Unhappy Coles wants new deal from Jets
Saturday, February 16, 2008
BY DAVE HUTCHINSON
Star-Ledger Staff
For the second consecutive offseason, the Jets find themselves in a contract dispute with one of their top players.
Veteran wide receiver Laveranues Coles said yesterday that the organization has "lied" to him and "strung him along" the past two seasons regarding a long-term contract. Coles said that if the Jets don't want to make a long-term commitment to him, he wants the option to seek a long-term deal with another club.
Coles, who has the next two years remaining but wants a lengthier deal, said he's not going to report for the start of the team's offseason workout program next month.
"I don't want to seem like another greedy player, but I feel I've earned the right to know where I'll finish my career," Coles told The Star-Ledger. "I've done everything this organization has asked me to do and I'm asking them to do this for me. I think I've earned that much. I've put it all on the line every Sunday for this organization.
"They've told me for the past two seasons that they would take care of me and now I feel they're stringing me along. I'm not going through this for another year.
"I've played hurt. I've been a leader in the locker room. I've held the team together in bad times. I was an intermediary between management and the players. I sacrificed my numbers for the good of the team. ... I don't want to be a disgruntled player. I want to be someplace where I'm happy."
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