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Jets grab Jones
in Bear of a deal
Switch second-round picks to bring in Chicago mainstay
BY RICH CIMINI
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
[SIZE=-1]Bears running back Thomas Jones goes in for 7-yard TD in NFC divisional playoff victory over Seattle Seahawks as Chicago sticks to ground in march to Super Bowl, obviously impressing Jets in the process. [/SIZE]
The Jets were after the Jones brothers for nearly a year. Concerned about Curtis Martin's surgically repaired knee, they almost pulled off a draft-day trade last April for Cowboys running back Julius Jones. Late yesterday, GM Mike Tannenbaum, still trying to replace Martin, finalized a trade for Julius' older brother, the Bears' Thomas Jones. The seven-year vet, who cracked the 1,200-yard rushing mark in each of the last two seasons, fills a major need for the Jets - and he didn't cost them a draft pick, per se.
The Jets traded a second-round pick (37th overall), acquired last draft day in a trade with the Commanders, for Jones and the Bears' second-round choice (63rd overall).
Neither team confirmed the trade last night because it's contingent on a physical and a contract extension, according to an NFL source. The contract is only a formality, as Jones has agreed in principle to a long-term deal that includes about $12 million in guarantees, another source confirmed. He was entering the final year of his contract, due to make $2.7 million in 2007.
The Jets and Jones' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, were granted a 24-hour negotiating window by the Bears. Rosenhaus declined to comment. The trade likely will be made official today. Jones, in New York for a promotional appearance with his brother, visited the Jets' facility last night to meet coach Eric Mangini.
Basically, the Jets obtained a proven No. 1 back for dropping 26 slots in the second round. That may
sound like an absolute steal, but based on
the point system of trade-value chart used by teams, they landed Jones for the equivalent of a high third-round pick - still a good deal for the Jets. They have two second-round choices, including their own (59th overall).
Jones didn't come cheaply - it's a lot of money for a back who turns 29 in August - but the Jets, eerily quiet over the first three days of free agency, have $17 million in cap space.
Obviously, there was plenty of motivation for both sides to hammer out a deal. Jones, who wasn't comfortable sharing the workload with Cedric Benson the last two seasons, wanted out of Chicago. The Jets, whose trade for Kevan Barlow last August failed miserably (he was released two weeks ago), considered Jones the only feature-type back available in a rapidly dwindling market.
They flirted with a few free-agent backs, including ex-Titan Travis Henry, who signed a five-year contract yesterday with the Broncos that includes $12 million in guarantees.
Henry's agent, Hadley Engelhard, said early yesterday that he had had "several" conversations with Tannenbaum over the weekend. More talks were planned for later in the day, but Henry accepted Denver's offer around midday.
Unbeknown to many, the Jets expressed an interest in trading for Jones last summer, when they came to the realization that Martin's days probably were over. At the time, the Bears weren't willing to break up their 1-2 punch in the backfield.
A determined Jones rushed for 1,210 yards (11th in the NFL), a 4.1 average and six touchdowns. In the NFC Championship Game, he came through with 123 yards and two touchdowns, adding 112 yards in a losing effort in the Super Bowl. Chicago management, apparently convinced that Benson can run the show, finally granted Jones his wish to be traded.
The Jets' running game could use a spark. Using the committee approach last season, they averaged only 3.5 yards per carry, 30th in the NFL. Jones isn't a breakaway back - his longest run last season was only 30 yards - but he's tough and consistent, having averaged at least 4.0 per rush in each of the last four seasons. He and Leon Washington should comprise a solid 1-2 punch.
OH, 'BOY: The Jets were closing in on a deal last night with former Cowboys DE Kenyon Coleman. His agent, Jordan Woy, said in an e-mail, "We are still talking, but it is looking very good." ... DE David Bowens (Dolphins) also visited the Jets yesterday. QB Marques Tuiasosopo (Raiders) is scheduled to arrive later in the week. ... FB Darian Barnes (Dolphins) arrives today.
in Bear of a deal
Switch second-round picks to bring in Chicago mainstay
BY RICH CIMINI
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
The Jets were after the Jones brothers for nearly a year. Concerned about Curtis Martin's surgically repaired knee, they almost pulled off a draft-day trade last April for Cowboys running back Julius Jones. Late yesterday, GM Mike Tannenbaum, still trying to replace Martin, finalized a trade for Julius' older brother, the Bears' Thomas Jones. The seven-year vet, who cracked the 1,200-yard rushing mark in each of the last two seasons, fills a major need for the Jets - and he didn't cost them a draft pick, per se.
The Jets traded a second-round pick (37th overall), acquired last draft day in a trade with the Commanders, for Jones and the Bears' second-round choice (63rd overall).
Neither team confirmed the trade last night because it's contingent on a physical and a contract extension, according to an NFL source. The contract is only a formality, as Jones has agreed in principle to a long-term deal that includes about $12 million in guarantees, another source confirmed. He was entering the final year of his contract, due to make $2.7 million in 2007.
The Jets and Jones' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, were granted a 24-hour negotiating window by the Bears. Rosenhaus declined to comment. The trade likely will be made official today. Jones, in New York for a promotional appearance with his brother, visited the Jets' facility last night to meet coach Eric Mangini.
Basically, the Jets obtained a proven No. 1 back for dropping 26 slots in the second round. That may
sound like an absolute steal, but based on
the point system of trade-value chart used by teams, they landed Jones for the equivalent of a high third-round pick - still a good deal for the Jets. They have two second-round choices, including their own (59th overall).
Jones didn't come cheaply - it's a lot of money for a back who turns 29 in August - but the Jets, eerily quiet over the first three days of free agency, have $17 million in cap space.
Obviously, there was plenty of motivation for both sides to hammer out a deal. Jones, who wasn't comfortable sharing the workload with Cedric Benson the last two seasons, wanted out of Chicago. The Jets, whose trade for Kevan Barlow last August failed miserably (he was released two weeks ago), considered Jones the only feature-type back available in a rapidly dwindling market.
They flirted with a few free-agent backs, including ex-Titan Travis Henry, who signed a five-year contract yesterday with the Broncos that includes $12 million in guarantees.
Henry's agent, Hadley Engelhard, said early yesterday that he had had "several" conversations with Tannenbaum over the weekend. More talks were planned for later in the day, but Henry accepted Denver's offer around midday.
Unbeknown to many, the Jets expressed an interest in trading for Jones last summer, when they came to the realization that Martin's days probably were over. At the time, the Bears weren't willing to break up their 1-2 punch in the backfield.
A determined Jones rushed for 1,210 yards (11th in the NFL), a 4.1 average and six touchdowns. In the NFC Championship Game, he came through with 123 yards and two touchdowns, adding 112 yards in a losing effort in the Super Bowl. Chicago management, apparently convinced that Benson can run the show, finally granted Jones his wish to be traded.
The Jets' running game could use a spark. Using the committee approach last season, they averaged only 3.5 yards per carry, 30th in the NFL. Jones isn't a breakaway back - his longest run last season was only 30 yards - but he's tough and consistent, having averaged at least 4.0 per rush in each of the last four seasons. He and Leon Washington should comprise a solid 1-2 punch.
OH, 'BOY: The Jets were closing in on a deal last night with former Cowboys DE Kenyon Coleman. His agent, Jordan Woy, said in an e-mail, "We are still talking, but it is looking very good." ... DE David Bowens (Dolphins) also visited the Jets yesterday. QB Marques Tuiasosopo (Raiders) is scheduled to arrive later in the week. ... FB Darian Barnes (Dolphins) arrives today.
