FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — So let’s check out how this performed out.
1. Workforce acquires Professional Bowl participant in a commerce.
2. Participant says he is thrilled to be on the staff.
3. Participant downplays his want for a brand new contract, exactly the rationale why his earlier staff determined to half with him.
“No matter occurs, I will be glad,” edge rusher Haason Reddick (the participant) mentioned in his introductory information convention with the New York Jets. “I will give my all, it doesn’t matter what. That is simply who I’m as an individual.”
4 months later, participant does not present up for coaching camp — the rarest of holdouts.
It is extremely uncommon for a participant to avoid his new staff after being acquired in a commerce, however right here we’re. Reddick, resulting from make a non-guaranteed $14.25 million in base pay within the ultimate 12 months of his contract, has missed 15 days of coaching camp, accumulating $850,000 in necessary fines (together with minicamp) and roughly $300,000 in discretionary fines.
How did this occur? Neither facet is commenting, however let’s attempt to paint an image.
What makes this so unusual is the Jets had communicated with Reddick’s camp earlier than the commerce was finalized, as they’d obtained permission from the Philadelphia Eagles to just do that. In concept, the Jets and Reddick ought to’ve been on the identical web page relating to his contract state of affairs, significantly since there have been warning indicators. It was recognized all through the NFL that Reddick wished a contract that will make him one of many highest-paid edge rushers.
The Jets ought to’ve executed a cope with Reddick earlier than making the commerce or, on the very least, established parameters, two brokers not affiliated with Reddick instructed ESPN. One agent mentioned he is “tremendous stunned” they did not have an settlement in place with Reddick. The opposite agent mentioned, “You do not do a commerce till you realize what the parameters are.”
They did supply to increase his contract on the time of the commerce, ESPN beforehand reported. It is not clear how a lot they provided, but it surely seemingly got here up effectively in need of what he is in search of in assured cash. The Jets noticed it as a good-faith gesture, however a former NFC normal supervisor mentioned Reddick may need interpreted it in a different way.
“They could have insulted him, too,” he mentioned. “Now he is an offended camper.”
At this level, the Jets’ seemingly choice is wait till in the course of the season, or after, earlier than revisiting a long-term extension. Reddick is considered in search of about $25 million per 12 months; he could be concentrating on Danielle Hunter’s cope with the Houston Texans — two years, $49 million, together with $48 million totally assured.
Hunter and Reddick are shut in age (each flip 30 in the course of the season) and have the an identical sack manufacturing over the past two seasons (27 apiece). One distinction: Hunter was a free agent this offseason; Reddick wasn’t.
The Jets believed they had been clear and direct with Reddick’s camp. They had been beneath the impression he’d go to coaching camp beneath his present contract, in response to a earlier ESPN report. It is honest to surprise: Why would Reddick conform to the commerce if he was troubled by the Jets’ place on his contract. He did not have a no-trade clause, however he actually might’ve raised a pink flag, dissuading the Jets from finishing the swap.
In fact, the Jets might’ve signed Reddick to a fair-market extension on the time of the commerce — say, three years, $75 million. Groups generally do this once they commerce for a star participant.
This offseason, the Texans reworked huge receiver Stefon Diggs’ contract and prolonged working again Joe Mixon — acquired in separate trades. The Cleveland Browns traded for huge receiver Jerry Jeudy and, within the course of, gave him an enormous deal. The New York Giants and Tennessee Titans signed move rusher Brian Burns and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, respectively, to monster contracts after buying them in tag-and-trade eventualities. Each had the franchise tag.
“I might pay him,” the previous GM mentioned of Reddick, who ranks fourth in sacks (50.5) over the past 4 seasons. “I do know he is 30, however he is a top-five edge rusher, and people are onerous to search out. I do not know why they did not signal him. Why did you place your self on this hand basket?”
Jets normal supervisor Joe Douglas is conservative when signing older gamers to long-term offers. Then once more, he hasn’t had too many gamers — outdated or younger — of Reddick’s caliber. He did not have to surrender a ton of compensation to the Eagles — a 2026 conditional third-round decide — so it is attainable he is ready to stay with a one-and-done state of affairs. That could possibly be the result, although it is fairly seemingly Douglas should sweeten his 2024 compensation to finish the stalemate.
“I perceive why Joe does not need to pay him,” a 3rd agent mentioned. “[Reddick] is a bit lengthy within the tooth, and he is already paying [Aaron] Rodgers, and he has all these younger gamers developing.” Cornerback Sauce Gardner, huge receiver Garrett Wilson and working again Breece Corridor will probably be eligible for contract extensions in 2025.
The Jets eliminated Reddick’s base wage from their wage cap by putting him on the reserve/didn’t report checklist firstly of camp, growing their cap area to virtually $20 million, in response to Over The Cap. If he experiences beneath his present contract, he instantly counts $15 million, leaving just a few million in wiggle room.
One other issue could possibly be at play, as there’s a sense within the agent neighborhood that Jets proprietor Woody Johnson desires to maintain all the pieces quick time period.
Johnson voiced his displeasure with final season’s 7-10 end, basically placing Douglas and coach Robert Saleh on discover. Maybe not coincidentally, almost each veteran acquisition within the offseason was signed to a one-year contract. Notably, Rodgers, 40, has just one 12 months remaining in assured cash.
One agent theorized Johnson is reluctant to dole out a mega-contract, hedging his bets in case he decides to start out over in 2025. The Jets might actually counter that by pointing to their supply to increase Reddick’s deal past 2024.
On Monday, Saleh was requested if, on the time of the commerce, he might’ve imagined a two-week holdout unfolding.
“I suppose it does not matter what I assumed on the time,” Saleh mentioned. “However actuality is he isn’t right here.”
Publicly, all the pieces appeared so upbeat when Reddick was launched to the media after the commerce, when he expressed optimism about his future with the Jets, nevertheless lengthy it lasted. It is price noting the day of that information convention — April Idiot’s Day.
