The Jets have officially parted ways with Mike Goodson, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve released the running back. The announcement notes that the move was made with the “left squad” designation. As Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap observes (via Twitter), the club figures to use the fact that Goodson left the team to try to recoup some money from him.
Goodson, 27, only had seven carries and two receptions during his one-year stay with the Jets, but created plenty of headlines along the way. The former fourth-round pick was arrested last year on a weapons possession charge, received a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, tore his ACL, and failed to report to the club multiple times, including for this week’s minicamp.
Although there were still two years remaining on Goodson’s contract with the Jets, none of his remaining base salary was guaranteed. As noted above, however, portions of his $1MM signing bonus were prorated over the next two years, and cutting the running back with a left squad designation is a sign that the team will try to recoup as much of that bonus money as possible.
Goodson enjoyed his best NFL season in 2010 with the Panthers, rushing for 452 yards and three touchdowns, as well as catching 40 balls out of the backfield. However, his on-field resumé isn’t impressive enough to outweigh his off-field troubles, so even when he gets healthy, there are certainly no guarantees he’ll get another shot with an NFL team.