The New York Jets' 2017 housecleaning has seen a host of marquee names jettisoned in favor of a blatant rebuilding effort.
If the team is willing to cut ties with proven wideouts such as Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, it's worth wondering why the front office operatives would explore the possibility of coaxing another wide receiver out of retirement.
The Jets contacted former Panthers and Ravens star Steve Smith about playing in 2017, NFL Network's Kimberly Jones reported on Tuesday's edition of Inside Minicamp Live.
"Earlier today in the green room, Steve Smith Sr. was saying 'Hey, the Jets reached out to me,'" Jones explained. "Yes, the Jets reached out to Steve Smith, asked if he was still interested in playing. He indicated he wasn't."
We would suggest chalking this up to a case of Gang Green simply performing due diligence, updating the Steve Smith file to gauge his resolve in walking away from football with a year or two still left in the tank.
It would make little sense for the Jets to cut Marshall and Decker only to turn around and sign the game's oldest receiver. It would make even less sense for Smith to unretire for the opportunity to join an organization ostensibly punting the 2017 season.
