WR Watch: Matt Jones Cleaning Up His Act?
Has Matt Jones turned it around? Over the past few months, he’s been in Bradenton Florida working out and trying to turn his life and career around.
The coming weeks will test that logic when NFL teams open training camp. Having sequestered himself in a two-bedroom villa at IMG Academies in Bradenton for the better part of the last three months, Jones has spent more than $15,000 to train feverishly in seclusion with a team of specialists – ranging from nutritionists to mental-conditioning experts – for the second chance that falls into the hands of so many NFL players these days.
It’s simple, the Jets could use another top receiver. Jones is available and could be had for cheap … at least for the first season. Like Brad Smith, Jones is a transitioning collegiate QB. He’s tall and very fast … it makes sense. So why the hold up? The problem is that Rex Ryan doesn’t like him as a player, as Bob Glauber found out last April.
33 Responses to WR Watch: Matt Jones Cleaning Up His Act?
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Kyle says:
Haha! You don’t see Matt Jones as an upgrade over a WR who caught 9 passes last season?
Smith is a bust.
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bozzie says:
Sign Matt Jones just to compete and provide a little heat on our guys! Smith is just a special teamer and a wildcat option. Matt Jones will provide a tall option and he will come cheap! We need an upgrade to open up our offense!
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JAY says:
MATT JONES IS A HUGH UPGRADE AT WR SIGN HIM ASAP!!! AND WE CAN GET HIM FOR A FAIR PRICE
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zenlaw says:
I want the WR’s on the Jets roster to get a chance. Let’s see what Smith, Clowney, Stuckey, etc. can do this year.
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Jets-Fan-4-Life says:
I’ve been saying it for months this would be a no lose signing.
If the story above is true and he is locked away in seclusion to train feverishly with nutritionists and mental conditioning experts, then he will be giving more then 100% this year. He could be a good go to guy for his speed and height.
He has got to be better then Smith, and I never liked Smith!
Sign him before someone else does; if he doesn’t work out then drop him! His contract would be cheep!
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Brendan says:
Depending on the price, this would be a big move (possibly) for the Jets offense.
I’m not saying Jones is a #1 receiver, and I don’t think that’s what anyone else is saying either, but he can definitely take some heat off of Cotchery. If we have a #1A receiver, a #2, and two #3 caliber guys (cotch, jones, stuckey, clowney), with a developing star at TE in Keller, our receiving core looks a lotttt more solid. Jones has gotten much better, and if this is true and he’s rededicated himself to the game and cleaned up his lifestyle, then give the guy a shot. That is, unless the front office secretly plans to go full throttle at Plax.
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Crazy Eddie says:
Do you not pay attention? Rex Ryan doesn’t like him. Not for his behavior, he doesn’t like him AS A PLAYER!
Why would he sign someone who he obviously does not think is a good football player?
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Tony D says:
The Jets would be idiots not to look into Matt Jones. He caught 65passes in 12games last year. Better than any #2 guy we have. Hes 6’6 220 and has good speed for a big guy. Any player who spends over 15k to get his body back into shape is not only looking for a second chance but looking to be an impact player. I say we atleast give him a shot, can always release him.
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vinnywasthebest says:
Our wide receivers are questionable at best. As a fan I want to have MORE NFL PROS in the wr position. Please stop saying that we can go inot the season and expect to win with what we have. If you want a rebuilding year, then our receiver core is good enough to be a “lets see what they can do” group. If you want to at least compete for playoffs, we need better optiopns at the position. Matt Jones isnt the second coming of Terrel Owens, but hes 6’6″ and fast. Good enough for a 1$ mil contract for one year.
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MSM says:
If we are giving guys like Urriata a chance to compete because he fits the Plax mold….you have to sign Jones and give him a shot.
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The Green Lantern #80 says:
Here we go.
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Matt Jones is a bum and Rex knows it. He’s never been particularly successful in the NFL, and other than his tremendous height, I seriously doubt he’s an upgrade over the WR’s already on the roster.
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SackDance99 says:
So, all of a sudden bloggers know more about what makes a good WR than Rex Ryan? A guy who has been around the NFL his whole life (he watched Maynard and Sauer play as a kid) and was DC of the year with Baltimore? Nobody credits our defensive-minded HC’s opinion on a mediocre, at best, WR? Maybe Rex knows that Jones is too easy to defend and too limited as a route-runner and pass-catcher to spend his team’s cap money on. I’m willing to trust Rex on this one.
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I say you atleast bring him into camp, can always cut the guy. Rex saw him last year. I wonder if he has seen him since the 3 months of intense training and spending 15k on trainers and other things to improve his health n body. Id say probably not. Hes obviously trying to make a comeback, and im going to laugh when he does and catches 65+ balls on another team. Once again well have another easy pickup slip through our fingers… Lets just hope that Rex is right about the guy, if we do choose to pass him up.
