jets, but the Cardinals started pursuing him after they lost safety Antrel Rolle to the Giants.
	 
"I think the Antrel Rolle signing with the Giants really was the impetus to get that transaction going," Tannenbaum said. "That one transaction will turn into two or three players for us."
	 
On Brodney Pool:
	 
One of those players is safety Pool, whom the Jets signed away from the Browns. Tannenbaum was asked if he was worried about Pool's history of concussions.
	 
"We're really comfortable with his medical situation," the GM said. "I think he'll be more of a significant signing than people realize come the fall."
	 
On Mark Sanchez:
	 
The quarterback is recovering from knee surgery that could limit his participation in offseason workouts.
	 
"He's here four hours in the morning rehabbing, four hours in the afternoon with the offensive coaches," Tannenbaum said. "When and how much he'll do in our offseason is still to be determined, but he's really working hard."
	 
On Leon Washington:
	 
Tannenbaum said Washington is rehabbing from a broken leg suffered last season but did not address the running back's free agent prospects or contract status.
	 
Tannenbaum sounded like Washington was still and would continue to be part of the team.
	 
"I would never bet against Leon, and we expect him to be 100 percent by the preseason," Tannenbaum said.

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Report: Jets all-out to get Tomlinson to sign today

March 12, 2010 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

Free agent running back LaDainian Tomlinson is at the Jets training facility for a visit, and the team is doing all it can to get his name on a contract before he leaves."For that to ever turn into a... Read on

Free agent running back LaDainian Tomlinson is at the Jets training facility for a visit, and the team is doing all it can to get his name on a contract before he leaves.
	 
"For that to ever turn into a signing, it's gonna have to be if everything lines up with him, us, economics, medical, role," GM Mike Tannenbaum
	 said this morning on WFAN.
	 
"I think he would bring great leadership to our organization, but we'll see how it goes today."
	 
Fanhouse.com reportsthe Jets are willing to give Tomlinson the same two-year, $5 million deal the Chiefs gave Thomas Jones, who could not get that offer from the Jets.
	 
"(The Jets) may be willing to move upwards to $3.5 million a year for Tomlinson in a contract loaded with incentives," the rport says.
	 
The report says "Tomlinson has already told the Jets that he wants to think things over, travel back home to visit with his wife, LaTorsha, and pray over all options."
	 
But the Jets are trying to avoid that.
	 
"We want this guy, and when we want a player, we typically go get the player,'' a Jets source told Fanhouse. "We have every intention to get him signed before he leaves.''
	 
Fanhouse reports several details on Tomlinson's visit, including a gift basket for his first child (expected this summer) and dinner at Trump National Golf Club.
	 
Tannenbaum said Tomlinson is familiar with the Jets' system having worked with offensive coordinator Brain Schottenheimer when he was an assistant in San Diego.
	 
"He would give us that change of pace back after you pound it and pound it with Shonn," the Jets source told Fanhouse writer Thomas George. "If LaDainian stays healthy, you put him in some of the same situations our other backs were in last year with this offensive line and you will see even bigger production."
	 
JETS GM ON JONES, SANCHEZ
	 
Shonn Greene likely is the Jets' starter, but with Thomas Jones gone and Leon Washington possibly leaving, it seems Tomlinson's role could be bigger with the Jets.
	 
"We have Shonn and Leon, and we will add somebody else to the mix," Tannenbaum said. "That's a position that we feel we need depth."
	 
Tomlinson
	 visited the Vikings yesterday and left Minnesota without a contract. Vikings coach Brad Childress didn't sound worried about Tomlinson's visit with the Jets.
	 
Speaking on a Twin Cities radio station, Childress hinted that Tomlinson simply may be trying to create a bidding war for his services.
	 
"I think that a lot of times when you only have one person involved the agents don’t like that game and a lot of time they take them and -- what shall I say? -- create the atmosphere that there’s want somewhere else," Childress said on KFAN radio,
	 according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "And there may be, in fact, want somewhere else. But something to drive the deal."
	 
Childress seemed confident Tomlinson's visit with the Vikings on Thursday would be enough to get him to sing with Minnesota, despite Friday's visit with the Jets, and rumored stops in Philadelphia and New Orleans to come.
	 
"He gave [the Jets his word he would visit] and he is a man of his word and it wasn’t like I was going to throw myself down in front of the road," Childress said. "He was kind of fact finding. He's going to go back home and speak to his wife in San Diego and then we’ll figure it out from there.”
	 
With Adrian Peterson clearly the Vikings' starter, Childress pitched a big role for Tomlinson.
	 
