The Las Vegas Raiders’ Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos is on Sunday, but that’s not the talking point. So, what’s the national media focusing on? You guessed it, the ongoing Chandler Jones situation.
Here’s a quick recap before getting into some comments made by NFL media members. Jones aired his complaints on social media Tuesday morning after being denied access to the team’s facility for weekend workouts.
Furthermore, the veteran also posted that the Raiders sent a member of the Vegas CRT (Crisis Response Team) to his front door. Jones continues to be absent from practice, and it would be safe to assume he’s unlikely to play against Denver.
OK, the basics of this bizarre situation are out of the way, so let’s get into what the media is saying about Jones and, more importantly, the Raiders.
Is Chandler Jones’ recent behavior contract related?
Former NFL quarterback Brady Quinn was one of many to try and figure out the source of why Jones is acting out against the Raiders. The FOX Sports analyst landed on one thing: It must be a contractual issue. The 33-year-old pass rusher wouldn’t be the first or last player to cause a scene to force his current team to move on or pay up. Just look at Chris Jones in Kansas City.
“What would provoke someone to put this out there?” Quinn said on Two Pros and A Cup of Joe Wednesday. “Is all this legitimate? Is this, like, some sort of—is there a contractual dispute that’s going on behind the scenes that we’re not aware of? I’m just trying to figure out; I don’t know why you want to make any of this stuff public.”
Jones had a disappointing debut in Year 1 with the Raiders. The former Arizona Cardinals star was supposed to be the complementary piece to Maxx Crosby on the defensive line, but that didn’t occur. Jones only posted a lowly 4.5 sacks last season. This performance might explain why Las Vegas selected Tyree Wilson at No. 7 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Wilson also showed flashes of being a special player and is a candidate to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Perhaps Jones doesn’t want to lose snaps on the field and wants to maintain his status as a starter.
Raiders fans! Are you buying what Quinn is saying? Could this whole situation actually be contract-related? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
Could Chandler Jones’ situation be mental health related?
NBC Sports’ Mike Florio took a different approach when reacting to the incident, and his first thought wasn’t football-related. Florio notes that the premise of Jones’ behavior could be a mental health issue.
“We have learned in recent years to be more sensitive to the overall mental health of all players and all people, given everything we’ve been through, our collective trauma of the last three years,” Florio told Chris Simms on Pro Football Talk Wednesday. “But something’s up with Jones and the Raiders.”
“Something may be up with Jones, and we just hope that they all work together to get this figured out … We just hope that if there’s an issue there that needs to be solved, they get it solved, and they get it figured out and that Chandler Jones is OK.”
Over the last few years, many athletes have spoken about their mental health and the issues that come with fame. Additionally, some have even stepped away from their respective sports altogether. While these athletes receive compensation with lucrative salaries, it doesn’t take away the mental toll and anguish. By now, everyone knows the dangers and stress of playing football.
Furthermore, Jones has had bizarre outbursts. In 2016, while with the New England Patriots, the Raiders pass rusher reportedly reacted badly to a substance he put in his body, which turned out to be synthetic marijuana. Nonetheless, everyone keeping an eye on this entire situation will need to wait and see what the latest developments are.
Whether contractual or off-the-field related, everyone probably shares Florio’s sentiments. Let’s hope Chandler Jones is OK.
*Top Photo: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports