Matt Jones: Violation of Probation
by silencecs on Mar 9, 2009 10:12 PM EDT
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Print[Editorial addition: As more and more about this story comes out, it appears that Matt Jones actually failed a urine test on Feb 27th for alcohol which prompted his appearance in court. He said the failed test stemmed from drinking he did the day before. You have to get incredulously drunk for alcohol to show up in your urine the next day since one drink an hour is metabolized by normal people {John/FS BLUE, for example, probably digests it almost twice as fast ;) }. This story is getting more interesting. Bad decision, that's the bottom line... I want so badly to like this guy and for him to succeed, but c'mon man!]
Earlier today, Matt Jones was arrested for violation of probation when he reported to his Judge that he'd been drinking alcohol while golfing (Isn't that a requirement in order to golf?). His original charge was for possession of a controlled substance, so when he violated his probation, he was again charged with the original crime (that's what happens if you don't successfully complete the probation without getting arrested). Hence, it shows up as possession of a controlled substance when in fact, it was just a violation of probation for drinking.
Matt came clean to the judge and explained that he'd been drinking while golfing and the judge decided to violate him. It was her duty as an officer of the court to do this, otherwise it looks like preferential treatment.
The key here is that maybe this means that Matt has undergone a change in character. If he's become so noble that he admitted to drinking when there was no proof of it, maybe he HAS changed, and is intent on accepting responsibility when he makes a mistake. I really like Matt and I imagine he'll be suspended, but I can't see it being any more significant than his previous suspension. Czar Goodell is notorious for looking at the situation on a whole. This will only be Matt's second incident, and it only occurred because of his honesty. I hope I'm right about my assessment of his character, and I hope he doesn't face further suspension. He looks to be turning his life around and I hope he continues to turn his career around as well. Maybe he can still earn a contract extension if he really does continue to exhibit such responsible behavior.
-Collin
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I hope Tsar Goodell doesn't go off
This wasn’t like Pacman making it rain at a club a month after he was suspended. I think the Judge was harsh in this case, but that’s just me.
"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 9, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions
you think gene is a dark emperor....
mj what a dumb move. drink on the golf course is not a big deal, but wait lets factor in the probation and our receiver corps is untalented and stupid
but we got jones-drew
surreal to be teal
Goodell isn't the one you have to worry about.
It’s Evil Emperor Gene! This may be the last straw in Gene’s extraordinarily small hat.
Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Fred Taylor. Sounds about right.
Because
He was the only real reliable target from the receivers, plus this “crime” is one of the most ididotic thing I ever heard, I don’t think the jaguars will cut him. last year it was a much-much bigger thing with the marijuana and the jaguars very wisely not cut him, so drinking in the golf course, I DON’T think equals bye, bye Matt..
I "just"fear about Goddell and and that 8 game suspension
by Zoltan from Budapest on Mar 9, 2009 10:39 PM EDT reply actions
It was cocaine Zoltan
But even then, I think you’re right. This was a dumb move that I hope Gene Smith will simply look it over and base things off his production.
"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 9, 2009 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions
has MJ been..
drinking in this pic? anyways, i hope this doesnt have a serious repercussion against MJ. like Collin said, atleast he was honest about drinking on the golf course..
Does anyone
know how much trouble a person usually gets into for doing coke. (how many game suspension)
I would think that that would be a 4 game suspension, which he has already served. If he gets another suspension and the usual suspension is for 4 games then he’s essentially getting in trouble for either not going to jail the first time or for drinking, in either case that would be stupid.
Right About Character
He really has changed if he admitted to it when there was no proof. But then again, why would he admit to it.
Thats Good For Another Jacksonville... First Down.
Suspension
Wasn’t his suspension last season suppose to be for four games and it got reduced to three? So if Goodell decides to consider this as a second violation wouldn’t this constitute an eight game suspension?
Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Fred Taylor. Sounds about right.
All depends
Goodell has said he would take everyone as a case by case basis. Unless he views a probation violation via technicality a series offense, I think Matt Jones is good.
"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 9, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Like I said before
Who cares, the point is he violated his parole. I think for drinking on the golf course and getting put in jail for it is a bunch of B.S. too. But if I was given the option for playing in the NFL getting paid millions or drinking with the risk of failing a random drug tests while I’m in a substance abuse program, getting kicked off the team, and going to jail, I think would definitely choose the millions. I mean the guy knew the consequences, why risk it? Who the hell gets caught for drinking on a piss test anyways? What a loser
Welcome to the best Jaguar site on the Net, Cliff... Thanks for breaking this story on the site through fanpost.
