With his first trade of the 2010 draft, Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum shook up his backfield by moving up to select USC running back Joe McKnight. That move raised serious questions about Leon Washington's future with the team.Then Tannenbaum quickly answered those questions, by trading Washington to the Seahawks for a fifth-round pick.
The Jets traded up 12 spots in the fourth round to take McKnight with the 112th overall selection. McKnight (5-foot-11, 198 pounds), good value at that spot, is a multi-purpose back, a la Washington. McKnight rushed for 1,014 yards and eight touchdowns last season, adding another 1,251 yards on punt and kickoff returns. Scouts say he's a versatile and fluid athlete with the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, making him a candidate to be the third-down back.
The Jets traded with the Panthers to get the 112th overall selection. It cost them their fourth-round pick (124) and their sixth-rounder (198).
With the fifth-round choice obtained in the Washington trade, the Jets selected Kentucky fullback John Conner, a 5-11, 240-pound masher. This is a "future" pick for the Jets. Presumably, Conner will learn at the side of Tony Richardson, 38, the wise locker-room sage who can teach the rookie the tricks of the trade.
In college, Conner was known as "The Terminator" because of his blocking ability, and the fact that his name is the name of the guy who leads the resistance army in the movie "The Terminator." He actually made the team as a walk-on, and worked his way up the depth chart. He's a traditional fullback, pure blue-collar. He carried the ball only 54 times for 247 yards in his college career, and had only 25 receptions. No doubt, he will be an immediate contributor on special teams.
But now Washington's career with the Jets is over.It was a stunning turn of events at the NFL draft. After a quiet two days for the Jets, GM Mike Tannenbaum shook things up by unloading one of the most popular players in the Jets' locker room. Evidently, the Jets don't believe Washington (surgically repaired leg) will make a complete recovery. This move, coupled with the release of Pro Bowl left guard Alan Faneca, has some players on the team grumbling about the potential impact on team chemistry.
The Jets gave away Washington for almost nothing. They included a seventh-round pick in the deal, receiving only one pick -- the fifth-rounder (No. 139) in return. It had to be insulting for Washington, a Pro Bowl kick returner in 2008.
Washington irked coach Rex Ryan by skipping the team's voluntary workouts in the offseason, opting to rehab his injury at a facility in Florida. But, at the end of the restricted free agent signing period (April 15), Washington signed his one-year tender ($1.75 million) and reported to workouts, vowing to be ready for training camp and the regular season.
Washington's career took a turn for the worse in October in Oakland, when his left leg was snapped on a gruesome play that required emergency surgery. It was an open fracture, with blood soaking through his sock and horrifying teammates. It turned out to be his final carry as a Jet.
While I must admit that I am very upset to see Leon go, I have watched Joe McKnight for all three seasons he was at USC and he is a very elusive back. He is the same type of player that Leon was before his gruesome leg injury in Oakland. The only difference between Washington and McKnight is that Washington is a proven player, while McKnight is, of course, a rookie.
McKnight might not have to step in right away either. He can learn under LT about being a good pass catcher out of the backfield, which he already is, and how to be an elusive runner in the NFL.Furthermore, many are predicting John Conner to be for the Jets what Richie Anderson used to be for the Jets, which, of course, could only be a great thing for the Jets.
I just hope that all these moves don't ruin the chemistry of this team, which was a huge strength last season for them.
No comments:
Post a Comment