Tuesday's Jets News (feel free to add on folks)

[SoFlaJets]

I guess I'll do a News Thread;

STICK 'EM UP: TANNENBAUM PULLS OFF HEIST March 6, 2007 -- THE next picture you see of Mike Tannenbaum should depict the Jets' general manager wearing a ski mask over his boyish face, because he held the Bears up with a squirt gun and a smile yesterday.

The loot was Bears' running back Thomas Jones, a legitimate 1,000-yard rusher who's not only a terrific pass receiver but battle-tested in the postseason, where he just carried Chicago to Super Bowl XLI on his able back.

If you question the premise that the Jets got Jones for mere Monopoly money, go gauge the vibe in Chicago today by listening to some Windy City sports talk radio.

You won't find many Bears fans glad to see Jones go - for any price, let alone a single second-round draft pick.

Outside of second-year RB Cedric Benson, whom the Bears have already invested $16 million in and who now gets the playground to himself, you won't find a happy face in the Chicago locker room about this trade.

Bears' QB Rex Grossman is on record as saying Jones was the "emotional leader" of the team and that, without Jones, the Bears do not get anywhere near Miami for Super Bowl XLI.

The Jets didn't land Curtis Martin or Tiki Barber last night, but in terms of production and character, Jones might not be far off from those two former New York running back icons who spoiled Jets and Giants fans this decade.

At only 28, he's a true feature back with good hands and, based on some conversations with some Chicago people who know him well, he's also a man of high character - a big factor for Tannenbaum and Eric Mangini.

Jones is coming off a terrific 2006 season, during which he rushed for 1,210 yards (11th in the NFL), a 4.1-yard average and six TDs, and he's less than two months removed from rushing for 123 yards and two TDs in the Bears' NFC Championship Game victory over the Saints and 112 yards on 15 carries in their Super Bowl loss to the Colts.

Jones, who became the first Bears' RB to rush for 1,200 or more yards in consecutive seasons (he had 1,335 in 2005) since Walter Payton, gave the Jets a close-up look at how good he is when he ran for 121 yards on 23 carries in the Bears' 10-0 win over the Jets in November.

The Jets' rushing attack ranked 30th in the NFL with a plodding 3.5-yards-per-carry average in 2006, and that put far too much pressure on Chad Pennington to carry the team. This move immediately makes Pennington better in 2007.

Sure, rookie Leon Washington was a revelation in his first season, leading the team with 650 yards and four TDs on 151 carries for a 4.3-yard average. But after Washington, it was grim.

Washington is a solid complementary back, and he and Jones will make up a one-two-punch strong tandem in an era where two quality backs is how successful teams roll now.

With this trade, a huge coup for the Jets, they still have two second-round draft picks and, of course, didn't have to relinquish their first-round pick to improve the running game, their top offseason priority.

The bulk of the credit for that goes to Trader Mike, who looks to have engineered the Jets' best player acquisition since Bill Parcells stole Martin from the Patriots in 1998.

If you don't recognize him, he's the one with the ski mask tugged over his head.

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com

[SoFlaJets]

BEAR MARKET

JETS BOLSTER BACKFIELD WITH JONES

By MARK CANNIZZARO

March 6, 2007 -- For those Jets fans who were becoming increasingly antsy this offseason as the Jets seemingly idled while much of the competition around them (read: the Patriots) were making big-time improvements, take heart.

The Jets finally struck last night and they struck pretty big, acquiring running back Thomas Jones from the Bears in a trade and finally bolstering their sagging rushing attack.

Jones, 28, comes to the Jets along with a Bears' second-round draft pick (the 63rd overall) for one of the Jets' two second-round picks (the 37th overall).

Jones' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was working with Jets' management on a new contract (he has one year remaining on his current pact for $2.5 million).

A Jets source last night confirmed the deal and said it's contingent on the two sides coming to a contract agreement and Jones passing a physical today. Rosenhaus did not return several phone calls.

Based on the current running back market, with Travis Henry getting $12 million in guaranteed money in a five-year deal with the Broncos and Ahman Green signing with the Texans for $23 million over four years, Jones' deal should come in at around $5 million per year.

