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James Jones

WR Rumors: Welker, D. Thomas, J. Jones

June 12th, 2015 at 12:01pm CST by Luke Adams

Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, and James Jones spent the 2014 season playing in the AFC West, but now all three receivers are free agents. Thomas, of course, isn’t on the unrestricted market like Welker and Jones, but he has yet to sign his one-year franchise tender, meaning he’s not yet officially under contract with the Broncos.

Here’s the latest on the trio of wideouts:

  • A general manager tells Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report that his team strongly considered signing Welker, but “there was great concern” about his history of concussions. As Freeman writes, teams familiar with Welker’s medical history say they think the ex-Bronco has sustained at least six concussions during his NFL career.
  • Despite the concern about Welker’s head injuries, which will keep many suitors away, there are still teams interested in adding him. According to Freeman, the Patriots and Broncos aren’t interested in a reunion with Welker, but the Ravens and Dolphins could be good fits.
  • Thomas, Welker’s old Denver teammate, has until July 15 to sign a long-term contract with the Broncos, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says Thomas may not report to training camp if the two sides don’t strike a deal.
  • While the Broncos consider Thomas’ asking price too high, some league executives have suggested to Rapoport that Thomas deserves a Calvin Johnson-esque deal, based on Thomas’ recent production and the salary cap increases over the last couple years. When Johnson inked his eight-year, $130MM extension in 2012, the cap was $120.6MM. Three years later, it’s up to $143.28MM.
  • Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link) today, Jones identified the Jaguars as a potential fit for him. He also mentioned the Chiefs, Giants, and Seahawks, three teams that reportedly inquired on him when he became a free agent last month.

Seahawks, Others Inquired On James Jones

June 9th, 2015 at 12:20pm CST by Luke Adams

We haven’t heard many rumors about James Jones since he was released by the Raiders following the draft, but the veteran wideout wants to continue his career, telling Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that he’s not retiring. “If you need a wide receiver, come get me,” Jones tells Anderson.

According to Jones’ agent, the Seahawks, Giants, and Chiefs all made preliminary inquiries after the wide receiver his the open market last month, tweets Anderson. The 31-year-old has yet to make any free agent visits, however.

After spending seven seasons in Green Bay, Jones established a new career high in 2014 with 73 receptions in Oakland, easily the most catches for any player currently available. Given the conservative nature of the Raiders’ offense though, Jones averaged just 9.1 yards per catch, significantly below his career mark, for a total of only 666 yards.

While Jones caught balls from rookie Derek Carr last year, teams like the Seahawks, Giants, and Chiefs all have established signal-callers at the helm, and Jones wouldn’t be relied upon to be a primary option for any of those clubs. I’d be a little surprised if the former third-round pick doesn’t find a new home by the time the regular season begins.

AFC Notes: Kraft, Broncos, Ravens, Bills

May 12th, 2015 at 10:53am CST by Luke Adams

As Ben Volin of The Boston Globe notes (on Twitter), Patriots owner Robert Kraft is one of three owners on the NFL Compensation Committee, which determines commissioner Roger Goodell’s pay. The other two owners on that committee are Arthur Blank and Jerry Richardson. One unidentified NFL owner told Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report (TwitLonger link) that he thinks the relationship between Kraft and Goodell is “pretty much dead” in the wake of DeflateGate, so that will be an interesting situation to keep an eye on going forward.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • The Broncos are looking at tight ends in the wake of Jeff Heuerman‘s knee injury, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com tweets. Legwold could envision Denver signing a tight end this week, even as soon as today or Wednesday.
  • The Ravens aren’t expected to be too active on the free agent market now that veteran signings no longer affect the compensatory draft pick formula, but sources with knowledge of the team’s thinking predict Baltimore will try to add a cornerback through free agency or a trade, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. One possible option for the Ravens could be former Patriot Kyle Arrington, as Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun outlines.
  • Mike Rodak of ESPN.com examines the Bills‘ backfield, where the running back depth chart is getting crowded. While LeSean McCoy is locked in for a roster spot, the team figures to have to cut at least one player – and maybe two – from a group that features Fred Jackson, Boobie Dixon, Bryce Brown, and rookie Karlos Williams.
  • Free agent wide receiver James Jones told SiriusXM NFL Radio (audio link) that he was really surprised the Raiders released him. Oakland let Jones go earlier this month.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

AFC Mailbags: Chiefs, Raiders, Dolphins, Texans

May 9th, 2015 at 9:44am CST by Ben Levine

It’s Saturday, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. Let’s take a look at some of the interesting notes from the AFC…

  • The Chiefs appear content with their current roster and aren’t eyeing any current free agents, says Adam Teicher. Of course, injuries could quickly alter the team’s plans.
  • Meanwhile, Teicher can understand the connection between the organization and free agent wideout James Jones (particularly the receiver’s relationship with Chiefs general manager John Dorsey), but he’s uncertain the team will pursue the veteran.
  • Had James Jones remained with the Raiders, Bill Williamson believes the wideout would have affected “the long-term progress of the group.” While the team’s selection of Amari Cooper seemed like a natural explanation for Jones’ release, Williamson instead points to the Raiders’ acquisition of Michael Crabtree.
  • The draft was the Dolphins‘ “final chance” to acquire an impact linebacker, opines James Walker. Since the team did not draft a player at the position, the writer says the team will be forced to “coach up” backups Chris McCain and Spencer Paysinger.
  • Tania Ganguli says it was “not necessarily” a mistake by the Texans to not select a tight end in the draft. Instead of going after someone like Maxx Williams, the organization selected the best available player in the first round, and then they addressed critical needs with their later picks.

Raiders To Release James Jones

May 4th, 2015 at 7:51am CST by Luke Adams

The Raiders welcomed a new receiver to the mix last Thursday when they made Amari Cooper their top draft choice of 2015. For another wideout, that means the end of his brief stay in Oakland. According to Scott Bair and Fallon Smith of CSNBayArea.com, James Jones has confirmed that the club is releasing him from his contract.

The addition of the Cooper was the latest change to a Raiders’ receiving corps that has undergone a bit of a facelift this offseason. While some restricted free agents, such as Rod Streater and Andre Holmes, were retained, the team also added a notable outside free agent in Michael Crabtree.

Jones, 31, signed a three-year contract with the Raiders last winter, but that $10MM deal didn’t include any guaranteed money beyond the 2014 season, so the club can get out of it without taking on any dead money. Jones had been set to earn a $2.95MM base salary in 2015, with various other cap charges taking his total hit up to $3.433MM. While Oakland didn’t need the extra cap room, cutting Jones will allow him to catch on with another team before training camp gets underway in July.

After spending seven seasons in Green Bay, Jones established a new career high in 2014 with 73 receptions in Oakland. However, he averaged just 9.1 yards per catch, significantly below his career mark, for a total of only 666 yards.

Extra Points: Locker, Jones, 49ers, Fines

August 22nd, 2014 at 5:02pm CST by Rob DiRe

Titans‘ quarterback Jake Locker has been underwhelming in his short career, and how he plays this year will determine his future with the team. If he continues to disappoint, rookie Zach Mettenberger could be an option, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. Even still, Mettenberger will likely have to compete for the starting job going forward into 2015, even if Locker is not retained.

Here are some other notes from around the NFL:

  • Titans‘ head coach Ken Whisenhunt says there is a possibility that the team only keeps four receivers on the roster. That leaves Michael Preston, Brian Robiskie, Marc Mariani, and Derek Hagan fighting for just one spot, writes Kuharsky.
  • New Raiders‘ receiver James Jones is ready to step up and become the top receiver for his team, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. “I’m trying to prove something everyday, not only to the coaching staff, but to the entire league,” Jones said. “I’ve got a little chip on my shoulder, and I’m trying to prove it to the world to the league everyday that I can be a No. 1 receiver, that I can be one of those receivers that’s talked about in the National Football League.”
  • The 49ers‘ just unveiled their new football stadium, and already are being forced to pull up the turf and replace it, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. The grass proved to cause problems during the second half of their 34-0 loss to the Broncos on Sunday, but will be resodded in time for their preseason game against the Chargers this coming Sunday.
  • With plenty of NFL stars still hoping for contract extensions, Ari Nissim of the National Football Post looks at ten who could be in line for new contracts sometime this season. The list is full of the league’s top receivers and pass rushers, as well as Chiefs‘ quarterback Alex Smith.
  • With all the fines coming down this preseason, NFL fans can freshen up on the rules surrounding these fines thanks to Brian McCarthy of the league office (via Twitter).

