Just as many reports said earlier, the New York Jets released running back Thomas Jones, and the move was made officially on Friday. Along with Jones, cornerback Donald Strickland was also cut on the first day of free agency.
"I just want to start off by thanking Thomas for everything he’s done on and off the field," Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said during a conference call today. "In terms of respect and admiration, I’d put Thomas up on the very short list of guys who’ve ever been through our program, not only because of what he’s done on the field but the leadership he brought as well and the passion he played with."
Jones finished last season with a career-high 1,402 rushing yards, and if he is indeed as good as Tannenbaum, why did the Jets still decide to release him?
Well, Tannenbaum said it was a “very difficult decision” after considering all factors including skill and budget, even though there will be no salary cap in 2010. The decision to release Jones has angered his teammates in Jets jerseys, but it was eventually made. However, Tannenbaum did not rule out having Jones wear back Jets jerseys but he said that Jones himself is looking at other opportunities.
Showing posts with label release. Show all posts
Showing posts with label release. Show all posts
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Chargers made final decision to release RB Tomlinson
Not much to our surprise, the San Diego Chargers made an announcement on Monday on their official site that they released running back LaDainian Tomlinson. But it is just somewhat hard to Chargers fans to accept that one of their most beloved athletes will play in some other team’s NFL jerseys.
It was also hard to Chargers president Dean Spanos to tell the team’s decision to the 9-year Chargers running back, who helped revive the franchise with his brilliant performance on field.
"I told him that in the 26 years that I've been in this business, it was probably the hardest thing I've had to do," Spanos told The Associated Press. "I'm not close to a lot of the players, but there's a handful that I've been close with, and he's probably the closest. It was really difficult to tell him. But out of respect, I wanted to tell him earlier rather than later."
Tomlinson seemed prepared for the decision. Indeed the move had been expected for some time since he finished the 2009 season with career low 730 yards on 223 carries for an average of 3.3 yards per attempt, partly because of the injuries he sustained early in last season.
Turning 31 year old this summer, Tomlinson was due a $2 million bonus in early March and still has two years left on a contract with the Chargers. Appearing optimistic about his future in NFL, Tomlinson said that he was looking to the next step in his career and laying football for someone else.
It was also hard to Chargers president Dean Spanos to tell the team’s decision to the 9-year Chargers running back, who helped revive the franchise with his brilliant performance on field.
"I told him that in the 26 years that I've been in this business, it was probably the hardest thing I've had to do," Spanos told The Associated Press. "I'm not close to a lot of the players, but there's a handful that I've been close with, and he's probably the closest. It was really difficult to tell him. But out of respect, I wanted to tell him earlier rather than later."
Tomlinson seemed prepared for the decision. Indeed the move had been expected for some time since he finished the 2009 season with career low 730 yards on 223 carries for an average of 3.3 yards per attempt, partly because of the injuries he sustained early in last season.
Turning 31 year old this summer, Tomlinson was due a $2 million bonus in early March and still has two years left on a contract with the Chargers. Appearing optimistic about his future in NFL, Tomlinson said that he was looking to the next step in his career and laying football for someone else.
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