Some NFL teams have developed a genuine double standard when it comes to players who find themselves in trouble with the law.
If the player is viewed as important to the team, he won’t be cut after being arrested. If he isn’t, he’s done.
After Jags receiver Matt Jones was busted for felony cocaine possession earlier this month, some thought that Jones might end up being on the chopping block. In the season debut of The Jack Del Rio Show on WOKV in Jacksonville, the Jags head coach said that Jones will be with the team when training camp opens later this month.
“Matt will be in camp,” Del Rio said. “We feel like this is something that he’ll have to deal with personally with the law. We expect to have him in camp on time on Friday and we’ll help him work through it.”
Though Jones hardly is one of the team’s key players, the absence of newcomer Jerry Porter for all of training camp and the preseason means that the team needs Jones to take reps during July and August.
Also, it’s possible that the second chance might be the thing that finally gets the alleged cocaine user to quit acting on the field like he’s been smoking pot.
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July 22nd, 2008 at 9:08 pm
How is this a double standard? It’s a pure cost-benefit analysis. Performance on the field weighs in your favor, arrests weigh against you.
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July 22nd, 2008 at 9:55 pm
easier to ramp him up than pulling in someone else to stock the roster…
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July 22nd, 2008 at 10:06 pm
So that’s how he runs so fast… He’s all cranked up on cocaine!
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July 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Matt Jones is an incredible athletic talent. Maybe this will be his wake up call and he’ll finally live up to all his potential. At least this is something all us Razorback fans can hope for…
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July 22nd, 2008 at 10:49 pm
I got two things in the world my balls and my word and I don’t break em for nobody.
Agreed, poor work ethic and lies of his workout numbers have contributed to his mediocre career.
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July 22nd, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Boy, he sounds like the kind of guy we could use in Cincinnati.
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July 23rd, 2008 at 6:28 am
Matt Jones was on the bubble before this happened. He was one of 4 receivers fighting for one roster spot. Since this is his first off-field incident, it’s no cheaper to cut him now than to wait until he underperforms again in camp and is in the first round of cuts.
Bottom line is that he’ll have no problem making that court date…
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July 23rd, 2008 at 6:32 am
I think the Jags should cut him immediately, and go after a pillar in the community, on and off the field in Chris Henry.
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July 23rd, 2008 at 8:15 am
He’s just training camp fodder since Mike Walker is coming back form a knee injury and Porter is hurt.
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July 23rd, 2008 at 9:57 am
@Chief Wahoo
“incredible athletic talent”
I would say jack of all trades, master of none.
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