Jones rushed for 1,210 yards, a 4.1-yard average, and six TDs last season.

In 2004, he ran for a career-best 1,335 yards, a 4.3-yard average and nine TDs in 15 games and gained 948 yards and seven TDs on 240 carries in 2003, his first season with the Bears.

Jones is also a strong receiver out of the backfield, having caught 118 passes in his three seasons in Chicago. Prior to his three seasons in Chicago, Jones played one year for Tampa Bay after his first three seasons in Arizona.

After the Bears drafted Cedric Benson in the first round last season, Jones saw his carries begin to diminish.

And, with Benson, in whom the Bears have already invested $16 million in guaranteed money, now entering his second season, the Bears weren't going to sign Jones to another long-term deal. So they got something for him before losing him after next season.

In other offseason news, Dallas DE Kenyon Coleman and Miami DE David Bowens both visited the Jets yesterday.

"David had a wonderful visit (Sunday) night and (yesterday) and we hope to talk to the Jets more (about a contract today)," Bowens' agent Harold Lewis said yesterday.

Bowens, who's recorded 18 sacks in the last three seasons, is familiar with Jets' defensive line coach Dan Quinn, who came here from the Dolphins last month.

Coleman, entering his sixth season, started five games for the Cowboys last season.

Also, the Jets are looking to replace free agent loss B.J. Askew (who signed with the Bucs), and are scheduled to visit today with former Miami FB Darian Barnes.

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com

MEET MR. JONES

NAME: Thomas Jones.

HEIGHT-WEIGHT: 5-10, 220.

POSITION: Running back.

BIRTHDATE: Aug. 19, 1978.

BIRTHPLACE: Big Stone Gap, Va.

COLLEGE: Virginia.

DRAFTED: 2000, first round, pick No. 7 by the Arizona Cardinals.

AS A CAVALIER: Jones left Virginia with eight conference and 15 team records, including finishing as the Cavaliers' all-time rushing leader with 3,998 yards, eclipsing the previous mark of 3,389 set by Tiki Barber.

AS A PRO: Jones carried the ball 55 times this past postseason for 301 yards and four touchdowns as the Bears advanced to the Super Bowl. For his career, including stops with the Cardinals, Buccaneers and Bears, he has 5,384 yards and 34 touchdowns

DID YOU KNOW?: Jones younger brother, Julius, is the starting running back for the Cowboys. Last season, they became the first brother tandem in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in the same year.

[SoFlaJets]

Gang Green rolls dice and comes up with Super running back

The Jets snoozed through the first weekend of free agency with their $17 million in salary cap room as the Patriots developed a new personality - Bill Belichick spending a lot of Robert Kraft's money - and widened the gap in the AFC East with a wild weekend in the market.

Now running back Thomas Jones, whom the Jets stole from the Bears last night in a trade by moving down 26 spots in the second round helps close the gap again and will make up for the yards the Jets couldn't replace last year when Curtis Martin's body finally said it had enough and Kevan Barlow could not justify the fourth-round pick the Jets gave up to get him.

Jones obviously likes to run at Giants Stadium. In back-to-back weeks last season, he had 113 yards against the Giants and 121 against the Jets.

The NFL is a copycat league and the new trend is alternating running backs after both Super Bowl teams used that formula. The Bears did it with Jones and Cedric Benson. The Colts did it with Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes.

The Jets will try to finally catch the Patriots with Jones and Leon Washington, who is more suited to being a changeup rusher than the every-down back he played late in his rookie season.

Jones, the Bears' best player in their Super Bowl loss, surely will be the feature back. Washington will catch defenses off balance. Jones had an excellent postseason, rushing for 66 yards against the Seahawks and following that with a team playoff record 123 against the Saints in the NFC title game and 112 in the Super Bowl against the Colts. He should have been given the ball a lot more than 15 times in the Super Bowl considering Benson was lost with a knee injury early, it was a close game and it was the Bad Rex Grossman who showed up in Miami.

