03-27-2019, 12:08 PM
Jets CEO on Anthony Barr spurning team: “We want people who are all-in.”
PHOENIX – The Jets had big plans for free-agent Pro Bowl linebacker Anthony Barr before he left them at the altar with an eleventh-hour about-face. Gang Green reached a verbal agreement with Barr on the first night of the league’s legal tampering period before he changed his mind the following day to remain in Minnesota.
Jets CEO Christopher Johnson couldn’t have been pleased, but took the high road.
“We want people on our team who want to be New York Jets,” Johnson said at the annual league meeting. “Not everybody wants to be in New York. If he didn’t want to be here, that’s fine. It’s disappointing when someone backs out on an agreement, but we want people who are all-in.”
The Jets’ deal included about $15 million per season (plus incentives/escalators). Barr ultimately agreed to a five-year, $67.5 million contract to stay with the Vikings.
Gang Green had designs of using Barr as a swiss-army knife in Gregg Williams’ defense. They hoped to utilize his edge-passing rushing skills from college (that lay dormant in the Vikings’ 4-3 scheme).
