Jets' Leon Washington Hints at Training Camp Holdout

He missed some of the team's voluntary OTA workouts, but Jets running back Leon Washington is in New Jersey for mandatory minicamp even though he's still looking for a contract extension. Washington spoke to reporters in Florham Park on Tuesday and hinted that he might hold out of training camp next month if no deal is reached before then.

"No decision for training camp," Washington said, according to a transcript of his interview provided by the Jets' media relations department. "I will wait until that time comes around and we will see how everything goes. I have to talk to my agent and the Jets but there is no decision yet. I think it's important for me to be at training camp, and hopefully I can be there."

Washington is slated to make $535,000 this year and is seeking a new contract along the lines of that of Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew, who is guaranteed $4 million per year on his new four-year deal. The Jets have had talks with Washington about a new deal but have yet to agree on one.

"Everyone knows that the Jets want to give me an extension," Washington said. "Obviously, we had some disagreements on the contract parameters. I have to do what I have to do in order to get my point across."

Which is why he was absent from voluntary workouts a couple of weeks ago. As for why he had a change of heart and decided to return to those voluntary workouts last week, Washington said it was about "good faith."

"I'm not frustrated at all," Washington said. "Contracts or agreements usually take a long time to work out. Obviously, I have a different situation, but at the same time I realize the importance of me getting out there with my teammates, and I want to be there. I just want fair market value, and then you will see Leon at training camp."

So... to be continued, I guess...