The New York Jets declined, we’re told, the ability to match the two-year, $5 million contract that running back Thomas Jones signed with the Chiefs.
They matched that number and added $100,000 in order to get LaDainian Tomlinson under contract.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Tomlinson’s two-year deal has a base value of $5.1 million. The contract includes an additional $500,000 in escalators.
So what were they thinking? Jones rushed for 1,402 yards in 2009, averaging 4.2 yards per carry. Tomlinson, in contrast, gained only 730 yards with a per-carry clip of 3.3 yards.
The Jets should have given the same package to Jones. In our view, they’re now paying more money for a lesser player.
Buy, hey, maybe L.T. will sell a few more of those PSLs.