:)
The End Is Nigh...
Uhh....I will?
Nah, not really. Just finished auditions, so it’s going to sit in the corner for a few days.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 10, 2009 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions
And why he
confessed this to the judge? Did he something in a golf course for that? He was saw drunk by others? Or why?
I don’t see the point
by Zoltan from Budapest on Mar 9, 2009 11:58 PM EDT reply actions
This is the way I see it going down
Judge: How have you progressed on the program?
Matt: I’ve been doing really well. Since joining the program I’ve only had one beer the entire time.
Judge: You had a beer?
Matt (thinks to self: oh damn it): Ummm…..It was golf. I had to.
Judge: Well I think you’re a good guy, but I have to report this as a violation of your probation
by Adam Stites on Mar 10, 2009 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Failed abuse program
He failed one of his random drug tests. When you fail a drug test in a drug abuse program you must go in front of the judge for violating your agreement (parole) with the court and explain why. In front of the judge he admitted to drinking on Thursday last week and the judge charged him for violating his parole. Basically in order to get his charges dropped he agreed to go through a drug treatment program where he has to give drugs tests, do community services, etc, and he failed.
here are some more about the story, with the first reaction by Gene Smith
by Zoltan from Budapest on Mar 10, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions
Eh, might as well have said no comment
Still I hope Gene looks at this with a compassionate eye.
"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 10, 2009 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
I hope
as well. I hope he see the receiving corps, he will think twice, before he do something dramatic!
by Zoltan from Budapest on Mar 10, 2009 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Golf to blame?!?
I think we should put the game of golf on trial. It’s a “gateway sport”. You have to drink alcohol to play it and heaven knows if you’ve ever had to watch it you know you have to consume alcohol too!
Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Fred Taylor. Sounds about right.
Hahaha
I don’t get how Vic can watch golf but not tennis. At least there are people running around in tennis, and the women are usually hot and Russian.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 10, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Be grounded.
Matt Jones, the “king” of Arkansas, goes to his hometown, parties with friends, uses alcholol and cocaine and subsequently gets busted for what was most likely recreational use. He bounces back professionally with a productive season. And not just a productive season, but imagine how many third downs would have been lost without M. Jones hands’ last year. Now fast forward a year, and this wealthy youngster has a beer on the golf course. Does this deserve jail? Did he hurt anybody? I really don’t know, but is his behavior really a “headache”? Or is this predictable crap similar to what most wealthy atheletes and actors engage in…and Matt just so happens to get caught doing so?
Unfortunately, the truth only comes out game-by-game.
It's not a matter of that
It’s not that he had a couple of beers…
It’s not that he hurt anyone…
The guy was on probation and he knew what he had to do to stay out of jail…
The guy makes another bad decision and breaks one of the two rules that he has to follow to stay on probation and out of jail.
You cannot trust this guy to make ‘good character guy’ decisions.
He just doesn’t get it…
He’s not in college anymore… not the ‘king of Arkansas’…
Nobody cares what he did in college, or high school for that matter…
Everyone cares that the Jags paid this guy a butt-load of money to be on the field catching the footbal and moving the chains.
He risked all of that we he chose to get involved with cocaine, but he was the ‘king of Arkansas’ and they gave him second chance with probation and a rehab program…
He risked everything for a couple of beers while playing golf, knowing full well that he was subject to drug testing and staying away from drugs and alcohol was a condition of his probation.
From the sounds of it, he’s going to get a third chance…
How many chances is he going to get? Kick his butt to the curb and see if anyone else wants him on their team. Maybe he can join Kalif in Oakland? It seems that’s where the ‘bad kids’ are sent.
If it was a ‘normal person in Arkansas’ they’d violate his probation and send him off to jail.
From my point of view, the Jags paid too much for a project player that has made a career of lackluster performance and poor decisions.
It’s time to move on….
"If it was a ‘normal person in Arkansas’ they’d violate his probation and send him off to jail"
…that’s exactly what they did. This is not special treatment.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 10, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions
First of all, you were referring to the recent event, not the original punishment
Second, it is not uncommon for first-time offenders to get probation for a whole host of offenses, including possession without intent to distribute. Again, this is not special treatment.
Third (and really this is the most important point), the Jaguars are even more screwed if they cut their best receiver. Lackluster performances, 1st round bust, blah blah blah…… at the end of the day, Matt Jones is still the best receiver the Jags have. Do I like that? No. Do I wish he were better? Yes. Would the Jaguars be better off without him? Holy crap no.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 10, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Not only is it not uncommon... it's the norm.
