Mike Goodson, New York Jets restructure deal
New York Jets running back Mike Goodson (23) stiff arms Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Vince Williams (98) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
New York Jets No. 2 running back Mike Goodson was set to make $1 million in base salary next season with a $650,000 roster bonus, but the Jets have unsurprisingly restructured his deal following some major injury and off-field issues in his first year with the organization after signing a three-year deal last offseason. ESPN New York’s Rich Cimini reports that the Jets and Goodson have restructured his deal so that his 2014 cap hit will go down from $1.9 million to $1.28 million. This gap leads Cimini to believe that the Jets restructured his $650,000 roster bonus, and it would honestly be a surprise if this weren’t the case.
Last season, Goodson appeared in just two games after tearing his ACL and MCL in mid-October. He missed the first four games of the season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy and only managed to play in the Week 5 and 6 games against the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers. Goodson had a nice seven carries for 61 yards and two receptions for 19 yards in a limited role in both of those games, but he was still a major disappointment.
The 26-year-old will be cheap in 2014, and he still has upside for the Jets. Goodson has the tools to be a good backup for Chris Ivory, and we all remember his very good 2010 season with the Carolina Panthers when he averaged 4.4 yards per carry on 103 carries and also added 40 receptions. It’s going to be interesting to see if he can give the Jets that sort of needed all-purpose ability next season, and his talent and potential value outweigh his off-field issues and injuries enough so that John Idzik feels comfortable enough to keep him following a restructuring.