"The Jets have a good combination," one GM said last night. "Thomas is much better as a combination back. He runs so hard, he's going to get beat up. He doesn't shy away from contact. He's got good hands, good vision. You can do everything you need to do in an offense with him. That's a good move for the Jets. I like Thomas Jones."

It's clear Eric Mangini and Mike Tannenbaum don't believe the best way to build a team is to spend big money on other team's players - there was no indication they ever got involved before the Patriots signed linebacker Adalius Thomas - but they were never going to be able to put together a package to move all the way up to Detroit's No. 2 spot in the first round to get Adrian Peterson.

So they were going to have to dispense some of Woody Johnson's cash: Jones will get $12M guaranteed in a multi-year deal negotiated with the Jets last night. Jones is a better player than the top free-agent backs: Ahman Green (signed by Houston), Travis Henry (signed by Denver) or Rhodes, who may sign with the Giants.

Why would the Bears let Jones go? They were not prepared to upgrade his contract - he has one year left at $2.7 million - which has made Jones very unhappy since last offseason. They are ready to turn the running game over to Benson, in whom they invested the fourth pick in the 2005 draft and about $16 million in guaranteed money. And by moving up to the 37th overall pick in the April 28 draft, GM Jerry Angelo is now is position to package the Nos. 31 and 37 picks to jump into the middle of the first round if he wants.

The surprising part of the deal is that the Jets, who gave the Bears the second-round pick they obtained from Washington on draft day last year, also acquired Chicago's second-rounder, No. 63 overall, along with Jones. They also have their own 59th pick as well as their first-rounder.

Jones is coming off seasons of 1,335 and 1,210 yards with a total of 610 carries. He is clearly durable, missing just one game the last two years. And he's not used up: He's going into his eighth season, but in his first five years, he had only 739 carries.

"He's a young 29," the GM said.

Jones, who will be 29 this summer, helped ruin the Giants' season in 2006 when he gained 26 yards on a third-and-22 draw play when the Bears were just trying to run out the clock at the end of the first half trailing 13-3. Instead, Jones' run changed Lovie Smith's strategy. The Bears went in for the touchdown and ran away from the Giants in the second half.

Jones leaves Chicago with the team record for rushing yards in a playoff game. More than Gale Sayers, who never made it to the postseason. More than Walter Payton, who played in nine playoff games.

Last year on draft day, the Jets tried to trade for Dallas' Julius Jones, who is Thomas' younger brother. Last summer, the Jets called the Bears about Thomas Jones, but he was not available. "I don't know what Thomas' shelf life is, how much he has left," the GM said.

Maybe one or two years, the GM suggested. You never know with running backs. Considering how little the Jets gave up to get him, they will be happy if they can squeeze a couple of 1,200-yard seasons out of him. It may help them catch the Patriots.

Originally published on March 6, 2007

[BP]

From a Chicago writer

March 6, 2007

BY JAY MARIOTTI Sun-Times Columnist

Gee, I can't wait to experience all the positive vibes at the Bears Convention, which ever so appropriately falls on April Fools' Day weekend. The fans will be in delightful moods after the events of Black Monday, when Thomas Jones was traded to the New York Jets for a clump of lint only hours after Lance Briggs announced he'd rather swallow cyanide than play another season for Ted Phillips and Jerry Angelo.

Feel like giving away Brian Urlacher while you're at it, gents? Or ticking off Tommie Harris?

''There's a difference between the Chicago Bears team and Chicago Bears organization,'' Briggs told ESPN.com in some of the most indicting words ever about Operation McCaskey. ''The Chicago Bears team? The coaches, players, city and fans? Yeah, I could stay there forever. I love it. But the Chicago Bears organization? I don't want to be there anymore. I won't play for them, and I'll do everything in my power to keep from playing there.''

So much for any goodwill regained after the Lovie Smith signing. Halas Hall has made the tactical error of waging a war with a shark -- one who is wrecking hopes of returning to the Super Bowl. If you've seen ''Jerry Maguire,'' you might know that the Bob Sugar character -- the creep who stole most of poor Jerry's clients after his ill-fated mission statement -- was patterned after real-life agent Drew Rosenhaus. The Bears would have been wise to make nice with Dangerous Drew. He represents Jones, their most consistent offensive player and a running back who might have won the big game if they hadn't turned things over to an unfit quarterback. And he represents Briggs, the premier linebacker who is Pippen/Robin/The Edge to Urlacher's Jordan/Batman/Bono act.

