Jets trade Washington, release Faneca
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Mike Tannenbaum transformed back into his normal self Saturday, working the phones hard after two rather calm, mundane days by the Jets' standards.
The general manager swung a pair of trades - one including fan favorite Leon Washington - and also handed veteran left guard Alan Faneca his walking papers, continuing the Jets' offseason of incredible change.
Tannenbaum began his morning by trading the Jets' fourth-round pick (No. 124) and their sixth-rounder (No. 236) to the Seahawks so he could move up in the fourth round to the 112th overall spot. Tannenbaum had his eyes fixed on USC running back Joe McKnight and plucked him off the board to set up his next move.
With McKnight in place, Tannenbaum shipped Washington and a seventh-round pick (No. 236) to the Seahawks for a fifth-round selection (No. 139), which he used to draft Kentucky fullback John Conner. Washington had been looking for a long-term deal for the last year-plus and never got it. He broke his right fibula in October against the Raiders and has spent the last six months rehabilitating.
He signed his $1.759-million tender April 15 and said he was looking forward to contributing in any way he could, especially after seeing all the offseason moves the Jets made while he was training in Pensacola, Fla. But Tannenbaum thought it was simply time to move the Pro Bowl return man.
"We felt looking at Leon's contractual situation, that it was going to have to happen at some point sooner or later," Tannenbaum said, "and so we felt that when we had the opportunity to go out and get John Conner, that's when we decided to make that decision."
Washington was out running an errand for his wife, Charity, and he planned on heading from New Jersey over to Long Island around 3:30 p.m. to do a little fishing with buddy and former Jets tight end Chris Baker. Once he got home from taking care of things for Charity, he turned on the television and saw the news that he had been traded.
"Honestly, I was stoked," Washington said. "It was a great opportunity for me to get a change of scenery. Coach [Pete] Carroll is a great coach to play for and I'm just excited. This is a brand new start for me. I'm just excited about getting out there and contributing to the team."
The excitement likely was a bit more tempered in Faneca's household. The nine-time Pro Bowl left guard was officially let go, a move that some question since the Jets had the league's top ground game last season.
Faneca, 33, was due a hefty $7.5-million salary with $5.2 million guaranteed, and the Jets will still be on the hook for that latter amount. Although he was a solid run blocker, Faneca struggled in pass protection, yielding 16 quarterback pressures, six sacks and three quarterback hits last season.
"This decision wasn't easy," Rex Ryan said. "He did a good job for us. Like we said before, he was a great teammate, but in this business, you have to move on . . . We are trying to win a Super Bowl. We are trying to win one this year, just like we go into every season with that in mind."
The Jets feel comfortable with Matt Slauson, last year's sixth-round pick, and Friday's second-round pick Vladimir Ducasse battling it out to take Faneca's old spot.
This, even though, the 6-4, 332-pound Ducasse hasn't played guard since the spring practice in 2007.
"I do what it takes to compete," Ducasse said. "I talked to the coaches and the GM and they brought me here to compete for a spot."