By this time, word of Thomas Jones’ impending release have already been disseminated across the football universe, so I don’t expect anyone visiting this site will have been surprised to have read this sentence. Yet it still feels strange, and my disappointment in our brass’s decision to part with one of our strongest offensive veterans has not lessened since the move was first confirmed over the weekend. Don’t get me wrong – I understand why this happened. Concerns over his increasing age, decreasing productivity and hefty salary bonus did Jones in. But, man, I don’t know. You just don’t release a running back who has topped 1,000 in every season he’s spent with your team, especially not when he was almost singularly responsible for your #1 rushing ranking during the regular season. My concerns go beyond mere sentimentality though, as I would legitimately question whether our releasing Jones will help or hinder this team next season. In short, has this move made us a better team? If not, then I would challenge the wisdom of those behind it.

TJ will be 32 when the new NFL season begins. That’s old as hell. If Jones were a beloved pet dog, now would be about the time you start to consider taking him on a nice walk through the county park and then back behind the shed. He was effectively useless during the final five or so games of our season, never more so than after Shonn Greene left the game during the AFC Championship, leaving Jones to flail around like a fish out of water, averaging 2.6 yards per carry, and a bad 2.6 at that. It became clear this January that from this point forward, it must be Shonn, and not Thomas, receiving the majority of touches. As John F. Kennedy would say, “Da taaach has been passed to ah new genahation of New Yahk Jets rahnning bhacks!” But does this make Thomas expendable? Hardly. Indeed, the real concern when it comes to losing TJ isn’t the man himself, it’s the void he leaves.

Shonn Greene is a kid. He has under his belt only two years of serious football experience outside of high school, as he missed the entire 2007 collegiate season due to academic issues, and instead spent that time attending community college and working at a furniture store. Even more worrisome, he did not see serious action in 2009 until Week 7 at Oakland, and then faded away again until the final month of the season. While he was spectacular during the postseason, he was at times a liability in October and November, fumbling the ball thrice in that time, each one for a loss. There are also questions of his durability, and having seen the impact that losing him in the middle of a game can have, I can say with confidence that I never wish to experience that again.

Moreover, Leon Washington will not be 100% this year. If you need confirmation of that, look no further than Mike Tannebaum’s recent statement at the Combine that Leon “by opening day.” Read that again. He said, “by opening day,” not “by the start of training camp,” or “sometime next week.” The injury Leon sustained last season was a very, very serious one, and we’re fortunate that he’ll be returning in time for our first game at all. But even if he is ready, what if he’s not the same Leon, at least not right away? How much can we rely on these two backs, really? When the run game is as important to a team as ours is to us, shouldn’t we be able to have more faith in their ability to perform?

Releasing Jones was neither the right decision, nor the wrong decision…yet. Financially, I recognize that it was the necessary one. But now the time has come for Mr. T to step up and use the smarts he put to work bringing TJ to New York in the first place to find his replacement. If we head into this coming year with only Shonn, Leon and Chauncey Washington and Danny Woodhead on our roster, we are in very serious trouble, regardless of how much progress Mark Sanchez makes. There are plenty of decent #2 guys on the market, and this is a need that we can address through means outside of the draft. Open your wallet and make it be so, Tanny!

Update – March 2nd:: An anonymous Jets player, as quoted by Cimini: “I can tell you, it’s not going to be a popular move in the locker room,” said one player, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “We loved T.J. The man loved the game and put it all on the line only to get dumped after his best season. I think you should reward players for performance. You dump him but give Vernon (Gholston) another shot? Doesn’t make sense.”

I can respond only by nodding my head slowly and singing that “money money money” song from the Apprentice.

A Further Update – Jets Twit sources a revelation that Jones was actually demoted Week 16. Yes, they actually went out of their way to inform him of this. How classless! I’m confident this wasn’t Rex’s call, though he clearly went along with it.

- Manhole Out.