Woody Johnson sounded more than willing to pay the New Jersey Turnpike toll for the drive to the New York Jets' facility, but is he willing to give Haason Reddick the mega pay raise the holdout's apparently demanding?
After blowing off mandatory minicamp and the entire preseason, Reddick still refuses to report for work due to his contract status. The South Jersey native reportedly wants a deal worth more than $20 million annually. With the Jets seemingly unwilling to play ball at those numbers, Reddick has apparently asked to be traded.
While addressing reporters in the wake of head coach Robert Saleh's abrupt firing, Johnson made an impassioned plea to Reddick when asked about the situation.
"Haason get in your car, drive down I-95 and come to the New York Jets. We can meet you and give you an escort right in the building and you will fit right in," said Johnson. "You are going to love it here and you are going to feel welcome and you are going to accomplish great things with us."
Since the beginning, Jets' general manager Joe Douglas has hinted that the team won't talk contract status with any player who is holding out. It's likely the reason there has been practically zero movement in the Reddick saga over the past two months.
"I hope that the young man can come to the team. We would like to have Haason here. We welcome him with open arms. When he gets here he will find a very welcome locker room and he will be able to fit right in, but he has got to get here first," said Johnson.
The Jets could certainly use the pass rushing prowess that Reddick brings, especially since starting defensive end Jermaine Johnson has been lost for the season due to a torn Achilles. Reddick totaled 27.0 sacks over back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, who traded the Temple product to New York in late March for a conditional third-round draft choice.
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After his introductory press conference, Reddick has seemingly gone radio silent on the Jets. He did not attend voluntary OTAs and did not have much, if any, interaction with anyone in the building at 1 Jets Drive.
"I don't think any of us have seen anything like this so, I think you have to be part psychologist and some other gist to try to figure out what is actually going on," said Johnson.
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