Nugent Refuses Jets Offer, Will Hit Market

According to the The Star-Ledger Kicker Mike Nugent has declined an offer from the Jets to return and will test the free-agent market.

After suffering a strained right quadriceps in the 2008 season opener against the Miami Dolphins, Nugent was replaced by veteran Jay Feely for the rest of the season. In the final year of his contract he is now set to become an unrestricted free agent this Friday. The Jets had been facing a tough decision on whether to keep Nugent or Feely, Nugent has made the decision for them.

"The Jets have been really cool about the situation and gave me time to decide whether to stay," Nugent told The Star-Ledger. "They approached us last week to re-sign, and also called again this week, and gave us a chance to talk about making a decision. I have so much respect for the organization and my teammates, but I feel it might be time for me to move on. (General manager) Mike (Tannenbaum), (director of football operations) Ari (Nissim) and the coaches have been incredibly understanding of my decision process and I am really grateful to them."

Nugent, was selected in the second round (47th overall) of the 2005 out of Ohio State. By refusing the Jets offer he has become the top kicker on the free-agent market now that the Titans' Rob Bironas has re-signed with Tennessee. Nugent, who attempted only one field goal last season and was injured at the time, hit 75 of 91 career field-goal attempts (82.4 percent) during his three healthy seasons with the Jets.