If you aren’t selling drugs, then you aren’t going to jail on your first offense… bottom line.
The End Is Nigh...
Time to go
On one hand he was our best receiver last year, worked his butt off for a change, and drinking a beer on the golf course isn’t just acceptable, it’s mandatory. On the other hand I can’t purge the image of Jones laughing on the sideline last year when we were getting blown out a couple of times. No question it hurts us on the field but if this is truly a new era in terms of team character, it’s time for Matt to go.
This is the last year
in his contract isnt it? Let him come to camp and prove that he has changed. If he doesnt work out then they can cut him with no serious loss.
Or let him earn a big contract in Free Agency and earn us a bigger compensatory pick.
The End Is Nigh...
Or better yet let him get resigned here
I’d like to have at least one WR on the roster that I know can catch a football
"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 10, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed. I would love to have him on the team in the future, but I'm not convinced Gene is gonna keep him.
The End Is Nigh...
seeing our current
wide receivers, he MUST keep him…
by Zoltan from Budapest on Mar 10, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I expect
The Jaguars to bring in two fresh guys to the roster through the draft and undrafted free agency. For all we know they could be our #1 and #2 by the 2010 season.
Voice of dissent.
I want to play dissent to these condemning statements, because I would like for you to see the value of liberty and individualism. Do you really think Matt Jones is a criminal, and his youthful decisions to use drugs and drink on the golf course are totally condemning behavior? Let’s tag on to that this idea, how many people on “probation” actually abide by the “no drinking” clause? I’ve known two people who were on probation for DUI and both drank during that period. Should I have condemned them? Would I have fired them if I was a business owner? Would I have fired them if they were the leading receiver on my football team for offseason recreational blunders? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then please engage in the following procedures (in order): 1. walk to a mirror 2. stop pretending to be the hammer of justice 3. walk to your kitchen 4. grab a Miller High Life 5. put it in your golf bag 6. go golfing.
Go Jags and may this petty issue pass us by soon.
Unfortunately, the truth only comes out game-by-game.
Perhaps...
Perhaps, but your buddies and those other people on probation to whom you refer… weren’t paid millions of dollars to play football, golf, or any other games for that matter…
Ask Mr. Weaver if he thinks that paying MJ millions to play average, at best, football and go to jail…
Ask Mr. Weaver is MJ has earned the money that he’s been paid…
I've been trying to figure out....
how best to say how I feel about this situation. Thanks for doing that for me, Arthardie. Good job.
FLNative
stop trying to be Mr.Hard and realize he was just having a brew on the golf course. ON THE GOLF COURSE!!! He’s our best wideout and I don’t think this is serious at all. Hell, give him a pay raise !
people please stop defending Matt Jones.
The people that volunteer to fight and die for our country are paid a meager wage to do so. They are not afforded the luxury to make the mistakes that millionare football players make.
Matt Jones believes he is above accepting his punishment like a man. If having a few brews on the golf course is more important to him than playing football, he is telling you that he doesnt care about the fans that pay his salary more than him being able to do whatever he wants right, wrong, or indifferent.
Chill Out
He just wasn’t thinking. Don’t overanalyze.
Thats Good For Another Jacksonville... First Down.
Yeah, chill out
No one is saying Matt Jones is better than soldiers in Afghanistan.
by MoveThoseChains on Mar 10, 2009 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions
To compare anything about a football player violating probation by drinking a beer ...
to our armed forces fighting in the war is totally disrespectful and would probably be resented by those who are serving or have served. This harsh, holier than thou judging is really unbelievable.
I served for twenty years and I assure you that I would never put Matt Jones on a level as high as a soldier or sailor.
what I am trying to say is that he gets paid millions of dollars to make small sacrifices and cant pull through like a man. Stop defending the shmuck. He is an overpaid child.
by indianajagfan on Mar 11, 2009 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Drug/Alcohol test
When your on probation the drug/alcohol test that is administered to you can see if you have had even one drink in the last 80 hours.
Matt should of listened to the judge when he was told what he can do an cant do. That is the most important point. But as a Jaguars fan an being 25 once, I say cut him some slack. He is the best receiver we have currently. (That is a whole different conversation) I cant stand being a AFC South bottom dwelling team. If he can continue to make the same strides in the 09 season as he did last season we might have the beginning of a good receiver on our hands.
First post, Thank you Big Cat Country for all the great reads!!!
Dang,
that really put our teams current situation into perspective. “I cant stand being a AFC South bottom dwelling team.” HOLY CRAP WE ARE THE BOTTOM FEEDERS!!! WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?!
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