NEW YORK -- Continuing the purge of veteran leaders that began six months ago, the New York Jets released well-respected fullback Tony Richardson Sunday -- an immediately unpopular move in the locker room.

The announcement came only four days after the latest episode of "Hard Knocks," in which Rex Ryan and his assistants bemoan a lack of leadership on offense. According to a league source, the Jets hope to re-sign Richardson after Week 1, when the balance of his $855,000 salary wouldn't be guaranteed.

Dumping Richardson, even if only for a week, means rookie fullback John Conner will have to block All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis in his first assignment.

"Terrible," one player said of Richardson's release, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Another player said, "[It's] f------ ridiculous."

The Jets are taking an interesting approach to their season opener.

While they have solved the Darrelle Revis problem, the Jets are prepared to face the Baltimore Ravens with a shortage of veteran wide receivers, having released Laveranues Coles because they didn't want to guarantee his $855,000 contract. They also won't have Santonio Holmes, who will miss the first four games due to a violation of the league's substance-abuse policy.

In the offseason, the Jets unloaded running backs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington and guard Alan Faneca, all popular leaders. Cost-cutting factored into each decision. If the Jets re-sign Richardson, 38, after the Baltimore game, they will have saved $50,300 -- one game check.