Experiment Failed: Matt Jones released from Jaguars
by River City Rage on Mar 16, 2009 12:30 PM EDT
in Jacksonville Jaguars News
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Matt Jones: so much wasted potential:
In what can only be described as a predictable move, wide receiver Matt Jones was released by the Jagaurs today after his recent arrest for a probation violation. While the actual violation was small, in this case drinking beer on the golf course, the spirit of the law and the "New Jaguars" required that Gene Smith once again make the tough decision and let Matt Jones walk.
Then again, maybe it's not that tough of a decision. Matt Jones has never been a football player. He's always seen himself as a basketball player who happens to play football and carried himself accordingly. His heart and passion for the game is legitimatly questionalble and despite a good season in 2008, was a vast disappointment from the hyped-Arkansas quarterback we drafted a few years ago.
Matt's absence leaves the wide receiver posistion in a bit of a mess. Dennis Northcutt, who's in his own legal trouble, Troy Williamson and Mike Walker will have to run the show.
More to come later.
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We have a big problem!
We need to make some moves now. We need some WR’s through free agency or whats left of it and through the draft. With the group of guys we have on the roster now were in for a long season.
WHY?
When did training camp get moved up to this weekend? Why do we have to add a receiver NOW? Let the draft come and go. Stop flipping out.
Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Fred Taylor. Sounds about right.
Training Camp? Thats not until july/august. It’s off season work outs, basically they just lift weights in the gym .
He was saying
that people are freaking out like we need to get new receivers by this weekend. Training camp is a long way away and everyone is trippin
Yeah - we can get Jerry Porter.
Nevermind that the O line needs a near complete retool david should have zero problem completing passes from his broken back.
Dont worry
Obviously we are depleted in the wide reciever position but as soon as we start freaking out and go out of our way to grab a reciever then we will reach in the draft which will lead to another bust. We need to draft the first day on pure BAP and then if we havent picked up a solid reciever or two by the start of the second day then we start picking by position. Also if I was a draft prospect that doesnt get drafted then I would immediately go to the Jaguars because we are going to offer them a good chance at making the team.
I agree BUT
With this move, and with so many holes, I simply cannot imagine, that the Jaguars will draft a QB in the first round. Why? You need badly to your 1st round choice, when you have so many holes. He cannot sit and develop, in my opinion…So I think with this decesion we can take Sanchez (or/and if Stafford falls) off the Jagaurs board…
But this is just my little view of the case.
by Zoltan from Budapest on Mar 16, 2009 1:24 PM EDT reply actions
He needs to man up BIG time this season…
by floridafalcons#63 on Mar 16, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Walker
Has the combination of everything, but God knows he gets injured a lot.
Thats Good For Another Jacksonville... First Down.
Dear Anquan.....
Please come back home to Florida and become a Jaguar.
Xoxo,
#9
by Jags-Fan-In-Chicago on Mar 16, 2009 1:24 PM EDT reply actions
Ugh
Unless so significant moves are made its looking like there will be slim to no passing this coming season for the Jags. And if that is the case I guess Garrard is a waste of all that money just to hand off the ball all game.
I agree, good move.
I like what Matt did last year, he became a dependable short yardage guy. However, that should be our TE’s and RB’s in there. It’s time for Matt to move. We’ll be fine.
Vic posted his story:
http://www.jaguars.com/news/article.aspx?id=7718
The most interestin part is this in my opinion:
"We don’t play a game until September," Smith said. "I feel confident we can add to our receiver group. I feel that acquiring a veteran and through the college draft we’ll find players who can play at a winning level."
by Zoltan from Budapest on Mar 16, 2009 1:53 PM EDT reply actions
I am extremely worried
Gene Smith is going to create a team of nice guys that can’t play football worth shit. Before this past year, I could totally understand giving up on Matt Jones. Finally Matt responds and has a great year; he might’ve broken 1000 yards if he hadn’t been injured. Instead, once he FINALLY started showing signs of life, he’s off the team? What?
I’ve been very supportive of Gene Smith throughout this offseason. Cutting Fred Taylor barely fazed me because I knew the team needed to get younger and move on. However, Matt Jones IS young still. I hope that in a couple years we don’t look back on this year and be like “Holy god, I really wish they hadn’t cut Matt Jones; he’s a beast for the Colts (or any other team).”
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 16, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions
I hope so, I hope so...
