FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Joe Douglas sat holding his hands flat on a table in the New York Jets’ press conference room. When the Haason Reddick questions started coming, one after another, he moved his hands in closer, next to the microphone. His volume fluttered between quiet and quieter — and boomed on the rare occasion he was asked about something else.
He’d occasionally spread his fingers, then close them again… lift his hand, then put it back on the table… he was fidgety, uncomfortable. It’s hard to blame him — it’s an uncomfortable situation.
“We did talk about an extension. Once one wasn’t agreed upon, we had the conversation and we felt good about making the trade.”
Joe Douglas with more on the Haason Reddick situation: pic.twitter.com/ArMJeThu8J
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) August 29, 2024
Thursday marked the 38th day of Reddick’s holdout. As the Jets’ Week 1 game against the San Francisco 49ers approaches, the two sides appear no closer to a resolution. Douglas admitted he hasn’t spoken to Reddick since his introductory press conference on April 1, and communication with his agent, Tory Dandy, could best be described as fleeting.
“There hasn’t been a recent conversation,” Douglas said. “But the phone lines are open.”
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Thursday’s press conference — which Douglas does after roster cuts every year — marked the general manager’s first public comments since the Reddick holdout started. That’s not counting the statement Douglas released when Reddick formally requested a trade from an organization that acquired from the Eagles in March. In that statement, Douglas said the Jets have been “clear, direct and consistent” with their position on the contract negotiations. As reporters hounded him with questions, he got a little bit more specific about what, exactly, that means.
The gist: The Jets offered some sort of extension to Reddick prior to the trade (in which they gave Philadelphia a conditional 2026 third-round pick). Reddick declined. In Douglas’ estimation, they “felt good about the conversations leading up to and at the moment of the trade,” which is why they still went through with the trade even though Reddick hadn’t agreed to a new deal.
“In simple terms, we did talk about an extension. Once one wasn’t agreed upon we had the conversation and we felt good about making the trade,” Douglas said. “Obviously, he came here, reported, had a great day here and, again, we’re just awaiting his arrival.”
Reddick conducted his introductory press conference — and hasn’t been seen since. Communication with Douglas, coaches and teammates has been sparse. And the Jets’ stance since the holdout started has remained consistent: They won’t negotiate anything until he shows up.
“I mean, I think we’ve been clear from the outset of: Let’s get here and then let’s talk,” Douglas said. “Obviously, I want to reiterate the respect I have (for Reddick), but it’s just not — I don’t have the benefit of dealing with one person and one agent. A lot of decisions you make reverberate through the locker room and have a ripple effect through the locker room, so to me that is, and will always be, the most important thing.”
Douglas was asked if he felt that Reddick and his team reneged on an agreement they’d made prior to the trade. He didn’t exactly answer the question, instead referring back to the same line he likely practiced before his press conference: We respect him.
“I’d say that from our standpoint we’ve been really clear and direct with our communication,” Douglas said. “A lot of respect for the agent, a lot of respect for the player and I have faith this will all get resolved.”
But when?
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Reddick was willing to forfeit significant money — $50,000 for every day of camp he skipped, plus a $100,000 fine for skipping minicamp and the $250,000 workout bonus he forfeited from skipping voluntary offseason workouts. The Jets also had the ability to levy additional fines.
Now, we’re getting into game-check territory. If he skips the 49ers game, Reddick will forfeit $791,666, and his contract will stay non-guaranteed for the rest of the season. If he reports for Week 1, his $14.25 million salary will be guaranteed.
At this point there does not seem to be any indication that Reddick will report, though that can change quickly.
“I can’t lay out any expectations right now. But when he does arrive, we’re all going to be excited,” Douglas said.
The consequence of adding Reddick was that the Jets couldn’t afford to keep John Franklin-Myers, who was traded to the Denver Broncos. It’s a decision Douglas says he doesn’t regret, even now. In Reddick’s absence, however long it goes, the Jets will turn to a group of unproven players: 2023 first-round pick Will McDonald, 2022 fourth-round pick Micheal Clemons, undrafted rookies Braiden McGregor and Eric Watts, and veteran Takk McKinley, who hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2022.
The way Douglas sees it, though, the Jets are prepared for life without Reddick because that has been the only life they’ve known.
“I think we’ve done that for most of training camp and we’ve prepared — we’ve gone through training camp without him,” Douglas said. “But obviously we still want him here and we’re excited to have him. We can’t wait until he comes and everyone is going to welcome him with open arms.”
They’ll welcome him back. But first they’ll have to start talking.
“I would say (we’ve been) clear and direct from the beginning,” Douglas said. “The ball is in their court. Whenever he’s ready to come here. Again, we can’t wait to have him.”
(Top photo: Dennis Waszak Jr. / AP Photo)
