(Photo: US Presswire)
By Ryan Alfieri, Editor
In a rather surprising move, the Jets decided to part ways with the embattled tackle, trading Wayne Hunter straight-up for Jason Smith.
Both players are terrible tackles, but at least Smith has some upside, having been the second-overall pick back in 2009. Hunter will also be re-united with former Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. It should also be noted that the Jets went out of their way to say that they were not interested in trading Hunter just last week.
Smith, however, should simply take over for Hunter in a backup role. He is not expected to take over for Austin Howard as the starting right tackle.
What is most noteworthy is that both players’ contracts are guaranteed, but Smith’s is $1.55 million more than that of Hunters’. Essentially, the Jets are willing to pay nearly twice as much money for a player that is almost as bad as Hunter.
ESPN reports that an altercation between Hunter and angry fans during Sunday’s game could have been the last straw for Hunter’s days as a Jet. In the end, both players could probably use a new place to go to work in the worst way.
In the end, neither player is going to do a whole lot for their new teams, and it only cost the Jets a couple million dollars of Woody Johnson’s cash to get it done.
Hey, its not my money.