But we can’t all just be cheerleaders for every single move; a little healthy criticism keeps them on their toes.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 16, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
But there is a reason why we are not the GM… I think that he deserves a chance to do right, when he doesn’t then you can give him criticism…
by floridafalcons#63 on Mar 16, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
"Jones' departure leaves WR position in a bit of a mess"
If I’m not mistaken, we haven’t had a solid group of WRs for several years. We lost a number two receiver, he wasn’t a number one caliber guy. I do wish we would have gotten something for his departure, but if you thought we were ok going into next season with him as our best weapon, you need to reevaluate the last 5 years. calm down people!
Fear not hungry Jags...
…the problems the Jaguars face run much deeper than WR. If David doesn’t have time to throw, then does it really matter who’s out on the wing? If MJD has no holes to run through, then does it really matter that Matt Jones shirks another blocking opportunity? And if our defense can’t get off the field on third down, then does it matter who’s dancing in the end zone on a garbage TD at the end of a game?
No, no and no. Wide receivers are simply not premium positions (ala “tao of Vic”). It is far too early to be concerned with this position, why, well, with all the moves we made in the past five years to fix the position, did any of them work? No. So are we really worse off now then we’ve been in the past five years?
The talent we have released at this position is easily available in the draft, in unexpensive free agency acquisition and after the draft via undrafted signings.
Besides, we still have Northcutt, the only receiver worth a flip on this team. Walker and Williamson could still prove productive. This all brings us to a final verdict on Jones’ release: Does it really matter? No. The Jags have bigger fish to fry.
Unfortunately, the truth only comes out game-by-game.
If David has time to throw but no one to throw to,
then it does really matter who’s out on the wing. I know that offense begins with the big guys, and if they don’t draft a single receiver and only get an awesome offensive line, I’ll be super happy. The problem with releasing Matt Jones is that now you HAVE to get at least one WR and probably more.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 16, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Very well said.
I would challenge that Northcut is worth a flip. As a member of the worst WR corp in the NFL last year – seeing him go bye bye is no lost at all.
It will be better than 08.
I disagree with you Slvrgun. We will have a healthy offensive line, hopefully with players performing in their optimal positions. Greg Jones and MJD will be a force. I think our running game will be top-notch again. Obviously, the short passing game is going to have to blossom as well.
Unfortunately, the truth only comes out game-by-game.
Are you kidding me?
How many times do we have to say that there will be new receivers? There is a draft in about a month and undrafted free agency after that. New talent will be added.
Also Matt Jones didn’t exactly make the defense respect him. You don’t need a safety to shade their coverage in order to stop a ten yard hook. That’s all he presented to the team. 10 yard hooks. Just line up a route running tight end out wide and Matt Jones is replaced.
Socal, I appreciate your optimism
And I think everyone knows I hate to agree with Slvrgun on anything, haha.
But it is absolutely foolish to expect that a rookie receiver, be it a high guy like Crabtree or Harvin or any of the myriad of UDFAs that will be available will be an instant magic bullet that will solve all of the problems the Jaguars have at receiver. This is a multi-year project, and sure eventually maybe those rookies will grow up to be productive, but it really doesn’t help anyone to cut your most productive receiver. Why not line up a tight end wide? Because right now the Jaguars need that tight end to block. They can’t afford to send Marcedes way far away from from the line of scrimmage action.
There will be 9 in the box on every play. I think every team will be more than happy to play Williamson and Northcutt one on one on the outside. Even if they get open, maybe they’ll drop it. The Jaguars absolutely needed a guy like Matt Jones who defenses know won’t beat them deep but will just keep the chains moving. And maybe beat them deep too; he had a 35 yard reception last year with the worst offensive line in the league.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 16, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't literally mean that a tight end should line out wide
I was saying that Matt Jones was basically that, a tight end lined up out wide. He was good for nothing but a ten yard hook route. That’s so very easy to replace. Someone who defenses know wont beat them deep will not loosen up anything as the safeties will still move up closer to the line of scrimmage. The only big reception he had was 33 against Tennessee and if I remember correctly it was him busting loose and getting out of bounds down the field.
Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez line up wide all the time
It’s a legitimate thing to do, only the Jaguars are years away from having the luxury of doing that. The release of Matt Jones also will further stunt Marcedes’s growth as a receiving threat. And a solid possession receiver is pretty difficult to replace. People pay big money for a solid possession receiver, like TJ Houshmasomething, Keyshawn Johnson back in the day, Keenan McCardell, etc.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 16, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Are you saying Matt didn't draw the double coverage?
Co’mon guys. Minus last year’s average performance he was a bust.
