It appears that newly appointed general manager Mike Maccagnan won’t be trigger shy about making moves for his New York Jets as two big-name veteran players are likely on their way out.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a league source tells Metro New York that the Jets appear set to let go running back Chris Johnson as well as quarterback Michael Vick. Johnson, arrested in January in Florida on weapons charges, is on a two-year contract with the Jets but the source said that “he is to be released in the next couple of days.” As first noted by Dom Cosentino of NJ Advanced Media, the Jets have until Feb. 16 to decide if the second year of Johnson’s contract with the Jets is set in place. The source said “every indication right now is that the Jets are going to move on. It’s a matter of his production on the field along with the arrest matter. “Chris Johnson will not be a member of the Jets in 2015,” the source said.
As for Vick, the Jets right now are going to let him test free agency, the source said, indicating that there is no talk of a contract offer to retain the veteran as of right now. One source indicated that a return to the Jets is possible, and that might be of interest to the veteran quarterback, but as of right now “he will be allowed to test free agency.” Based what the Jets do in free agency, as well as the NFL Draft, Vick could then be offered another contract, in all likelihood another one-year deal.
Both Johnson and Vick signed with the Jets last season with a certain amount of fanfare, but it was Johnson who was the disappointment. Vick came in to spell incumbent starter Geno Smith for several games during the middle of the season and did relatively well. But Johnson was entirely underwhelming. In 16 games, Johnson posted a career low in carries (155) as well as rushing yards (663) and had just one rushing touchdown on the season.
Source: Chris Johnson, Michael Vick leaving Jets
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