The New York Jets are going to jettison a trio of veterans and first-round bust Vernon Gholston as they make preparations to fulfill Coach Rex Ryan's latest guarantee that they'll win their first Super Bowl in more than four decades.
OLB/DE Vernon Gholston spent too much time on the sideline in his three years with the Jets.
According to Manish Mehta of the (New York) Daily News, NT Kris Jenkins, OLB Jason Taylor and RT Damien Woody will all be let go in addition to Gholston.
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| By William Perlman, The Star-Ledger, via US Presswire |
Woody confirmed the news on his Twitter account, saying: "Just informed about my release....I want to thank the Jets and all the fans out there...it was a great ride!"
Jenkins, 31, will be released Tuesday, his agent confirmed to the Associated Press in an e-mail Monday night. Jenkins has missed 25 games since the start of 2009 with knee injuries and has been sufficiently supplanted by Sione Pouha. Taylor, 36, a longtime antagonist of the team as a Miami Dolphin, enjoyed his year in green and white but is no longer an impact pass rusher, something New York needs. Woody, 33, battled a knee injury this season then was lost to an Achilles' injury in the Jets' wild-card win at the Colts. He could be replaced by Vladimir Ducasse, last year's second-round pick, or veteran Wayne Hunter, who filled in this season.
Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum usually comes up aces with his first-round picks but badly misevaluated Gholston, 24. The sixth overall pick of the 2008 draft has yet to record an NFL sack and was inactive during the playoffs. The team imported Taylor to try and provide the pressure Gholston could not. Ryan tried moving Gholston from outside linebacker to defensive end but couldn't harness his physical abilities.
Ryan and Tannenbaum have consistently praised the efforts of Gholston -- who might have been miscast in New York after playing defensive end in Ohio State's 4-3 alignment -- saying he has done everything the coaching staff asked.
The moves could save the Jets approximately $24 million, money they could reallocate toward free-agents-to-be in WRs Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Brad Smith and CB Antonio Cromartie. New York also seems to be signaling intent to get younger on the defensive front seven as a draft replete with defensive linemen looms.
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