Anthony Barr spurns Jets for Vikings in stunning fashion
It’s not even the NFL regular season and a notable player has opted to run a reverse. Anthony Barr won’t be joining the New York Jets after all.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr decided to take a closer look at the New York Jets. He preferred to walk away and stay where he initially was.
Roughly a day after the talented defender agreed to join new head coach Adam Gase and new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams with the Jets, Barr has apparently decided to go back to the Twin Cities and play for Mike Zimmer once again (as first reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo):
Plot twist! LB Anthony Barr has decided to agree to terms to remain with the #Vikings, sources say. He will not be a member of the #Jets after all.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 12, 2019
After telling the Jets he intended to sign with them, Anthony Barr got cold feet, changed his mind and informed the Vikings that he will be returning to Minnesota, as @MikeGarafolo reported.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2019
The #Vikings are signing LB Anthony Barr to a 5-year deal worth $67.5M, source said. With incentives it can be worth $77.5M. He gets $33M in guarantees. And back home.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2019
The Jets appeared to be having quite the offseason. Along with Barr, they recently traded for Oakland Raiders’ guard Kelechi Osemele. They agreed to terms with wide receivers Jamison Crowder and Josh Bellamy of the Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears, respectively. And early Tuesday morning, four-time Pro Bowl inside linebacker and Baltimore Ravens’ standout C.J. Mosley and the team agreed to a five-year deal. It was thought that he and Barr would be the backbone of a revamped linebacking corps.
Of course, that’s why nothing becomes official when it comes to the 2019 NFL fiscal year until 4:00 pm ET on Wednesday, March 13. And it will be interesting to see if the Jets look elsewhere for another veteran linebacker to offset Barr’s decision.
Of course, there’s a distinct possibility that general manager Mike Maccagnan could now shift his emphasis and the organization’s check book to the other side of the football.
With Anthony Barr spurning the #Jets, they have some extra money. I’m told they’ve taken some of that money and made a last and final big offer to Le’Veon Bell. It’s decision time for the ex-#Steelers RB.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2019
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Perhaps that final piece of information is the most relevant. The Jets have certainly been in the running for the versatile offensive performer, who sat out all of 2018. And perhaps by the time you read this, Le’Veon Bell could agree to a deal with the New York Jets.
Emphasis on “agreed.”