“Sticky Hands” is sticking around.
Tight end Ryan Griffin signed a three-year extension with the Jets on Saturday, less than a week after his 109-yard performance against the Redskins that included a touchdown celebration in which he pretended the football got stuck to his hand. Griffin wore a T-shirt this week with “Sticky Hands Griffin” printed on it.
Griffin has made enough of an impression this season that the Jets decided to lock him up long-term. The deal is worth up to $10.8 million, according to NFL Network, and includes $4 million guaranteed. Griffin was scheduled to become a free agent in March.
Griffin, 29, has been a bright spot this year. The Jets signed him on the eve of training camp to add someone at tight end with starter Chris Herndon facing a four-game suspension to start the season. Herndon played in just one game — in which he suffered a season-ending injury. That left an opening for Griffin and he has filled it.
Griffin has started every game for the Jets this year and leads the team with four receiving touchdowns. He has 25 catches for 269 yards. He had his best game last week at Washington, where he scored a touchdown in addition to going over 100 yards for the first time in his career.
The Texans drafted Griffin in the sixth round of the 2013 draft and he spent six seasons with Houston. The Texans cut him in May shortly after he was arrested for public intoxication and vandalism for punching out a hotel window during the draft in Nashville. The charges were later dismissed.
Griffin was without a team for two months until the Jets came calling and what felt like a minor signing at the time has had a major impact.
For more on the Jets, listen to the latest episode of the “Gang’s All Here” podcast: