NEW YORK -- After being released Sunday by the New York Jets, Laveranues Coles has a choice: Retire or make $50,000 per week.

Seems like a no-brainer.

Coach Rex Ryan, impressed with Coles in training camp, said there's "a real possibility" they will try to re-sign the veteran receiver after Week 1. By not putting him on the opening-day roster, the Jets will avoid having to pay his entire base salary -- $855,000. They can re-sign him and pay him on a game-to-game basis -- $50,294.

"He did an outstanding job for us," Ryan said Sunday. "He's a leader. He came in here, and I know he knows the system. He's tougher than nails, a great teammate."

The question is, is Coles willing to return in a couple of weeks?

"I think I'm done," Coles, 32, told The Star-Ledger of Newark. "I don't want to become one of those journeyman football players. I don't need the money. [Ryan] said I was doing well and they want to bring me back after the first game, but I don't know. I don't think that's something I want to do."

But only four days ago, Coles expressed confidence he could contribute to the team, saying, "I still got a little gas left in the tank. It's going to be fun to watch when I do get the chance."

From the day he re-signed with the Jets, a few days before training camp, Coles made it clear this was going to be his last stop. The Jets pared their roster to 75 players, and the popular Coles, in his third stint with the team, was one of the victims.