You're right
So I would’ve been ok with releasing him when he was a bust. Ignoring last year’s growth is the same thing as ignoring a year of decline with an aging WR or RB. In the NFL it’s also about the now and the most recent, and most recently Matt Jones was a decent possession receiver with more room for growth. This was not the right time to cut him, in my humble but accurate opinion.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 16, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
If he wasn't good this coming season,
Then you know that he was a one year wonder and you cut him. Simple. Not when he was fine on the field and had a beer off the field. You know what I call a team of 100% character guys? Wimps. You absolutely have to have some edge and nastiness, and I’m starting to worry that Emperor Overreactor will create a team of nice guys that finish last.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 16, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Edge and nastiness
is a lot different than cocaine. Believe me if a mean guy on the field like a Ray Lewis or Joey Porter was on the field I’d be ecstatic. But those guys aren’t in jail. Whether he had a beer or not, he got in trouble for it because he was doing cocaine.
So, because you support having character guys on the team
You’d rather have murderers here than drug offenders?
This conversation is getting ridiculous. I’m just going to say that I think the Jaguars will miss Matt Jones, and they did not help themselves in the rebuilding of the receiving corps, which was already going to be a multi-year project. I don’t think this was the right time to release him. I guess I remember the Matt Jones of last year rather than the bust version of years past; others of you remember him differently.
We’ll see who’s right. I hope it’s you.
End of line.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 16, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Murderers?
I’m fine with ending the conversation too because it wasn’t going anywhere, but I’m not sure I understand the murderers comment.
Was he ever indicted? I dont know, that’s why im asking…
by floridafalcons#63 on Mar 16, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
He was indicted for murder and aggravted assault
A lot of the witnesses changed their stories during the trial though, and eventually he plead guilty to misdemeanor obstruction of justice, and he got the maximum sentence for that (1 year probation). The other two defendants were acquitted; no one else has ever been arrested for the crime.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 16, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Ok, so that man (according to the trial) served his time for what he did… And now has had no problems since then… Matt Jones on the other hand, seems like a repeated offender…
by floridafalcons#63 on Mar 16, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, I would say that the offenses are nowhere near equal
And I’d also say that the drinking of the beer and the credit carding of the cocaine is still kinda one incident. But you’re right; Ray Lewis moved on and had a good career. I believe that Matt Jones will move on and have a good career too.
Ray Lewis is super lucky that Goodell wasn’t commissioner back in 2000; he wasn’t even suspended a single game.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 16, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey, he cant dictate who was in office… However, you can bet that if it was Goodell it would of been ugly…
by floridafalcons#63 on Mar 16, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
All I was doing
was mocking the idea that Matt Jones was a threat. Honestly, I was dissapointed he was not cut after the coke bust. But honestly, is he a first round pick worth the money? A bust
He was only going to make slightly over 600k this season.
Late 1st round picks really aren’t that expensive…
The End Is Nigh... www.infowars.com
Collin just barely beat me to it
He was inexpensive and finally being productive. Sigh…
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 17, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Money wasn't an issue
It was the fact that this team needs to turn over a new leaf and start over. Matt Jones is another player that represents the mistakes of the old Jaguars and he needed to go. Like Vic said today and I said all yesterday, his talent is very replaceable.
The short passing game will never blossom without the threat of a long passing game
Additionally, Matt Jones blossomed into the short passing game. Now without Matt Jones, the short passing game is….MJD? And he’ll be facing at least 9 in the box? I don’t like those odds.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 16, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
BJ Raji interview coming soon...
Lets all forget about Matt… I don’t like the move, but Gene is consistent and I applaud him for that.
-Collin
The End Is Nigh...
The more and more I think about it
I think Torry Holt is at least going to come for a visit
"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks
by Jonathan Loesche on Mar 16, 2009 3:24 PM EDT reply actions
I love this!
You people are tripping thinking we’ll miss the presence of Matt Jones. Please someone tell me one game in Jaguars history when Matt Jones has been on the bench (or suspended) and you said to yourself “Man I wish we had Matt Jones out on the field.”
The answer is never because he’s just a guy. He won’t take a hit, he won’t block, he won’t put in any effort at all and he just flat out sucks. I don’t care that he led our team in receptions last year. That was a product of our system, not his talent. If you’re the number one target, you should catch more passes than the rest. But we had literally no passing game anyway in games Jones started. Notice how our passing game got immediately better once Northcutt took over the starting spot? And Northcutt ain’t anything special folks!
