It’s funny how fast a corner can turn in the NFL — and we’re not talking coverages here. Just a few months ago, Jack Jones was out there, hijacking routes and stealing the spotlight. Remember that Christmas Day pick-six? Yeah, the one that basically got Antonio Pierce the head coaching gig? That wasn’t just a play — that was a movie. And Jones? He was the one rolling the credits.
Now fast forward to this week, and the vibes are… off. Vincent Bonsignore reports the Raiders are trying to trade Jones. If that fails, he’s gone by Monday. Cold cut, no ceremony. From leading the walk-through revolt to walking out of the building. No lie, it feels like someone hit “skip intro” on his Raiders arc.
And the timing? Suspiciously wild. Maxx Crosby just told a story on “The Rush” podcast that basically framed Jack as the heartbeat of the locker room. “Y’all really trying to just do walk throughs… F— that! I’m trying to practice!” Jones said. Maxx? He was all in. “That sh– is fun while we’re out there.” Doesn’t sound like a guy teammates are ready to ship off. So… what gives?
Look, we get it. Jones didn’t have a squeaky clean 2024. Career-high in tackles (69), sure. But the tackling itself? Questionable. Missed efforts, legal drama in the past, and whispers about discipline. However, without Pierce, the guy who literally risked his job for him, maybe the trust just isn’t there anymore.
I mean, he did show his excitement for Pete Carroll’s regime in the Sin City.“I’m excited for what he’s got coming up for the season. He brings the energy… I grew up in the (Los Angeles) area, so I always watched (U)SC and UCLA. Playing for Pete Carroll is going to be like, I don’t know, kind of like a dream come true.” But it wasn’t meant to be, it seems.
At the same time, it also doesn’t help that the Raiders went CB shopping. They signed Eric Stokes, drafted Decamerion Richardson, and still have Jakorian Bennett in the mix. Suddenly, the room is crowded, and Jack’s $3.4M cap hit starts looking more like a clearance item. No dead money if he’s moved. Just clean books.
So here we are. From dream come true with Pete Carroll to maybe playing for someone new in a matter of days. Raiders fans might be scratching their heads, wondering how we got from locker room leader to trade block target this fast. But in Vegas, you roll the dice — sometimes you hit the jackpot. Sometimes, it’s snake eyes.
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