JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 10: Sheldon Richardson #91 of the Seattle Seahawks walks off the field during the second half of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on December 10, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

An exclusive report by the New York Daily News believes the New York Jets would welcome back defensive end Sheldon Richardson in the offseason. That would be such a dire mistake by the franchise.

When the New York Jets traded defensive end Sheldon Richardson at the start of the regular season, it was a move that needed to happen. All his locker room distractions and lack of performance on the field had to be removed if the franchise was to rebuild properly. In exchange for Richardson, the Jets got wide receiver Jermaine Kearse and a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

At this point in time, the Jets are on the winning end of this huge trade since not only has Kearse been an impact player for the most part on offense, Richardson hasn’t done much of anything with the Seahawks. As a matter of fact, he only has one sack and is having one of his worse seasons statistically with just 23 tackles.

Besides the Jets getting a wide receiver back for trading Richardson which at the time was an area of need, they got rid of a player that simply didn’t care about the greater picture. Richardson has had numerous issues with the leadership regime regarding tardiness and being professional off the field. For a man as talented as he could be due to his potential, he was and probably still is a locker room cancer.

In an article written by Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, he wrote an exclusive report that the Jets would not only welcome back Richardson but that he would also love to come back to the team that originally drafted him. Here’s what Mehta said:

Richardson made it clear all along that he wanted to be a part of the Jets’ rebuilding process before he was traded. You wouldn’t expect him to take any home-town discounts – he’s from St. Louis, anyway – but the Jets would have a great chance to bring him back if all things are equal.

In the grand scheme of things, this would be such a dire mistake by the Jets considering everything Richardson put the franchise through in just four years. Reuniting with him would make them look like hypocrites. All year long they’ve been talking about having a team-first mentality in the locker room, working hard, and having everyone respect the process. Such bold respect that everyone shows up on time for mandatory team meetings, hustles on every single play they’re a part of on the field, and above all else, carry themselves in a professional manner at all times.

Richardson isn’t one to trust to magically believe he can come back to the Jets after a season away and not have his name in the headlines for all the wrong reasons yet again. The Jets are trying to build a team the right way and well, Richardson would simply bring more harm than good, which is why they need to stay far, far away from him.

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Overall, the Jets would be wise to stay away and continue what they started with a new leadership regime that is rebuilding the team from the ground up with respectable players that add value to the locker room. They need blue-collar athletes that will respect everything they’re trying to accomplish, not a player that’s been suspended numerous times, had issues with the law, called out his own teammates to the media, had tardiness issues, and made a derogatory video about women. Bringing Richardson back would be such a “same old Jets” move that it would hurt the foundation they’re trying to build for a brighter and better future for one with a player that brings uncertainty, drama, and headaches.