NFL Spin Zone
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5 players the New York Jets gave up on way too soon

By Sayre Bedinger

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Quarterback Geno Smith #7 of the New York Jets rolls out against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum on November 1, 2015 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images for New York Jets)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Quarterback Geno Smith #7 of the New York Jets rolls out against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum on November 1, 2015 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images for New York Jets) /
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New York JEts
WASHINGTON, D.C. – JANUARY 15: John Riggins #44 of the Washington Redskins carries the ball during the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings on January 15, l983 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) /

4. John Riggins, Running Back

John Riggins is a legendary NFL running back and everybody knows him as no. 44 for the Washington franchise. But before Riggins was racking up 24 rushing touchdowns at the ripe age of 34, he actually spent the first five years of his NFL career as a member of the New York Jets.

He was a finalist for Rookie of the Year in 1971 and made the Pro Bowl in his fifth NFL season, but the Jets let him go after that fifth season and he joined Washington. It wasn’t until Riggins was 29 years old that he really started blossoming as a superstar. Even after missing the entire 1980 season, Riggins finished his NFL career with over 13,000 yards from scrimmage. He also helped Washington win a Super Bowl and he finished with 12 touchdowns in the eight playoff games he played in the 1980s.

 3. Santana Moss, Wide Receiver

Back in the late 90s and early 2000s, the Miami Hurricanes football program was cranking out seemingly one NFL legend after another. The New York Jets jumped on the bandwagon in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft and selected star receiver Santana Moss. Moss was limited to just five games in his rookie season and had only 30 receptions in his second year in the league.

It wasn’t until year three that Moss really broke out with 1,105 yards and 10 touchdowns. His production took a step back in 2004, and the New York Jets made the decision to send him off in a trade during the 2005 offseason to Washington.

The Jets acquired wide receiver Laveranues Coles, who had a couple of really solid seasons in Washington after starting out his NFL career with the Jets anyway. The Jets drafted Coles in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft, so they had already had both Coles and Moss on the same roster.

After being traded to Washington, Santana Moss became one of the most productive receivers in franchise history, racking up three 1,000-yard seasons and scoring 47 touchdowns in 126 total games for them.

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