Jets release RB Isaiah Crowell in wake of Le’Veon Bell addition

The first day of official free agency saw the running back market nearly stripped bare. As of Thursday morning, there wasn’t much left. Basically the one viable starting back out there was Jay Ajayi with the Raiders still sans a starting running back.

A couple days ago, Oakland was looking like the frontrunner to sign Le’Veon Bell. But he would ultimately head to the Jets on a deal that paid him some $13 million per year with $35 million guaranteed.

These signings always have rippled effects. The pebble in the pond was linebacker Anthony Barr. He backed out of a deal to go to the Jets. With cap money still to spend, they turned their attention to Bell and lured him away from the Raiders as well as the Ravens who were the other team with reported interest.

The Ravens then turned to former Saints running back, Mark Ingram, signing him to a deal and taking them out of the market for a running back.

With Bell now the bell cow in New York, the Jets then released Isaiah Crowell who just a year ago had signed a 3-year, $12 million deal with the team.

The 26-year-old back has started 51 games in five seasons with the Browns and Jets. He has 3803 career rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. He has averaged 4.3 yards per carry in his career including a career high 4.8 yards per carry last season.

His release puts an attractive free agent option on the market.