FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — At a generously listed 5 feet, 8 inches, and with blazing speed, Leon Washington often is extremely elusive to opposing defenses and kick-coverage units.

He might be equally hard to find at Jets’ training camp next month if he and the team don’t agree on a contract extension.
The unhappy running back-kick returner, who ended his three-week boycott of voluntary activities June 1, spoke to the media Tuesday at mandatory minicamp for the first time since his return last week. And he hinted he might not be present for the opening of training camp next month if he doesn’t get a new contract before then.
Washington, entering the final season of a four-year deal that will pay him $535,000 in 2009, said 11 times that he merely is looking for “fair market value.” It’s believed that he wants around $6 million per year, while the Jets’ offer is believed to be in the range of $3 million per year.
When asked if he might not show up for the beginning of training camp July 30 in Cortland, N.Y., if a new deal isn’t in place, Washington replied, “You try to stay away from assumptions. I’ll let you (reporters) figure it out. I don’t want to say I’m going to be here and then not be here. I can’t predict the future. ... (But) at the same time, I want fair market value.”
The main problem in redoing Washington’s contract is the lack of a new collective bargaining agreement between the owners and the NFL Players Association. Until a new contract is in place, players must complete six years in the NFL, rather than four, to be considered unrestricted free agents. Washington is entering his fourth season, and without a new CBA, he would be a restricted free agent next winter, not unrestricted. There are 116 NFL players in that situation, and only three have agreed on new contracts.
“Fair market value is fair market value,” Washington said, “with or without the CBA.”
As a multidimensional threat, Washington often has been compared to Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew and San Diego’s Darren Sproles. Jones-Drew signed a new four-year deal for $32.5 million with $17 million guaranteed, and Sproles signed for a one-year tender of $6.621 million as the Chargers’ franchise player.
“When I get fair market value,” Washington said, “you’ll see Leon in training camp. ... I love playing football, especially for the Jets. I want to be a Jet for a long, long time. ... (But) I’m pretty sure I won’t settle for anything less than fair market value.”