The New York Jets took out a full-page, full-color ad in Sunday morning's edition of the Kansas City Star to express gratitude to former running back Thomas Jones.
Jones is coming off the best season of his career, but the Jets cut him more than a week ago and reportedly declined to match the two-year, $5 million offer he received from the Kansas City Chiefs.
On Sunday, the Jets agreed to terms with LaDainian Tomlinson on a two-year, $5.1 million contract even though Tomlinson is coming off the worst season of his career.
The ad ran on page A11 and shows a large action photo of Jones with these words underneath:
"A person who embodies TOUGHNESS, DEDICATION and LEADERSHIP. Thanks TJ for three great seasons."
It's signed: "Woody Johnson, Coach Rex Ryan, Mike Tannenbaum and the New York Jets."
Sounds like three qualities a team would want to keep in their locker room.
On the day the Jets released Jones, a player who requested anonymity seemed to express that sentiment to New York Daily News reporter Rich Cimini.
"I can tell you, it's not going to be a popular move in the locker room," the anonymous Jets player said. "We loved T.J. The man loved the game and put it all on the line only to get dumped after his best season. I think you should reward players for performance. You dump him but give Vernon [Gholston] another shot? Doesn't make sense."