Armed with $17 million of salary-cap room, during a free-agent period in which teams are throwing around insane deals to non-superstar talent, the Bears have the money to reward Briggs with the lucrative contract he deserves in the current market. And if Jones' situation was a bit more precarious, with one season left on his deal, perhaps they could have found enough money for a respectable extension. Instead, they carelessly shipped away Jones, assuming he negotiates a new contract and passes a physical with the Jets today, while angering Briggs with a franchise tag that has him vowing never again to play for the Bears.

Don't forget about Rex

What this means is that brittle, unproven Cedric Benson is your featured back, the same Benson whose first-quarter fumble in the Super Bowl reversed the momentum of Devin Hester's touchdown return and whose knee sprain ended his night early. And what this means is that Briggs, if he's serious about sitting out next season and protecting himself from a career-ending injury, might turn over his starting job to Leon Joe, who has played so little that he would be a ''Joe'' on ''Pros vs. Joes.''

Suddenly, the Bears are a chaotic ship jeopardized by inner turmoil. Over the next two offseasons, several more key players will face expiring contracts, making these winter soap operas a perpetual irritant for a front office still capable of operating on the cheap. Oh, and did I mention the latest on Rex Grossman? Seems he was at Evanston Hospital recently to have tenderness checked out in his throwing shoulder. Hope no one minds me asking if Rex was experiencing the same tenderness in the Super Bowl, or during any of his maddeningly erratic stretches during the season's second half. Because if he was the least bit sore and didn't tell anyone, I'll help 8 million locals toss the guy into Lake Michigan.

With Jones off to Gang Green, where he can take his 3,874 rushing yards over the last three seasons to a more appreciative franchise, the Bears are even more pressured to save public-relations face by rectifying the Briggs mess. He has issued an ultimatum to the club: Either rescind his franchise-player designation -- which would bring him a $7.2 million salary in 2007 -- or trade him. The Bears say they're only playing by the rules as collectively bargained by the NFL and the players association. If Briggs doesn't like the franchise tag and the idea of having his free agency severely restricted, Angelo might urge him to call union chief Gene Upshaw for a history lesson. That said, the Bears find themselves in a brief window of championship opportunity. Having blown one Super Bowl, they can't let their financial principles interfere with reaching another.

More than they realize, they need Briggs. Angelo and Smith seem to view Urlacher as a linebacking god and Briggs as an interchangeable part who feeds off No. 54. But ask Urlacher about the importance of his partner as a playmaker, how Briggs is second in the NFC in total tackles (to Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks) over the last three years. If Halas Hall doesn't take care of Briggs, no one will be more peeved than Urlacher. And crazy as it sounds, Briggs stands to make more than the celebrated franchise face in the current market. In 2003, Urlacher signed a nine-year, $56.6 million extension with a $13 million signing bonus. At the time, the contract was declared a ''landmark deal'' by Angelo. Now, it's obsolete.

Just look at the Eagles

Look at some of the weekend free-agent deals that blurred the senses. Linebacker Adalius Thomas, who had a standout 2006 season but doesn't share Briggs' impressive body of work, received $20 million in guaranteed money and a five-year, $35 million deal from New England. London Fletcher-Baker, a veteran linebacker, got a $10.5 million bonus from Washington. That's why Briggs and Rosenhaus look at the Bears' last offer -- $33 million over seven years, and a bonus believed to be $8million -- and aren't budging.

If I were the Bears, I'd budge. I'd break down, sign Briggs, send a healthy message to the locker room about franchise commitment and try to win a Super Bowl. They have until July 16 to sign him to a long-term contract more in line with the megadeals. If not, I'm afraid all hell will break loose and a lot of bourbon will spill in Bourbonnais. We'll be bombarded by the Briggs story, and at the center of the circus will be Rosenhaus, who trashed the Philadelphia Eagles' season two years ago with his role in the Terrell Owens debacle. Trust me, Chicago wants no part of this man in a rage.

