Now that Thomas Jones has signed a two-year deal with the Chiefs and won’t be returning to New York, my question is where do the Jets get a running back from? If Leon Washington ends up remaining on the Jets, they should be content with going into the season with Shonn Greene as their premiere back and Washington as a change of pace and third-down back. I ‘d be elated if this happened for the reason that they wouldn’t have to acquire a new running back; one less need. If Washington signs with another team, then what? With Shonn Greene the lone running back left on the roster of their former three-headed rushing attack, would it make sense for the Jets to use a draft pick on a running back and have a rookie and second-year back making up their backfield? Do they instead sign a veteran back to split time with Greene? In this case, who is that veteran? 

The Jets could benefit from adding depth at some positions but before they add depth, they need to take care of some positions that could use a makeover at the top of the depth chart like an outside linebacker across from Calvin Pace, defensive end, running back (depending on Leon), safety and third receiver. 

Getting an outside linebacker is currently the Jets most critical need. For the people who question Cromartie’s skills, putting pressure on the quarterback will make Cromartie better. 

For now, Jets fans, we’ll have to sit patiently and wait for the next move and see how it effects other potential moves.

If the Jets had decided not to cut Jones, they would have owed him a near $3 million roster bonus.

With the possibility of Leon Washington being signed to an offer sheet, the absence of Jones and Washington would leave the Jets with one running back, second-year man Shonn Greene, out of the NFL’s best rushing unit in 2009. 

It’s uncertain if a team will take a chance on Washington and send a second-round pick the Jets’ way, but the Jets will still need another running back, preferably a veteran, to help carry the load with Greene. 

The release of Jones caused a stir in Jet land, but it was a financial move. Re-signing Jones would allow the Jets to fill other needs this off-season without worrying about getting another running back. It also allows them to wave goodbye to Washington (if a team really wants him) and happily accept a second-round pick for him in order to fill other concerns through the draft or even sign a tendered player from another team. 

I’m interested in seeing if Thomas Jones personally wants to come back to the Jets. Once he’s released, the ball’s in his court. The Browns and former Jets coach, Eric Mangini, are rumored to be interested in Jones. If the Jets released Jones in order to sign him for less money, and Jones decides to bolt to another team, the Jets may have created a hole in their roster that could have been avoided by just putting up the cash.

Washington’s agent, Alvin Keels, said, “I expect there to be a market for Leon during free agency and would say his return to the Jets will be 50/50 at best at this point.” Keels added, “He is ahead of schedule while rehabbing from his week 7 injury. He will be 100% healthy and ready for camp either in NY or elsewhere.”

As steep as a second rounder sounds, I expect there will be a team that makes an offer for Leon. He is an explosive back that can score any time he touches the ball. He can help a team that is on the edge of being a Super Bowl contender. He is valuable on special teams and on third-downs. 

If the Jets decided not to match an offer made by another team for Leon, getting a compensatory second round pick would help them out. What makes me feel better about this situation is that the Jets went on a deep playoff run in 2009 without Leon. What’s startling is that if they lose Leon, they’ll have just one running back remaining on the team out of their big three running backs that they had last season. That means Shonn Greene is the one remaining running back and the Jets would desperately need to get another difference maker to support the second-year back.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Jets try to bring Jones back on a cheaper deal, but don’t count on it. 

The Jets have created a hole for themselves and the hole may widen if they let Leon walk. A second round pick is tempting, however, and I wouldn’t put it past the Jets. The Jets must think extremely high of Shonn Greene. 

It’s going to be a very interesting off-season for the Jets when you take into account the rules of an uncapped year and the holes they need to fill. The draft is going to be critical for the Jets and receiving a second round pick for Washington may be worth it for the Jets.

The Jets also placed a second round tender on Brad Smith.

A number of teams are being tossed around as possible suitors for the running backs, but the Jets should stay away. Westbrook dealt with concussions in 2009 and health will be a concern for him in 2010. Tomlinson posted career lows in rushing yards and cards per carry in 2009. At best, his production will remain similar in 2010 as it was in 2009 (730 yards, 3.3 yards per carry, 12 TDs). 

