Washington Back With The Jets In “Good Faith”.
Posted by Gil Harris on June 1st, 2009
As an act of good faith Leon Washington RB for the New York Jest has ended his short hold out and returned to the team for off-season workouts this morning. It looked like Leon who’s rookie contract expires at the end of next season would hold out till a deal was done. He is due to receive $535.000 this year which in my opinion is well under market value for a back of his caliber.
His agent Alvin Keels says “Leon is excited about finishing the off-season program off strong, and is very much “hopeful”that we can come to terms on a fair market deal.” Washington and Keels are looking for numbers like Maurice Jones-Drew’s four-year, $32.4 million $17.5 million guaranteed.
Contrary to what has been been said about agent Alvin Keels after the Andre Smith saga, looking at the numbers for Keels and past deals done, you’ve got to believe Washington is in good hands. Keels may be a young fresh face in the game gut he’s done some huge deals, Larry Johnson for one, $43.2 million $19 million guaranteed. Another notable DeAngelo Hall’s $70 million dollar contract with the Raiders, which was short lived thanks to Al Just win baby Davis. After the Raiders cut Hall Keels went to work for his client and got a another marquee deal with the Redskins worth $54 million dollars 22 million guaranteed, making him one of the highest paid corner backs in the league.
So Leon is in good hands with a good negotiator on his team. It really looks like with Leon showing his maturity and faith in his employer, the ball is now in the court of the Jets to hold up their end of the bargain. Leon is probably the best offensive weapon in the Jets offensive scheme along with Thomas Jones who is also making a strong argument in terms of his contract restructuring. They both deserve their payday however you’ve got to believe that Leon has a pretty strong argument over Jones. Only time will tell.