“I really look at it as a guy that if we were fortunate enough to get him you would have a 1 and 1A," Childress said. "He understands that dynamic."
	 
And each team reached its conference championship game last season, so a priority for a winning team should not decide the issue.
	 
"I know he wants to win a championship and that factors heavily into his decision," the Jets source told Fanhouse. "We think we can accomplish that together.''

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Report: LB Alston visits Jets

March 11, 2010 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

Raiders free agent linebacker Jon Alston visited the Jets on Thursday, according to NJ.com. He was limited to nine games last season by a concussion, and likely would be a backup and special teams... Read on

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Report: Jets could have matched Jones' offer from Chiefs

March 11, 2010 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

The Jets were given a chance to match the deal Thomas Jones signed with the Chiefs, according to ProFootballTalk.com.While analyzing what it would take to bring LaDainian Tomlinson to New York, the... Read on

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Report: LT on way to visit Jets

March 11, 2010 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

LaDainian Tomlinson has left the Minnesota Vikings facility without a deal in place and is on his way to New York to visit the Jets. A person with knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated... Read on

LaDainian Tomlinson has left the Minnesota Vikings facility without a deal in place and is on his way to New York to visit the Jets.
	 
A person with knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated Press that the star running back spent several hours at Vikings headquarters Thursday, but did not reach agreement on a contract. The person requested anonymity because negotiations were ongoing.
	 
Tomlinson emerged from the meetings shortly after 6 p.m. clutching a purple Vikings jersey. But the former Chargers star did not comment before pulling away in a black limousine.
	 
Vikings coach Brad Childress
	 told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that Tomlinson, "Had a good visit here. Promised the Jets he'd get on the plane. He's a man of his word."
	 
SI.com writer Jim Trotter
	 used his Twitter page to say, "If the Jets really want Tomlinson they'll have to bring it. Vikes really wowed him. Said he could see himself playing there."
	 
Trotter also wrote, "Says he hasn't been recruited since high school and wants to see what teams have to say.
	 
"Has tentative visits elsewhere next week but ... he might make up his mind on a team this weekend."
	 
Both the Vikings and the Jets lost this season in a conference championship game, one win short of the Super Bowl.
	 
"He'd like to play on a team that has a chance to win a championship, where he has an identified role," his agent, Tom Condon, told the Pioneer Press, "and, also, he'd like to think he has got some reasonable chance to be productive."
	 
The Vikings were not going to sign Tomlinson to keep him from visiting the Jets,
	 according to the Pioneer Press.
	 
"There's no pressure to say, hey, we have to get it done today," team VP Rick Spielman said on a Twin Cities radio station.
	 
The Jets released Thomas Jones (
	 who signed with the Chiefs this week) and could lose free agent Leon Washington.
	 
Shonn Greene enters the season as the Jets' likely starter and featured back.
	 
Tomlinson, 30, reportedly
	 told the Minneapolis Star Tribune he'd accept a reduced role with the Vikings, who have starter Adrian Peterson.
	 
"I don't [have a problem with it]. I know I can catch the ball really well out of the backfield, can run routes and that's something that I've always looked for as I got older in my career. Being able to fall back on that. Not having to carry the ball as much," Tomlinson told the newspaper.
	 
Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was quarterbacks coach in San Diego from 2002-05, when Tomlinson was at his peak.
	 
With AP

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Report: Sharper likes what Jets are doing

March 11, 2010 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

Free agent safety Darren Sharper sure sounds like someone who wants to play for the Jets. "I have the utmost respect for Rex Ryan, seeing what he did last year and how quickly he turned things around... Read on

Free agent safety Darren Sharper sure sounds like someone who wants to play for the Jets.
	 
"I have the utmost respect for Rex Ryan, seeing what he did last year and how quickly he turned things around with a rookie quarterback. And I sat down and watched that scheme and what they did,"
	 the Saints Super Bowl champion told the New Orleans Times Picayune."And like I've told people before, the New York teams, there's something about the big lights and the big city that fits me, and I know I would fit there."
	 
The report says he is seeking more than the $1.7 million he made last season, when he was named to the Pro Bowl with nine interceptions and three TD returns, including one against Mark Sanchez and the Jets.
	 
The 34-year-old also reportedly attracted some interest from the Giants, who signed Antrel Rolle instead.
	 
The Jets have said they will use free agency or the draft to replace Kerry Rhodes, whom they traded to the Cardinals last week. Sharper said the Jets cornerbacks -- Darrelle Revis and recently acquired Antonio Cromartie -- also make the team attractive to him.
	 
The Jets were set
	 to entertain Colts DB Marlin Jackson yesterday but he signed with the Eagles.
	 
