The shelf-life of a running back in the NFL is short. Players take a beating while running the football, and some have their careers end before they even turn 30. As a result, someone like Josh Jacobs must secure a lucrative contract at the first presented opportunity. Will the Las Vegas Raiders pay up, though?
Jacobs and the Las Vegas Raiders have yet to reach a long-term contract agreement. Although the Silver and Black put the franchise tag on the Alabama product, Jacobs has no intentions of signing the tag. The two parties have until July 17th to agree on an extension; however, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero doesn’t see that happening.
Meanwhile, former Raiders’ receiver James Jones wants the franchise to pay Jacobs his money.
Is a hold-out incoming from Josh Jacobs?
In a recent interview on The Rich Eisen Show, Tom Pelissero hinted at Josh Jacobs holding out. Pelissero believes the first-team All-Pro running back and his camp are preparing to wait until they secure a “fair” contract.
“The one [running back situation] that nobody’s talking about is Josh Jacobs,” Pelissero told Eisen (h/t CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan). “At this point, if there’s not a long-term deal, I don’t anticipate Josh Jacobs being there at the start of training camp and I don’t know that he shows up Week 1.”
Pelissero’s comments should raise concerns among fans. Vegas relies heavily on Jacobs’ dynamic running abilities to bolster their offensive attack; the Raiders not having their running back with Jimmy Garoppolo coming off of foot surgery isn’t ideal.
In a perfect world, the Silver and Black are able to lean on Jacobs early in their ’23 campaign until Garoppolo feels 100 percent. Jacobs, who the Raiders selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, has proved he can carry an offense.
Jacobs has over 1,000 yards in three of his four NFL seasons. The 25-year-old is one of the top players at his position, and now wants the money he deserves.
James Jones wants the Raiders to pay Josh Jacobs
The NFL player-community likes to see players earn what they’re worth. That being the case, it should come as no surprise that former Raiders receiver James Jones wants Jacobs to collect his bag after outperforming his rookie contract.
Jones voiced his opinion on the contract dispute between the Raiders and Jacobs. The 39-year-old expressed his belief that the two-time Pro Bowl back had earned a significant contract extension, criticizing the team for not rewarding him appropriately.
Pay the man, right?
“Josh Jacobs has earned the right to get paid,” Jones said during his Wednesday appearance on The Carton Show. “Pay my guy his money, right, so he can get in that building. You guys need Josh Jacobs in that building as a leader, as a guy on that offense, you need Josh Jacobs in the building. He was clearly the best player on the offensive side of the ball last year, arguably the best running back in the game.”
Jones understands what running backs go through in the NFL and supports Jacobs’ stance. The now-FOX NFL analyst urged his former team to find common ground with their running back to ensure he’s ready for Week 1 in early September.
“We all know how running backs’ mindsets are right now,” Jones continued. “Their careers are not that long, and their money is not that long, right? They are trying to get everything they can when they have the upper hand … They have to find a way to get Josh in that building if they want to have an opportunity to get to the playoffs and win some football games.”
The clock is ticking for the Raiders and Jacobs to agree on a long-term contract. The Silver and Black might have to prepare for life after Jacobs without an agreement, especially if he’s keen on holding out.
*Top Photo: Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal
Las Vegas Raiders: We Know About Both Michael Mayer And Austin Hooper – Let’s Talk Jesper Horsted
