NFL
By: Steve Atkinson
There’s one thing you don’t do on Bill Belichick teams. Talk about your contract situation with the media and call the Patriots out. That is exactly what J.C. Jackson did this past week to NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry. Jackson, who calls himself Mr. INT is either going to get a franchise tag from the Patriots worth $17.3 million or find his money elsewhere. In my opinion he will be finding his money elsewhere because The Patriots have a history of not giving players what they want when their contract is up. Look at Ty Law in 2005 and Stephon Gilmore last year. Both went to play for new teams.
Now to get to Jackson’s comments this week to Phil Perry. I was shocked to read them because he clearly calls out Bill Belichick and the Patriots for not coming to him about an extension.
“I guess they feel like they don’t need me,” Jackson said. “I guess I can’t be that important to them. I know I am, but they’re not showing me.” I love the game,” he said. “If they tag me, I’m gonna go out there and play. Whatever happens happens,” Jackson said. “I’m taking it day by day. But it’s time for me to get paid. It’s time to get Mr. INT paid.”
He’s not worth the franchise tag because he probably wouldn’t give his best effort. Against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card game, he got torched by Stefon Diggs. Jackson got paid $3.8 million last year and was in the number one corner back slot after Stephon Gilmore got traded. However, he isn’t a number one corner, he’s a number two at best. The Patriots should just draft someone in the draft and start over at the position because there really isn’t anything else out there. [pickup_prop id=”17439″]
J.C. Jackson Calling Out Bill Belichick
Belichick doesn’t seem to be too high on Jackson either after these comments he made after the Tennessee Titans game this past season “You leave any trash laying around, he’s going to pick it up,”
In other words, Jackson just picks up whatever is out there it’s nothing special and definitely not worth $17 million for one season. They would much rather pay someone way less and who wants to be there than give a player like Jackson all that money for one season then he’s gone.
The Patriots options at cornerback now are Jonathan Jones, Jalen Mills, Myles Bryant, Joejuan Williams, and Shaun Wade. Neither of those players are number one corners, and Jonathan Jones will be coming back in 2022 after being on Injured Reserve in 2021.
If Jackson doesn’t get singed by the franchise tag from New England, he will become a free agent. Which is what I really think he wants after making public comments this week about getting paid. That’s a big no-no in the mind of Belichick and won’t get you a contract.
