Raider Nation is still riding on a high after Josh Jacobs’ return to the organization last month. In a souped-up one-year pact, the star ball carrier added some extra cash to his would-be franchise tag and thus found common ground with the Vegas front office.
Since returning to the building, Jacobs has been nothing but smiles and positivity. You can tell how much this sport means to him whenever he speaks; his eyes light up. It is clear how much he missed his teammates, too. In an interview a few days ago, the 2022 All-Pro spoke candidly about his time away from the Silver and Black, peeling back the curtains and providing honest feedback.
With that came some interesting answers from Raider RB Josh Jacobs
One of the more notable headlines this off-season came when Jacobs announced his plans to switch his jersey number from 28 to 8. For much of his life, including his breakout campaign at Alabama, No. 8 was the number he rocked. And he couldn’t be happier to have it back again.
Jacobs got asked to expand on why the number holds such significance to him and his journey, even throwing a subtle jab at the NFL for trying to charge millions for the swap. “I mean, obviously, I wanted to get it last year, but they wanted to charge me $3.5 [million] for it, so I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m not going to do that.’”
“But man, I mean just all my life, that’s the number I’ve always worn. It’s just the number I feel like brings out something different in me. Even in college, I feel like I took that leap in that number,” the former first-rounder said.
The follow-up question asked in particular if the number was sentimental to Jacobs or if it was merely happenstance that he ended up with it in childhood.
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No. 8 Is More Than Just A Number; It’s A Vibe
“Honestly, not really. I mean, just growing up, that was always just the number I felt always caught my eye. I remember when I was in little league I got my jersey stolen, and I had like a 30 number and I was like, ‘Man, I don’t know. There’s just something right [about No. 8], [it] makes me feel like a superhero for real.’”
With the light-hearted opening out of the way, next came some hard-hitting questions about the negotiations between Jacobs and the Raiders this offseason. “I think it went pretty good. I mean, for both parties, honestly. One of the hardest things in football to do is watch, at least for a guy like me. So, I was itching to get back.”
He was then asked what the most difficult part about being away from the team was. Jacobs offered an honest retort, “The only thing that’s bad obviously is you want to grind with your guys, especially knowing there’s a lot of new guys coming in. You want guys to know who you are and respect what you do, respect your work.”
“But I wouldn’t say it was just all negative. Being at home allowed me to spend a lot more time with my kids and help my dad do his diet plans and get in shape; things like that,” the 2022 All-Pro continued. “So, I mean, it was pros and cons on both sides, but at the end of the day, I want to play football. I wanted to be here with the guys.”
Don’t Worry About Josh Jacobs’ Conditioning
With Jacobs missing the entirety of the offseason program, some around Raider Nation have wondered if this would negatively impact him physically. According to the star ball carrier, these concerns were always overblown.
“Physically, I didn’t miss a step. I mean, we came up with a workout plan to do over the course of when I wasn’t here and stuff like that. I came in and didn’t feel like I missed a step,” Jacobs explained to reporters Wednesday.
The final question sent Jacobs’ way focused on the roster turnover that occurred while he was gone. Specifically, he received an inquiry asking what he thought of the free agent additions and the fresh batch of talent from the most recent NFL Draft.
Jacobs capped off an entertaining presser by saying, “We got a lot faster, definitely seen that. We definitely got a lot faster. We got a lot of guys that love the game, and you’ve got a lot of guys with high IQs; that’s the first thing I noticed. So, I mean just to be able to see that and obviously Maxx [Crosby] being the leader that he is on that defense.”
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Well, there you have it, Raider Nation. Josh Jacobs is ready to bury the hatchet and move on after a long, drawn-out offseason. At his core, the gifted rusher is a football player through and through. It will be a welcomed sight to put this contract talk to bed.
If Jacobs’ mentality is any indication, expect the Raiders to use him early and often in the offensive attack. The veteran still has plenty of miles left on his odometer. All systems are a go in Vegas.
*Top Photo: L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal