This wasn't a deal, it was robbery
Adam Schein / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 1 hour ago
It might go down as the greatest deal in NFL history.
Ok, that's hyperbole. But it sure feels that way.
Mike Tannenbaum ripped off the Bears in acquiring Thomas Jones, one of the toughest and most effective running backs in the NFL.
All the savvy Jets general manager had to give up was one of his two second-round picks, No. 37 overall, which Tannenbaum stole from the Redskins last year on draft day in the infamous Rocky McIntosh deal.
Oh yeah, Chicago threw in its own second-round pick, No. 63 overall.
Somebody call the authorities.
The only thing missing is a gun and a mask.
The Jets sorely lacked a go-to running back last year and Jones fits the bill. He is a powerful workhorse who can run both inside and outside and take over games. And Jones plays big in big games; torching the Giants and Jets in the Bears' back-to-back New York swing last year, busting through Seattle for two touchdowns in the playoffs, bowling over New Orleans for two touchdowns in the NFC title game and ripping apart the Colts in the Super Bowl.
Jones also is an adroit receiver out of the backfield, with soft hands, a knack for yards after the catch and a firm grasp of his role in pass protection.
Tannenbaum just vastly improved the weakest area of the Jets offense last year and took enormous pressure off of Chad Pennington.
Bears players will tell you that Jones was one of the true leaders in Chicago.
And you know the emphasis Jets coach Eric Mangini places on character, leadership and hard work.
Jones' agent told me last night that the running back had a simple request after the Super Bowl: "Get me to New York."
Tannenbaum made it happen. And now the two are hammering out an extension (Jones is scheduled to be a free agent in 2008).
On the other side, this is just a wretched deal for Chicago.
I know general manager Jerry Angelo drafted Cedric Benson to be the back of the future, but injuries, holdouts and ineffective play have derailed him. Sure Jones wanted to be traded, but you didn't
have to deal him. And you most certainly don't trade him to simply move up in the second round. Sure this gives Angelo ammunition to trade up in the first round, but you just traded your workhorse back for a draft day chip. That's insane! Angelo should've used Jones to run towards another chase at the Super Bowl.
Which is exactly what Jones can do for the Jets.
Adam Schein hosts the Afternoon Blitz on Sirius NFL Radio with Solomon Wilcots and Jim Miller from 3-7 ET. Schein is the NFL insider for Sports Net New York. His "Scheintology" columns appear daily and his video NFL picks video reports appear every Friday on FOXSports.com. Email him at [email protected]
