Just dealing with reality

Let me explain my exact position so it can’t be misconstrued. Sheldon Richardson is a rare talent. Of course the Jets should try to keep him.

I caused a stir with many in the latest issue of Jets Confidential Magazine. The cover story is “Trade Sheldon, Pay Mo.”

Those who subscribe to the magazine might have read the two-page editorial that backs up this cover caption.

I want to clearly explain my position once again.

Of course it’s a painful concept to many Jets fans, the thought of trading Sheldon Richardson. He’s a gifted player.

In a perfect world, the Jets can easily keep Richardson the next two years under his rookie contract, a four-year deal signed in 2013.

That would make life easy for the Jets.

Just say – “honor your contract.”

I don’t suspect it’s going to be that easy.

Richardson is coming off two terrific seasons. He went to the Pro Bowl after last season. If he has another excellent season, do you really think he’s going to be willing to play for the $1.776 million he scheduled to make in 2016?

I just don’t see it. I think his contract is already bothering him. He’s the fourth highest paid player on the Jets’ defensive line this year at $1.319 million.

Damon Harrison is scheduled to make $2.356 million this year. If a long-term deal doesn’t get done, Mo Wilkerson will play this year on a one-year tender for $6.969 million. Rookie Leonard Williams recently signed a four-year deal worth $18.63 million with an $11.8 million signing bonus. The way the contract is constructed, his first year compensation is $12 million.

And another contract to consider. The contract backup defensive end Leger Douzable signed this off-season is worth $1.2 million in 2015. So Richardson’s money this year is similar to Douzable.

I know you can say – “Hey Sheldon got a signing bonus upfront for $5.69 million. You can’t exclude that money from the conversation.” I think that bonus is in the rear-view mirror now considering how well Richardson played in his first two season. And Williams got a bonus twice that amount, and hasn’t played a down in the NFL.

Richardson is a very emotional guy. The financial landscape of the Jets’ defensive line can’t be sitting well with him.

It’s a pipe dream for the Jets if they think he will quietly accept the $1.776 he’s scheduled to make in 2016. No way.

So to me, next off-season, the Richardson contract situation is going to get messy. If Williams plays to his potential, and Wilkerson continues his high-level play (and assuming he’s signed long-term), you have to CONSIDER trading Richardson. The operative word is CONSIDER.

Hey, once again, the best case scenario for the Jets is to have Richardson just play the last two years of his rookie contract. But with another standout year, I don’t see that happening.

So all I’m saying is, if Williams and Wilkerson turn into a dominating 3-4 end combo, and Harrison is re-signed to a reasonable long term deal, you have to think about trading Richardson next off-season.

But you only trade him, if you get a king’s ransom in return. You don’t give him away. It has to be an awesome offer.

One other thing to consider, while Richardson is a tremendous football player, he’s not an ideal fit for the 3-4 defense. He’s not built like a 3-4 end, and he’s too small for nose tackle in this scheme. Once again, before you call me crazy, I know when a player’s this talented, you can find a place for him in any defense. But Bowles is a pure 3-4 guy. In fact, more pure than Rex, who did a lot of hybrid stuff. 3-4 ends look like Williams and Wilkerson – both out of central casting for the job – both 6-4, over 300 pounds, long arms, good at taking up two blockers. Richardson’s ideal position is as a three-technique in a Tampa-type defense, a 4-3 front. He could be one of the best at football at that spot.

June 29, 2015

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