AFC West Notes: Raiders, Broncos, Ball

August 4th, 2014 at 5:49pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Raiders have released an early version of their depth chart, and one of the big surprises is the absence of new addition James Jones from the first string, according to Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. Jones is expected to lead the group in production, but was listed as a part of the second string.

Here are some other notes from around the western divisions:

  • While he did analyze the Raiders‘ depth chart, Bair did say not to put too much stock in such an early version, even though he believes it will give some insight into the team’s plans at kick returner and punt returner (via Twitter).
  • Rahim Moore and Derek Wolfe are back on the field and impressing the Broncos‘ coaches, as they have taken starting jobs, at least for now, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. Both players finished last season missing games due to injury.
  • Broncos‘ running back Montee Ball had his appendectomy today, but the team expects him to be ready for the first game of the season against the Colts, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter).

Extra Points: Roby, Knott, Freeman, Jones

April 4th, 2014 at 11:05pm CST by Peter Sowards

In this thorough write-up, the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Michael Gehlken looks at Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby‘s upcoming visit with the Chargers, scheduled for later this month. Roby’s collegiate career featured a plethora of ups and downs, the majority of a non-positive nature.

“I think I had obvious shortcomings, on and off the field,” Roby told Gehlken in a phone interview. “It’s not about what happens to you. It’s all about how you respond and if you really learned. If you don’t learn, then it’s going to keep happening over and over again. I believe in karma. I believe in learning from mistakes; that’s what they’re there for.”

Roby is projected by some experts as a first-round pick. The Chargers own the No. 25 overall pick and last selected a defensive back in the first round in 2008, when they drafted Arizona’s Antoine Cason 27th overall.

Other news and notes from Friday night…

  • Eagles linebacker Jake Knott has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2014 season, the team announced today. Knott violated the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances and is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games. “We’re very disappointed to learn of his suspension,” the team said in a statement. “We have spoken to Jake and he is fully aware of the mistake he made and owned it. The key for him, however, is to learn from that mistake and move forward with his preparation for the 2014 season.”
  • Receiver James Jones moved on from the Packers earlier this offseason, signing a three-year, $11.3MM deal with the Raiders. Another former Packers receiver, Antonio Freeman, shared his thoughts with Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, saying he wasn’t surprised with the move: “This game is about dollars and cents,” Freeman said. “It’s about cap value. That’s what these decisions come down to. It doesn’t come down to if James was a nice guy or a great locker room guy. He was a great guy. I met him a few times. I’ve heard great things about him. But it doesn’t come down to how nice of a guy you are. This is a business. This is Wall Street. This is Saks Fifth Avenue.”

Raiders Sign James Jones

March 18th, 2014 at 3:23pm CST by Luke Adams

TUESDAY, 3:23pm: The base value of Jones’ three-year deal is an even $10MM, with $3.65MM in guaranteed money, as Albert Breer of the NFL Network Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun detail (Twitter links).

MONDAY, 6:38pm: Jones’ deal is for three years and $11.3MM, per Schefter (via Twitter).

4:45pm: The Raiders have reached an agreement with James Jones that will bring the free agent wide receiver to Oakland, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Schefter (via Twitter), Jones will ink a three-year deal and reunite with general manager Reggie McKenzie, a longtime Packers executive before he took over the GM job in Oakland.

Jones, 29, finally emerged as a full-time starter in Green Bay over the last couple seasons, due in part to injuries and free agent departures. He responded by setting career-highs in receptions (64) and TDs (14) in 2012, then establishing a new career-high in receiving yards (817) in 2013. Like Eric Decker, Jones benefited from having a future Hall of Fame quarterback throwing him the ball and shouldn’t be counted on as a No. 1 receiver, but he makes a nice addition to a Raiders offense that could use another weapon or two.

Prior to reaching an agreement with the Raiders, Jones was linked to the Panthers, Jets, and Lions. While the Jets and Lions made significant splashes with their own receiver additions this week (Decker and Golden Tate, respectively), the Panthers’ receiving corps may be in real trouble. Carolina has already lost Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell, and Ted Ginn Jr. this offseason, and sees another reliable veteran come off the board with Jones landing in Oakland.

NFC Notes: Cowboys, 49ers, Cardinals

March 16th, 2014 at 10:22pm CST by Ben Levine

A couple of notes from around the National Football Conference to end your weekend…

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