Mike Goodson signs contract with New York Jets
After losing Shonn Greene and many others in free agency the New York Jets signed former Oakland Raiders running back Mike Goodson to a three-year, $6.9 million contract per Adam Schefter of ESPN on Friday.
Mike Goodson ran for 221 yards averaging 6.3 yards per carry in 35 possessions with the Raiders last season in a limited role.
He joins Bilal Powell and Joe McKnight to compete for the No.1 spot in the depth chart during camp.
Wayne Hunter enjoyed his time with the Jets, but he couldn’t wait to get away from the fans and media.
“They’re like sharks,” Hunter told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, commenting for the first time since he was traded last week to the Rams. “They let you know (their feelings) right off the bat. And even if you’re doing good, they may just not like you for the heck of it. It’s brutal over there. Those fans, they know what they want and they pretty much demand it. So if you don’t give it to them, they’ll let you know.”
Hunter said he couldn’t put into words what it was like to play in New York.
“No, I can’t,” he said. “There’s no words to describe it. If you can handle the ‘Concrete Jungle,’ you can handle anywhere. I’ve been through it all.”
Hunter is happy for the change of scenery.
“I think it’s what I needed,” he said. “I think it’s what we both needed, from what I heard. It’ll be interesting. So I wish him the best, and I’m going to make the best of this opportunity over here. We’re going to fill this stadium up.”
Hunter has no animosity toward the Jets.
“There’s no chip on my shoulder. The New York Jets treated me so well,” he said. “I had the best four years over there. We had a great run with two AFC championships. I’ve got nothing to complain about. I love those guys, I wish ‘em the best but it’s time for me to move on.”
The New York Jets have traded RT Wayne Hunter to the St. Louis Rams for former first-round pick OT Jason Smith.
Smith who was drafted 2nd overall in the 2009 draft by the Rams has had his share of health and performance issues including a concussion in his rookie season. Smith was due to make 10 million this year but agreed to a major pay cut to 4 million after being on shaky ground this off-season. He is due to make 12 million in 2013 but that deal will be void if he plays in at least 31 percent of the offensive snaps this season.
The Jets had no intention of trading Hunter, but they received a call from the Rams shortly after demoting him, a source said. Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who held the same position with the Jets from 2006 to 2011, always held Hunter in high regard.
On Sunday night, Hunter struggled again in a backup role, surrendering a fourth-quarter sack at left tackle. Behind the Jets’ bench, he was verbally abused by unruly fans. Hunter lost his temper and had to be restrained by teammate Vladimir Ducasse, according to a team source. In the previous game, Hunter allowed 2.5 sacks against the New York Giants.
“The whole New York City knows that I’ve been struggling for the last year and the last game (I) didn’t do much better,” Hunter said last week upon his demotion. “I was waiting for it, to be honest with you. I knew I was struggling. I knew everything was kind of going south for me.”
Rex Ryan announced that Austin Howard will take Wayne Hunter‘s spot against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night.
“The more I went back and looked at where we’re at as a football team, and getting feedback from coaches, and knowing the history of Wayne’s success that Wayne had basically as a sixth man, I’ve decided that that’s the way we’re gonna go,” Ryan said. “I’m gonna put Wayne in that role, where really he excelled. And that’s being a guy that basically fits at — whether it’s a tackle, guard, tight end, all that kind of stuff. So I’m gonna move Wayne back to that role.”
“We’re gonna give Austin Howard a shot to be with this first group. I thought he earned that right. He played extremely well against Cincinnati, did OK against the Giants, but really played well against Cincinnati, and this is what I wanna do. I’m gonna put him in that situation, and we’ll see how he does this week.”
Hunter who struggled all last season as a starter was subjected to a lot of criticism. He missed time during the preseason due to a back injury and had a hard time against the Giants where he gave up 2½ sacks in the second preseason game of the year.
“I want to help this team any way I can. And right now it’s not at right tackle,” Hunter said. “I’ve had struggles — everyone’s seen them. It’s just moving me back to a position where I excel, and did really well.”
“Everyone knows, all of New York City knows, that I’ve been struggling — last year, and the last game I didn’t do much better. So I wasn’t surprised. I was waiting for it, to be honest with you. I knew I was struggling, I knew everything was kind of going south for me, but at the same time I still wanted to help the team in any way possible. I love the Jets, I love this organization.
Wayne Hunter returned to Jets practice on Wednesday after taking the night off on Tuesday for an undisclosed personal reason, according to Rex Ryan.
Hunter after having struggled during Saturday nights game against the Giants, asked Ryan if he could miss Tuesday evenings practice at MetLife Stadium. Although he did attend meetings earlier in the day. Ryan has remained silent as to the nature of why he excused Hunter from practice.
According to ESPN Ryan has denied their report that the Jets are looking for a right tackle to compete agains’t Hunter. The truth is that the Jets have been looking for a replacement for some time now as evidenced by the failed attempt at bringing in Jeff Otah. They have intensified their efforts in recent days, exploring possible low- and mid-level trades. From all indications, though, Hunter probably will be the opening-day starter.
League sources have told ESPN that the New York Jets are interested in former Florida RB Jeff Demps.
Demps went undrafted after he told he told NFL teams he planned to pursue track fulltime.
He won a silver medal at the 2012 London Games as part of the men’s 4×100 relay team. He didn’t run in the 4×100 final, where the U.S. team finished second behind Jamaica, but still received a medal for competing in the qualifying round.
The New York Jets have waived WR’s Scotty McKnight and DaMarcus Ganaway. Ganaway had been dealing with a hamstring injury while McKnight couldn’t emerge from the bottom of the WR depth chart.
About twenty players erupted into a brawl on the sideline during practice on Monday dangerously close to fans.
The fight started when D’Anton Lynn, the son of running back coach Anthony Lynn, pushed RB Joe Mcknight out of bounds following a Mark Sanchez screen pass. McKnight clearly upset about being shoved fired the ball at Lynn, and immediately started fighting, Mcknight charged and threw the first punch. A massive pile-up of both offensive and defensive player quickly formed thereafter running over advertisement placards, which run all along the length of the sideline.
Coach Rex Ryan quickly ran over and started pulling away at the pile of players and restored order in about a minute.
Jim Leonhard has agreed to a 1 year contract with the Denver Broncos. Leonhard had suffered season ending injuries the last to years and was not resigned once he hit free agency. He also worked out for Buffalo who offered him a deal as well but he went with Denver instead. I want to say on behalf of all Jets fans, You will be missed Jim Leonhard.
