Trouble In Paradise

If it's not one thing, it's another. Always seems like there's got to be something going on during Jets training camp. earlier in camp, it was a minor squabble between Garett Wilson and Aaron Rogers. But the bigger story is what's going on over the past few days with Haason Reddick.

Reddick was traded on April 1st by the Philadelphia Eagles to the Jets for a conditional draft pick. Reddick hasn't reported to camp, missing 21 days. He isn't happy with his contract situation and is requesting a trade. The Jets have fired back with the following statement (per ESPN):

"We have informed Haason that we will not trade him, that he is expected to be here with his teammates, and that he will continue to be fined per the CBA if he does not report," general manager Joe Douglas said in the statement. "Since the trade discussions back in March we have been clear, direct, and consistent with our position. Our focus will remain on the guys we have here as we prepare for the regular season."

With him missing time, Reddick has cost him $1.7 Million as of this writing. 

There had been some high expectations for the Jets defense. There's no denying the fact that Gang Green had one of the best defenses in all of football last season. They were expecting to get that much better by adding Reddick to that defensive line. But now that's getting tougher, as Reddick hasn't stepped a foot on the field at all for the Jets. Save for his physical the day he got traded to the team. He hasn't been seen inside the Jets facility since. The Jets have already made it public that they won't negotiate with a player unless he's in camp, and Reddick is nowhere to be found. 

Reddick's reasoning? He wants a new contract, one he feels he deserves after the numbers he's put up during his time in Philly.. He wanted to talk with the Jets when they traded for him, the team told him they were planning on extending him. But the team has said that they would do it either later in camp or at the end of the season.

Coming from a fans point of view, this is getting ridiculous. I know that the man wants to get paid, and there isn't anything wrong with getting paid what you feel you're worth. But at the same time, holding out like this isn't doing you any good. It's doing more harm than good. You want a new deal? Go out there and work your ass off for it, that's going to go a long way to getting you what you want. Holding out is doing the opposite. And its making it worst holding out while requesting a trade. It shows other teams, in my mind, that you gonna throw a bit of a hissy fit if you don't get your way. Things need to get resolved and quickly for all parties involved.

This, once again, feels like something that would happen to the Jets.