Jets general manager Joe Douglas addressed the Haason Reddick holdout for the first time on Thursday and he did not paint an optimistic picture.
Douglas said he has not spoken directly to Reddick since the defensive end was in the Jets’ building on April 1 and there have not been any recent conversations with Tory Dandy, Reddick’s agent.
“Nothing has changed from our end,” Douglas said. “Obviously [I have] a ton of respect for Haason and awaiting his arrival and, you know, looking forward to when he does, he’s going to be welcomed with open arms.”
The Jets traded with the Eagles for Reddick at the end of March, hoping he could give their defense a boost as a pass rusher after they lost Bryce Huff in free agency. Reddick was unhappy with his contract in Philadelphia, which calls for him to be paid $14.25 million this season.
The Jets offered Reddick a contract extension before the trade was made but he declined. The Jets believed he was still going to show up and play under his existing contract and there could be further contract talks during that time.
Instead, Reddick has stayed away since that initial visit to Florham Park. He missed all of training camp, racking up fines of $50,000 a day and additional fines for missing the three preseason games.
The question many have asked is, why did the Jets make the trade without having a contract agreement in place with Reddick?
“In simple terms, we did talk about an extension,” Douglas said. “Once one wasn’t agreed upon, we had the conversation and we felt good about making the trade. Obviously, he came here, reported, had a great day here. And, again, we just, we’re just awaiting his arrival.”
The Jets open their season on Sept. 9 against the 49ers. The team has Super Bowl aspirations with the return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and an improved offense. Reddick’s absence is the one dark cloud lingering over the organization.
“I wouldn’t say frustration,” Douglas said. “I mean, obviously we made the move because we have a lot of respect for him as a player and person. We think he can help us win games. And, felt really, really good about the conversations, leading up to and, at the moment of trade. So, again, we’re just, we’re going to be excited to add him when he decides to arrive.”
Douglas said the team has been “clear and direct” in communicating with Reddick’s agent. But he emphasized any contract adjustment for Reddick, who has not played for the Jets, could cause issues with other Jets, who have played for the team already and are in the last year of their contracts.
“I don’t have the benefit of just dealing with one person and one agent,” Douglas said. “A lot of decisions that you make will reverberate through the locker room and have a ripple effect in the locker room. So to me, that is and will always be the most important thing.”
Reddick requested a trade earlier this month and Douglas issued a statement saying the team would not honor that request.
“That hasn’t changed,” Douglas said.
Douglas said the message to Reddick’s camp is they do not want to talk about adjusting his contract until he actually shows up in Florham Park. It sounds like that has led to a lack of any negotiations recently.
“I wouldn’t say we stopped communications,” Douglas said. “There hasn’t been a recent conversation, but the phone lines are open.”