So in one depressing swoop, the Bears traded a back who rushed for 301 postseason yards, moved up a few spots in the second round, angered a man who fortifies their defense and failed to make a single splash in a free-agent frenzy. Enjoy that convention, people.

Jay Mariotti is a regular on ''Around the Horn'' at 4 p.m. on ESPN. Send e-mail to inbox@suntimes.com with name, hometown and daytime phone number (letters run Sunday).

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[SoFlaJets]

Jets grab Jones

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 Redskins, 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.

Originally published on March 6, 2007

[SoFlaJets]

Bears' Thomas Jones dealt to Jets

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

By RANDY LANGE

STAFF WRITER

Not so fast, New England. How's that, Gang Green fans?

The Jets dramatically jumped into the free agency signing period Monday night, not with a signing but with a trade for Thomas Jones, the talented tailback of the NFC-champion Chicago Bears, plus a swap of second-round draft picks.

It was not a done deal late Monday night because league sources said the Jets needed to hammer out a new long-term contract with Jones' agent, Drew Rosenhaus. But a Jets source said a deal could be completed as soon as today, assuming Jones passes his physical and agrees to an extension.

News of the preliminary transaction pleasantly surprised many who thought the Jets were allowing their AFC East nemeses, the Patriots, to surge too far ahead with the signing of linebacker Adalius Thomas and Monday's trade for Miami wide receiver/kick returner Wes Welker.

And it may have answered a Jets need for their "next Curtis Martin," a tailback to team with second-year back Leon Washington and better anchor the ground game after last year's inconsistent running-back-by-committee.

Jones file

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[SoFlaJets]

Hitting hole

Source: Jets reach preliminary agreement to get Bears RB Jones

BY TOM ROCK AND BOB GLAUBER

tom.rock@newsday.com; bob.glauber@newsday.com

March 6, 2007

The Jets still have not signed any free agents during this offseason period that began Friday, but yesterday they took a huge step toward improving one of their weakest spots.

Instead of trying to keep up with the Joneses through free agency, they went out and got their own Jones.

The Jets have reached an agreement with the Bears to acquire running back Thomas Jones in a move that is contingent on his passing a physical and agreeing to a contract extension, a team source confirmed to Newsday last night. The trade could be completed today.

If the deal goes through, the Jets will receive Jones, who is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, along with the Bears' second-round pick (63rd overall) in exchange for the higher of their two second-round picks (37th overall), according to the source. The Jets acquired that pick in a deal with the Redskins and would retain their own second-round pick, 59th overall.

Jones had one year left on his contract with the Bears and was due to earn $2.75 million in 2007. If the Jets sign Jones, it likely will be for terms similar to the five-year, $25-million deal Travis Henry signed with the Broncos as an unrestricted free agent yesterday.

Jones was unhappy with the Bears when they picked Cedric Benson in the 2005 draft - he even skipped some offseason training with the team in protest before the 2006 season - but his discontent did not show up in his production. He ran for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns on 296 carries as the Bears advanced to the Super Bowl this past season and had 1,335 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 314 carries in 2005.

A first-round pick by the Cardinals in 2000, he did not begin to flourish until he arrived in Chicago and ran for 948 yards in 2004. He has averaged 4.0 yards per carry in his career.

The Jets struggled to replace injured Curtis Martin in 2006, eventually settling on a committee of backs, and averaged 108 rushing yards per game during the regular season. That ranked 20th; only the Ravens averaged fewer rushing yards and still made the playoffs.

In recent weeks, the Jets released Derrick Blaylock and Kevan Barlow, who once were considered capable of carrying the Jets' running game but were, by season's end, inactive due to coaching decisions.

The Jets will have second-year back Leon Washington and third-year player Cedric Houston to share the load with Thomas if the trade is completed. Washington showed game-breaking moves in his rookie season, but at 5-8, 202 pounds, there is doubt he can be an every-down running back.

Jones is listed at 5-10, 220 pounds. He'll be 29 years old when the 2007 regular season opens.