The Jets have other areas of concern that must be addressed more urgently and running back isn’t a top priority. If they do think they need to add another running back, they don’t need to sign a back who is over 30 years old. We all know that running backs over 30 can see their production take a major drop at any time. The only way the Jets get involved with either of these running backs is if they cut their own 30+ year old running back, Thomas Jones, who turns 32 in August. Jones rushed for 1,402 yards and scored 14 touchdowns in 2009. He’s not different than other running back over 30. He may have a major drop in production in 2010. 

Without Jones the Jets have a nice duo of running backs in Shonn Greene and Leon Washington. It’s not necessary to add Tomlinson or Westbrook. The Jets should keep Thomas Jones before Tomlinson or Westbrook. They owe it to Jones. He had a better season than the both of them in 2009 and he’s a year older than them. Jones didn’t produce in the playoffs and that was probably due to a large workload in the regular season. Shonn Greene picked up the slack for him. Money is the issue with Jones because he is due a $3 million roster bonus if he remains on the team.

Even if the Jets do decide to cut Jones, which is becoming increasingly more likely due to the bonus, they should not enter discussions with Tomlinson or Westbrook. Neither guy will make the team better. The Jets need to address other needs and players before Tomlinson and Westbrook.

In other news, the Jets signed former Cowboys kicker Nick Folk to a one-year deal.

A top rated defense and a top rated running game is a formula for success in the NFL. In the past, teams that have led the NFL in those two categories usually have had postseason success. The Jets were no different until they ran into Peyton Manning and the Colts Sunday in the AFC Championship. Amid all the disappointing regular season losses, the Jets still made a nice run in 2009, but it ended two wins short. What they did in the latter part of the regular season and playoffs is showing of a team that will be a contender for quite some time.

Peyton Manning may have taken the wind out of the Jets’ sails a game away from the Super Bowl, but this team is going to be a contender for the next several years. Their future is very bright with Rex’s defense, Sanchez’s maturation and a phenomenal offensive line that will produce a strong running game. They have a young group of players and a coach that the players have bought into. Tighten a few areas up, workout some kinks, add a few other pieces like another cornerback and receiver, and the Jets will get back into the AFC Championship soon and hopefully be able to go one step further and get into the Super Bowl.

What’s not to look forward to? They have a defensive guru, Rex Ryan, as their head coach, who has earned respect after his first year on the job no matter how much he talked. They have a young quarterback, Mark Sanchez, who matured right in front of our eyes this season and had an incredible performance in the AFC Championship game and playoffs as a whole. They have a young running back, Shonn Greene, who made some eye-popping runs during the playoffs and has great potential if combined with another running back. They have a tough, physical and consistent offensive line that will open up holes and protect Sanchez for years to come. They have a young tight end, Dustin Keller, who will excel in the passing game and has improved his blocking this season. They have two great players, Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington, that are going to come back next year after missing this season with injuries (their return is like acquiring two great players). They have a slash-type of player in Brad Smith who can do it all and plays well on special teams and in the Wildcat. They have a great front seven on defense that will keep getting better the more time they spend in Rex’s defensive scheme. They have one of the premiere cornerbacks in the game, Darrelle Revis, who can be left alone to cover an opponent’s best receiver. 

Doesn’t it make you smile thinking about what the Jets have? This will be a critical offseason for the Jets. Keeping offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will be crucial for the offense and Mark Sanchez in particular. He has one year under his belt in Schotty’s offense and he’ll be better next season. Adding the right pieces could mean the Jets have the opportunity to get back to the AFC Championship as soon as next season.

The game shifted momentum when Peyton led the Colts to a scoring drive with under two minutes to go in the first half. The Colts didn’t get into the end zone until that drive. Instead of going into halftime with a 17-6 lead, the Jets led by four, 17-13.

The Jets offense was doing well in the first half thanks to some well called and well run passing plays. They didn’t run the ball all that well, but they weren’t on the field often since Peyton was picking apart the Jets defense.

The Jets dealt with some injuries in the game. They lost cornerback Donald  Strickland and running back Shonn Greene to injuries. The loss of Strickland hurt the Jets secondary and caused some inexperienced players to get in the game.

Peyton picked apart the Jets secondary and picked on Dwight Lowery most of the time. The Jets covered Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark well, but let Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie rip them apart. After Revis, the Jets’ cornerbacks weren’t good enough to cover the Colts receivers. Revis didn’t have an unbelievable game either, which added to their defensive woes.

The Jets had a great run and should be proud of how far they came, but disappointed that it ended two wins short fa championship.