To find someone the equivalent of Matt Jones, a safe place to start would be in the 6th or 7th round of the draft. The guy was a joke. Praise the lord he’s finally gone! Thank you Gene, Wayne, and Jack!
It's not either-or
Imagine Northcutt and Jones both on the field. That would’ve been even harder for teams to defend. One game when I wished Matt Jones was on the field? How about all of the ones that they lost last year when he was on the bench and the offense just could not buy a first down. Matt Jones was a first down machine last year.
I agree that possession receivers are not as hard to find as a deep threat that stretches the field, but you still have to find them, and now the Jaguars HAVE to find one, rather than just sitting back and doing BAP and knowing they already have one.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 16, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Juse hope....
and pray that Mike Walker will stay healthy. I think trading down is important now more than ever, unless we are in line to get a steal in the first few rounds. that obviously means waiting and seeing until our pick on draft day. I have no idea who’s left in FA that would be good. i can see maybe if marvin harrison isnt signed by training camp, the jags might look to him, if cheap. t holt will probably be too old/expensive. really looking forward to the draft…we’ve gotta hit on every pick.
Jags drop Jones?
Matt “Drop ’em” Jones has finally been cut?! But who will drop the ball for the Jags in 2009?
You can do it, Northcutt!
That’s where he’ll be, is in Dallas… With his Boy Jerry “Jones”…
by floridafalcons#63 on Mar 16, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Come on now… read what you just wrote… NO drama in Dallas? =)
by floridafalcons#63 on Mar 17, 2009 7:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Haha
it wont be totally clean there. But I just think he’s TRYING. But I think he’ll avoid Matt Jones, because he already has a bad record. Besides he’s not as good as many of their WR’s they have already.
BUT, they really dont have that many.. Miles Austin is a free Agent, T.O went bye bye…
I see what you are saying… but Jones knows that he lives for drama… lol…
by floridafalcons#63 on Mar 20, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Who are the available head coaches for next year? What about the G.M.’s?
Releasing Freddy T. (hopefully win a Superbowl an get to the H.O.F.) Releasing the best receiver we have, not doing jack shit in free agency…….Seems to me that Gene Smith an Mr. U.S.C are trying to make us the L.A. Jaguars as fast as they can!!!
Ok now that is the most ridiculous comment yet. Freddy T is 33 and he is not getting any younger. He would have been paid 6 million next year, by releasing him we saved 6 million to spend somewhere on a much younger player that can fill the many holes we have. I love Freddy T but we have to realize the guys production wasn’t going to improve. As far as Matt Jones goes, I mean really ? The guy is a bust (2007, 24 Receptions, 317 Yards, 4 TD’s), (2008, 65 Receptions, 760 Yards, 2 TD’s), wow! To say this guy is our best receiver is really sad to say, but I’m pretty sure as long as we don’t try converting quarterbacks to wide receivers this year we will probably find someone more productive. Look the guy Gene knows what he is doing, like I’ve stated before we have had Waaaaay to many players arrested in the last 2-3 years. The guy is getting rid of these morons who can’t stay out of trouble. Just to list a few in the last few years, some arrested more then others (Gerald Sensabaugh, Reggie Williams, Matt Jones, Stocker McDougle, Khalif Barnes, Bobby McCray, Ahmad Carroll , Brian Williams, Richard Collier, Brent Hawkins, Justin Durant, Travarous Bain, Dennis Northcutt) . 10 out of those 13 aren’t with the team anymore, why should Matt Jones be an exception?
Freddy T was willing to take 1.55 million in 09 an 2 million for 2010 per the NFLPA site to play for New England. For that price your would not want him on your roster?
Current receivers on Jaguars roster
Player Rec Yds Yds/Rec Long TD
Dennis Northcutt 44 545 12.4 41 2
Mike Walker 16 217 13.6 32 0
Troy Williamson 5 30 6.0 10 1
Grand total of 65 receptions, 792 yards, an three touchdown catches.
Matt Jones
Player Rec Yds Yds/Rec Long TD
Matt Jones 65 761 11.7 35 2
Jones 65 catches, 761 yards, an 2 Touchdowns.
Cutting have the production you have at a position is a smart move? Public relation wise…..maybe. Football wise not at all.
Please
How can anyone really believe that Gene Smith has done everything he has without a gameplan in place. Do you really think he made the decision to cutt Jones and then said “lets see how we do with the guys we have left” or do you think he has other WR in his sights. The guys has a plan. It will all make sense soon.
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