The deal would leave the Bears with Benson as their top running back. Benson injured his left knee in the first quarter of Super Bowl XLI last month and has 919 career rushing yards in his two NFL seasons.

Notes & quotes: The Jets could announce their first free-agent signing of the offseason today after spending yesterday meeting with David Bowens (Dolphins). An offer was not made last night, but Bowens' agent, Harold Lewis, said a deal could be in place by today. Bowens had five sacks in limited playing time for Miami in 2006, playing mostly defensive end. He'll likely be converted into a pass-rushing outside linebacker if he signs with the Jets . . . The Jets also met with defensive end Kenyon Coleman (Cowboys) yesterday. Jordan Woy, Coleman's agent, said in an e-mail last night that the meeting has been "great so far" . . . The Jets were expected to meet with free-agent running back T.J. Duckett (Redskins) this week. Neither the Jets nor Duckett's agent could be reached for comment regarding whether those plans remained in place after the apparent Jones deal.

Thomas Jones bio

Age: 28

Height: 5-10

Weight: 215

College: Virginia

Drafted: First round, No 7 overall, by Arizona in 2000.

Personal: One of seven children, younger brother Julius is RB with Dallas.

Pro career: Jets will be his fourth team. Played three seasons in Arizona before he was traded to Tampa Bay in June 2003. Signed four-year contract as a free agent with Chicago in March 2004.

YARDS RUSHING IN THREE SEASONS WITH BEARS 3,513

YARDS RUSHING IN 2006, 11TH IN NFL 1,210

AVG. YARDS RUSHING IN THREE 2006 POSTSEASON GAMES 100.3

100-YARD GAMES IN 2006, INCLUDING 2 IN POSTSEASON (JETS HAD TOTAL OF 3) 6

YARDS PER CARRY IN 2006 4.1

1000-YARD SEASONS 2

FUMBLE LOST IN 296 CARRIES IN 2006 1

[SoFlaJets]

Jets' deal for Bears' Jones nearly done

By ANDREW GROSS

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: March 6, 2007)

The Jets tried a running back-by-committee last season to replace Curtis Martin, and despite limited success, coach Eric Mangini might still be so inclined in 2007.

But at least it appears he'll have a bona fide featured back on his roster.

The Jets worked out a conditional trade last night with the Bears to acquire 28-year-old Thomas Jones, who rushed for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns for the NFC champions last season. The Jets also will acquire the Bears' second-round pick, No. 63 overall, while the Bears will get the first of the Jets' two second-rounders, No. 37 overall.

The deal, which is expected to be announced today, is contingent on Jones' agreeing to a new contract with the Jets and passing the team's physical.

The Jets, using rookie Leon Washington, second-year back Cedric Houston and the since-released Kevan Barlow and Derrick Blaylock, were 20th in the NFL with an average of 108.6 rushing yards per game. Washington led the Jets with 650 yards.

Jones was due to earn $2.75 million in the last year of his contract with the Bears. But Chicago, for financial reasons, is eager to have Cedric Benson, the fourth overall pick in the 2004 draft, take over as its featured back.

The Bears also shopped Jones last offseason without success, and Jones and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, approached Chicago general manager Jerry Angelo earlier this offseason to request either a contract extension or a trade.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Jones' deal with the Jets will include $12 million guaranteed, the same amount guaranteed in the five-year contract former Titan Travis Henry received from the Broncos. A Jets deal with Jones is likely to be closer to that than the four years, $23 million and $6.5 million guaranteed ex-Packer Ahman Green just got from Houston.

Arizona selected Jones out of Virginia with the seventh pick in the 2000 draft, and he's gained 5,384 career yards and 34 touchdowns in seven seasons with the Cardinals, Buccaneers and Bears. In 2006, he and the Cowboys' Julius Jones became the first brothers to each gain 1,000 yards in the same season.

Also, the Jets yesterday moved closer to a deal with Dolphins defensive end David Bowens and reportedly were very interested in Dallas right tackle Marc Colombo.

