FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — On the day he despatched his head coach packing, New York Jets proprietor Woody Johnson took the bizarre step of constructing a public plea for holdout Haason Reddick to affix the workforce.
Johnson, who addressed the Robert Saleh firing Tuesday on a convention name with reporters, was requested on the finish of the decision about Reddick’s absence.
“I do not assume any of us have seen something like this, so I believe you must be half psychologist and another [thing] to strive to determine what is definitely happening,” Johnson mentioned, commenting for the primary time on the state of affairs.
Johnson mentioned they may welcome Reddick “with open arms,” including that the Professional Bowl edge rusher “will discover a very welcome locker room and he’ll have the ability to match proper in.”
Then the Jets’ proprietor shifted into salesman mode, addressing his feedback to Reddick.
“However he is acquired to get right here first,” Johnson mentioned. “So, Haason, get in your automobile, drive down I-95 and are available to the New York Jets. We will meet you and provide you with an escort proper within the constructing and you’ll match proper in and you are going to like it right here, and you are going to really feel welcome and you are going to accomplish nice issues with us.”
Reddick lives in Camden, New Jersey, about 90 minutes from the Jets’ coaching facility.
Reddick, 30, was acquired in a March 29 commerce with the Philadelphia Eagles. He needs a brand new contract and has skipped all workforce occasions, incurring greater than $8 million in fines. He’s within the remaining yr of a contract that pays him a nonguaranteed base wage of $14.25 million. He has forfeited $4.2 million of that wage by lacking the primary 5 video games.
Reddick spurned a long-term provide on the time of the commerce. He anticipated negotiations to proceed, whereas the Jets declare Reddick reneged on a promise to play below his current contract. They traded a conditional 2026 third-round decide for him.
