Is Matt Jones worth the trouble?
Opinion: Holding on to the Jaguars wide receiver would be easy — and wrong
By Gene Frenette
Story updated at 11:16 AM on Monday, Mar. 16, 2009
In his two months as Jaguars general manager, Gene Smith has often put hammer to nail on the point that good character will be a high-priority item for this organization.
Smith followed through on that standard by letting off-the-field headaches Khalif Barnes and Reggie Williams become free agents without any offer to retain them. Those were easy calls because their performance wasn't worth the aggravation.
But what happens now that Matt Jones, a player who was just starting to be a significant contributor, has messed up again and pinned Smith to the wall on the character issue? Is Jones given his walking papers, or is there a different get-out-jail-free card awaiting him because, well, the receiver corps is so painfully thin?
In some ways, this is a more awkward decision for Smith than releasing Fred Taylor because Jones is 25 and a potential long-term solution as a second or third receiver.
After Jones' cocaine arrest last July -when coach Jack Del Rio had the final authority on roster decisions, and somewhat of a personal interest in keeping Jones because he favored the team's 2006 first-round draft pick - Arkansas' former favorite son capitalized on the break. A previously immature, lazy player led the team in catches (65) and receiving yards (761) in 2008, despite serving a three-game suspension for violating the NFL substance-abuse policy.
All that knucklehead nonsense appeared to be in his past until Jones, by drinking beer two weeks ago while playing golf with friends in Arkansas, violated the no-alcohol condition of his plea deal that placed him in a drug-intervention program.
He will be in jail until Sunday and is likely facing another NFL suspension for running afoul of its personal-conduct policy.
While it seems harsh to berate Jones for such an innocuous offense, the problem here is more about judgment than the gravity of his actions. Jones knew consuming alcohol meant a violation of probation, yet he took the risk and got popped by a random test.
If you're the Jaguars, how many times is Jones entitled to disappoint his bosses before they decide he's no longer worth the trouble? Jones can recite the riot act because it's been read to him so often by receivers coach Todd Monken that Jones knows it better than a Geico commercial.
Fans here want to embrace him, but Jones is just a big tease. He gets people excited. Then, just like that last-second pass in the end zone against the Cleveland Browns last year, Jones ultimately lets you down.
Can he change? Sure, anything is possible.
But if the Jaguars keep him, they also live with wondering if there's going to be a screw-up that leads to another suspension, or a drive foiled because No. 18 didn't go hard enough after a ball.
That's the problem with Jones. He's not a menu on which you can pick only the desirable options. The baggage comes with him, and it's getting heavier all the time.
The NFL Draft is six weeks away, but make no mistake about it, Gene Smith is already on the clock. He must decide whether Matt Jones has run out of second chances.
Actually, the answer for the team's new sheriff should be simple. If character truly does matter to the Jaguars, you cut the cord, even when it's the inconvenient thing to do.
gene.frenette@jacksonville.com,
http://www.jacksonville.com/sports/...lding_onto_wr_jones_would_be_easy_-_and_wrong
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