Sharper also could be pursued by the Bears.
	 
"Winning is the most important thing," Sharper said. "The enjoyment I had winning a Super Bowl, that something you appreciate more than anything. A big part of your enjoyment comes from playing winning football. So you've got to make that the top priority."

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DB Jackson cancels Jets visit, signs with Eagles

March 10, 2010 , ι ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHILADELPHIA -- Free agent defensive back Marlin Jackson cancelled a visit to the Jets and signed a two-year contract with the Eagles on Wednesday. The Jets reportedly had interest in the former... Read on

PHILADELPHIA -- Free agent defensive back Marlin Jackson cancelled a visit to the Jets and signed a two-year contract with the Eagles on Wednesday.
	 
The Jets reportedly had interest in the former Colts safety/cornerback to help replace Kerry Rhodes,
	 traded to the Cardinals last week.
	 
A 2005 first-round draft pick by Indianapolis, Jackson is coming off a pair of season-ending knee injuries. He missed the second half of 2008 with a torn ACL in his right knee and returned in 2009 before tearing the ACL in his left knee in a November practice.
	 
Jackson has played cornerback most of his career, but will get a chance to win the starting spot at free safety in Philadelphia.
	 
“Nothing is promised,” Jackson said. “I have to earn it. I played free safety my junior year at college and started eight games there my second year in the NFL. I’m very comfortable in it. I always played a physical corner. Physicality is nothing new to me. I’m very instinctive and aggressive. I can bring a lot of positives.”
	 
Since letting Brian Dawkins, a potential Hall of Famer, leave for Denver in free agency last year, the Eagles had issues at free safety. They tried second-year pro Quintin Demps, rookie Victor Harris and veteran Sean Jones at that position in 2009.
	 
The 6-foot, 196-pound Jackson has 306 tackles and four interceptions in 56 career games with the Colts. He visited Baltimore before coming to Philly and was scheduled to meet with the Jets on Wendesday.
	 
“The most appealing thing is this is a winning franchise,” Jackson said of the Eagles. “That’s important to me. I came from a winning franchise. The opportunity to play free safety is very appealing. This defense is very aggressive.”
	 
Jackson joins a secondary that includes Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel, Pro Bowl strong safety Quintin Mikell and longtime starting cornerback Sheldon Brown.
	 
Despite the knee injury, Jackson expects to be ready for the season. The Eagles already have middle linebacker Stewart Bradley and tight end Cornelius Ingram returning from ACL surgeries. They gave free-agent offensive lineman Stacy Andrews a big contract last year after he had ACL surgery, but he couldn’t crack the starting lineup.
	 
“I’m a positive person and I know how hard I work each and every day,” Jackson said. “I know what it takes to come back from an ACL. I’ve done it once already.”

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Chiefs can't wait to welcome Jones

March 10, 2010 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

The Chiefs are hopeful running back Thomas Jones can do for them what he did for the Jets and Bears: help them become winners.“He’s a good football player and a strong leader, a real professional,”... Read on

The Chiefs are hopeful running back Thomas Jones can do for them what he did for the Jets and Bears: help them become winners.
	 
“He’s a good football player and a strong leader, a real professional,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley
	 told the Kansas City Star. "He’s been part of turnarounds at a couple different places, in Chicago and New York, where he kind of got teams to the promised land, so to speak. He’s a strong character and he loves football, so he fits that bill of what we’re looking for here.”
	 
That wasn't enough for the AFC runner-up Jets to keep Jones at a cost of $5.8 million. But the 4-12 Chiefs felt the 31-year-old, who went to the Super Bowl with the Bears, was a missing ingredient.
	 
“That’s part of being a good coach,’” Haley said. “I don’t think you can have enough good football players who want to win and want to be part of something special. Thomas fits that bill."
	 
Despite slowing at the end of last season, and taking a secondary role to Shonn Greene during the Jets' playoff run, Haley said he was not concerned Jones is on the downside of his career.
	 
“He saved a little wear and tear in the early part of his career, so it’s not like he’s necessarily a normal 9- or 10-year guy just because of that,” Haley said. “In his first three or four years, he was under 200 carries, so it’s not exactly what it appears.
	 
“We did the research. We watch these guys thoroughly. You’ve got to make that determination. We all came to the conclusion that we’d like this guy to be part of what we’re doing.”
	 
The Jets also could lose free agent Leon Washington, who has spoken to the 49ers and may attract interest from the Patriots and Vikings.

