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Leon Washington: Stay or Go?

I don't think I'm alone being frustrated the Jets didn't sign Leon Washington to an extension a year ago. He's the biggest playmaker the Jets have had in a long time. If Brad Smith is a homerun threat, Leon is this team's version of Albert Pujols, a threat to take the ball to the end zone every time he touches it.

Washington has a 4.8 career average per carry, blazing speed, and an uncanny ability to make people miss in space. He has 4 career kickoff returns for touchdowns. He is a threat as a receiver out of the backfield that Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene aren't.

Yes, he had a bad leg injury, but he's also expected to recover fully. Yes, the Jets could use a first and third round tender on the restricted free agent to be and get some team to bite. Yes, they could refuse to tender him, allow him to sign elsewhere, and open up a spot to sign an unrestricted free agent with a healthy chunk of change. How do you justify taking that dimension from the team? I don't think anybody you would replace him with would be as valuable. I know the Jets made the AFC Championship Game without him, but Washington makes the offense so much more dangerous.

I vote stay, and it might be the easiest decision of the offseason.

What's your vote?