The NFL is officially open for business after Thursday’s first dynamic kickoff and Baltimore’s toenail-thin loss, but there’s still one holdout remaining. Former NFL GM Michael Lombardi said Thursday on the Pat McAfee Show that Haason Reddick’s impasse with the New York Jets is not only the last, it’s also the most ridiculous.
“I don’t understand that one,” Lombardi said. “You’re just giving away money. It makes no sense. You’re due to make $14 million this year, you’re going to become a free agent next year and now you’re going to pay almost $7 million worth in fines?”
The New York Jets acquired Reddick and his contract from Philadelphia in March, trading for a player who ranks fourth in the NFL since 2000 with 50½ sacks. The move was a boost for a tortured fan base with Super Bowl hopes. However, since the trade, the edge rusher’s only significant presence at Jets headquarters has been in the form of constant questions from reporters. Lombardi believes Reddick should’ve gone the route of Ja’Marr Chase.
“I don’t see how whoever’s giving Haason Reddick advice that this is good advice” Lombardi said. “Hold in if you want. But to get fined and not be able to get your money back is problematic. That’s a real issue. The Jets haven’t seemed to move and I don’t see why they would move now if they haven’t moved before.”
Some want the Jets to move, though, considering their sacks leader from last season, Bryce Huff, is preparing to meet the Packers in his debut with the Eagles tonight. Heading into their season-opener on Monday Night Football at San Francisco (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN), the Jets are also without Quinton Jefferson, who had six sacks last season and left for Cleveland.
McAfee said Reddick could be waiting for another team to realize, possibly after Week 1, it’s missing an edge rusher. But Jets general manager Joe Douglas said last month the team would not trade Reddick. Douglas also said New York offered Reddick a contract extension but the player declined.
Running back Le’Veon Bell sat out the 2018 season in a contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers and never returned to form after joining the Jets.