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Report: Pool, Jackson to visit Jets; Murrell signs with Patriots

March 09, 2010 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

Browns free agent safety Brandon Pool will visit the Jets tomorrow as they search for a replacement for Kerry Rhodes, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Pool visited the Rams on Monday, according to... Read on

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Jets GM won't rule out Coles

March 08, 2010 , ι By MARK CANNIZZARO

Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum sounded rather amenable to the possibility of re-signing receiver Laveranues Coles, who left the team to sign a big contract with the Bengals.Coles was released by the Bengals... Read on

Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum sounded rather amenable to the possibility of re-signing receiver Laveranues Coles, who left the team to sign a big contract with the Bengals.
	 
Coles was released by the Bengals and is free to sign with any team.
	 
Tannenbaum said he’s texted Coles and spoken to his agent. Coles last week said he
	 planned to call the Jets.
	 
Asked if the Jets would bring him back, Tannenbaum said, “Maybe at some point, but we’ll see.’’
	 
“Nothing is imminent,’’ Tannenbaum said. “I have all the respect in the world for Laveranues. He’s as tough as they come. A guy like Laveranues can come in here right now and we know him, he knows us.’’
	 
The Jets, who already have a crop of unproven young receivers, will be looking hard at one in the NFL Draft, perhaps with their first-round pick. So, if Coles is re-signed, it’ll likely be after the draft.
	 
**
	 
The Jets re-signed TE Ben Hartsock to a new two-year contract, quickly taking him off the market.
	 
Hartsock, you’ll remember, was called for a holding penalty in overtime that took the Jets out of game-winning chip-shot field goal range against the Bills on Oct. 18 at home.
	 
The Jets ended up losing that game, fueling speculation at the time that Hartsock might be released on the spot.
	 
Hartsock, though, was a valuable part of the Jets’ No. 1-ranked rushing attack as a punishing blocker.
	 
Hartsock, who caught only pass for 2 yards (and a TD) last season, is a sound complement to starting tight end Dustin Keller, whose strength is pass catching.
	 
“Ben has been important to us from the standpoint of solidifying our running game,’’ Tannenbaum said. “He played in 46-percent of the snaps last year and we led the league in rushing and Ben deserves some credit for that. That was an important piece for us to re-sign.’’
	 
**
	 
The Jets seem to be in a holding pattern with a couple of their other veteran unrestricted free agents, including fullback Tony Richardson and long snapper James Dearth.
	 
Tannenbaum sounded almost as if he was saying goodbye to Richardson when he said, “We hold Tony Richardson in the highest regard for that he does on and off the field.
	 
“We’ve talked to him more than once and we’ll see how that goes. We won’t rule anything out at this point. Whoever he’s with this year he’ll make that team better.’’
	 
Tannenbaum said Richardson told him he wanted to play one more year in the last conversation he had with him.
	 
“We’re leaving the door open,’’ Tannenbaum said. “We’ll see what happens with Tony. We’re trying to keep the lines of communication open.’’
	 
Regarding Dearth, who’s been the Jets since 2001, playing in 149 consecutive games, Tannenbaum said, “We’ve spoken to him. I know he’s out looking at offers. I wouldn’t rule out James coming back, but right now we’re in a holding pattern with him.’’
	 
**
	 
Tannenbaum, addressing the trade of safety Kerry Rhodes, said the reason was three-fold: economics (Rhodes was due a $2 million roster bonus Friday and was scheduled to make $13 million for the remainder of his contract); the draft picks the Cardinals offered (a fourth-rounder next month and a seventh-rounder in 2011); and the depth at the position (returning starter Jim Leonhard, Eric Smith and James Ihedigbo).
	 
“Those three things drove the decision,’’ Tannenbaum said.
	 
So, too, did the fact that Rhodes clashed with the defensive coaching staff and was generally not respected by teammates.
	 
Tannenbaum said the plan is to add another two safeties either through the draft or free agency.
	 
Tannenbaum, who acknowledged the “bumps in the road’’ between Rhodes and the coaching staff, had praise for Rhodes, who he pointed out played 89-percent of the defensive snaps last season.
	 
“We were successful on defense last year in lot of categories and Kerry was a big part of it,’’ he said. “He did a lot of good things. He played a lot on a pretty good defense.’’
	 
**
	 
According to someone close to defense end Marques Douglas, who was a productive player and a solid veteran locker room presence, the Jets appear to be “going in a different direction.’’ Douglas is an unrestricted free agent who’s already
	 attracting interest from other teams.

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About the Author

MARK CANNIZZARO Mark Cannizzaro has covered the Jets and golf since joining the Post in 1993. The Fairfield, Conn., native has covered NCAA tournament basketball, the NBA, NHL, boxing and tennis.