[SoFlaJets]

Jets deal for Bears RB Jones

Swap second-round picks for two-time 1,000-yarder

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON

Star-Ledger Staff

The Jets awoke from their off-season slumber last night with a tentative deal to acquire Chicago Bears running back Thomas Jones, a trade that will cost them financially but one that fills a major hole on a team that suffered from a lackluster rushing game last season.

Jones, a back-to-back 1,200-yard rusher for the NFC champions, would be the heir apparent to future Hall of Famer Curtis Martin, who has indicated he'll retire because of a knee injury. Martin missed all of last season, and the Jets struggled to find consistency among his replacements.

The trade involving draft picks was confirmed by the Jets last night. It's contingent on Jones passing a physical and agreeing to a new deal. The trade could finalized as early as today. Jones, who was scheduled to earn $2.72 million in the final year of his contract, is looking for a deal that would put him in the upper echelon of running backs in the NFL.

Jones is represented by agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Jets would obtained Jones and the Bears' second-round pick (63rd overall) for one of their two second-round picks (37th overall), a selection which was acquired from Washington in a draft-day deal last season.

The trade leaves the team's philosophy of building through the draft intact. Even after the deal, the Jets will have four picks on the first day of the draft on April 28. The Jets have a first-round pick (25th overall), two second-rounders (59th and 63rd overall) and a third-round selection.

Unrestricted free-agent running back Travis Henry set the market yesterday, signing a five-year, $22.5 million deal that included $12 million guaranteed with the Broncos. The Jets are roughly $15 to $20 million under the salary cap.

Last season, the Jets ranked 20th in the NFL in rushing (108.6 yards per game) with a running back-by-committee approach that included Leon Washington, Cedric Houston and the since-released Kevan Barlow.

Even with that, the Jets advanced to the first round of the playoffs in one of the surprise stories of the season. Upgrading the running back position was a top priority this off-season.

Jones, 28, is a smooth-running, seven-year veteran who can go inside and outside and be the featured back the Jets covet to pair with scatback Washington. Jones was a leader on the Bears, even after the team drafted former Texas star Cedric Benson two years ago. The Jets have placed a premium on character when adding players.

After a sluggish start to his career, Jones, drafted seventh overall by the Cardinals in 2000, has exceeded 1,200 yards in each of the past two seasons, including 1,206 yards and six touchdowns on 296 carries last season as the Bears reached the Super Bowl. He led all postseason rushers with 301 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. He played three seasons in Arizona and one in Tampa Bay before coming to Chicago in 2004.

The Bears were willing to part with Jones for two reasons. First, he wasn't happy with his contract last season. Secondly, the Bears want to make Benson, drafted fourth overall in 2005, their featured back. Benson, though, has been a disappointment in his first two seasons.

Notes: The Jets yesterday had defensive ends David Bowens and Kenyon Coleman (Cowboys) in for a visit.

Quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo (Raiders) and fullback Darian Barnes (Dolphins), a Toms River product, are slated to visit today. The Jets tentatively had running back T.J. Duckett scheduled to visit this week but that visit will likely be canceled. Duckett was in Detroit last night and headed to New York, said his agent, Joel Segal, before news of the trade broke.

Bowens, an eight-year veteran, has played in the same 3-4 defense the Jets run for the past two seasons under former coach Nick Saban. Last season, the 6-3, 265-pounder had 15 tackles and five sacks. The Jets believe he can help spark their pass rush.

"We're talking," said his agent, Harold Lewis. "David is very interested in the Jets."

In Tuiasosopo, the Jets are looking for a veteran to be the third quarterback behind Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@starledger.com.

[SoFlaJets]

have you guys heard? The Jets got Thomas Jones....

(thanks BP if you find more post 'em up brother)

[SoFlaJets]

News - Miami Signs LB Joey Porter

Posted on Tue, March 6, 2007 - 11:10AM by Gary Grund

ESPN's John Clayton reports free agent linebacker Joey Porter has agreed to terms with the Dolphins on a five-year, $32 million contract. $20 million to sign him.

...Obviously this will only improve Miami's D. We've got two loud mouths now on opposite sides of each other. I wanted Porter on the Jets only because he is a good playmaker and team leader. However, it didn't work out, but I still trust Tannenbaum and Mangini for standing pat...