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To me, it bothers me if it’s true that Ryan doesn’t like Matt Jones as a player. He’s a potential upgrade, let him prove it on the field without prejudice. I’d like for the Jets players already under contract to make a mark this year, but Jones is free and clear of the law, cheap and realizes this is his one shot to prove he can still play.
He’s motivated, he’s cheap, he’s an upgrade … sign the man and give him a contract with a carrot in 2010 like Lito got.
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The question should be can the guy catch?
Answer = Yes
Is he a tall fast target?
Answer = Yes
Is he as good as Plax?
Answer = No
Can he be a stop gap until 2010?
Answer = Yes
Does he cost much?
Answer = No
Will he be a primary target who catches the ball all the time?
Answer = He doesn’t have to be, just him playing deep will keep the defense off the line
Does the current roster of WR’s have that ability, and is considered a proven player (good or bad)?
Answer = NoIt’s a no brainer…. The Jets should look at him anyway even if the coach does not like the guy. Remember the team should do what it can to make this team better and to win a championship, as well as sell seats (with PSL’s) in the new stadium!
On a side note:
SackDance99… No one is questioning Coach Ryan’s defensive mind, I’m sure the “D” will be killer, but WR is on the opposite side of the ball not Ryan’s specialty.The big concern is if this team does not have a deep receiver that can catch the ball when it is thrown to him (and I’ve been rooting for Clowney) then the opposing team’s defense will hug the line and the Jets runners will struggle with short yardage pickups (see the 2007 season and how far that got them).
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jetfanATL says:
Jet-Fan-4-Life,
I think what Sack is saying is that Ryan as a Defensive mind should understand the struggles and strategies associated with containing certain types of WR’s and in the case of Matt Jones maybe feels he isn’t tough to defend due to some perceived or real limitations.
I’m ok with Rex not liking him much, but why not take a flyer on a guy with some experience as a WR in the league. Anyone who thinks he isn’t an upgrade over Brad Smith hasn’t been watching the games the past few years.
Smith has intriguing athletic ability but doesn’t have any impact at all outside of special teams. His gimmick plays rarely pick up more than a couple of yards, he doesn’t throw it well and someone above mentioned he only had 9 catches last year…
I’m all for being loyal to homegrown players, but loyalty to non-impact guys like Smith, Clemens, etc. is misplaced. We need guys who produce!
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freddysdead says:
its a no brainer they should definetly sign him ASAP…got nothing to loose, and if you want to make this a little easier for sanchez and the running game it might be good not to have a bunch of scrubs at WR-cotchery.
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OK, if Jones has such potential, why hasn’t he be signed by any team? Let’s face it, the Jets are not the only team in need of WR assistance. Yet no team has signed him….hmmmm.
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zenlaw,
could be teams actually want to see him work out before giving him 6 figures. call it a hunch, but shacking up at IMG academies for 3 months sounds great, but until teams see him work out, they wont sign him. If he comes out of hiding and is ripped head to toe and performs very well in his workouts, you can bet your buns that he’s going to get offers.
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True Story. Zenlaw.. I say hes worth atleast a look.
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I say what the hell at this point. Whats the worst that happens? We need another WR and he is cheap.
If he ends up blowing lines in NYC…… Then so be it
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I really doubt that Rex Ryan “doesn’t like him as a player”. All those accounts of him saying that are just third party accounts… “we are told that Rex Ryan doesnt like him… etc. etc.” Theres no quote, nothing, so it makes it hard to believe. Its doesnt really sound like him anyway. Hes the type of guy that would def give Jones a shot.
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jetfanATL
– Well put, and point taken. -
I respect all of the arguments, but I still think that the Jets have under-utilized talent on the roster. Guys like Smith and maybe even Wright have never really had a chance to succeed in the Jets offense, but we already know that both Smith and Wright excel on special teams. Perhaps, with the void created by the departure of Coles, one of these guys will step up.
I guess I’m all for giving Jones a look, but he never really impressed me as a WR. I’ve always considered him to be a 1st round bust. I remember for at least 2 seasons Jones was supposed to have a “break out” year and it never really materialized. Of course, the Jaguars weren’t exactly lighting up the offensive stats, but I still don’t think Jones is that much of an upgrade.
Let’s put it this way, wouldn’t you all like to see some homegrown talent succeed instead of a team filled with free agents? I think we already have too many of them.
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Dean Barbella says:
I love ya, Rex. But, snap out of it!!! We need this guy… and he needs us.
Your Pal,
Dean
PS: We’ve got a rookie QB and hole at wide receiver the size of the Grand Canyon… Why not start with 6’6″ Matt Jones and a lousy one-year, incentive-laden contract?!
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patpat says:
I agree with SackDance and jetfanATL, Rex must have some kind of perspective on the guy as a defensive minded coach. it doesnt matter that he’s not an OC, you need to know both sides of the ball to be successful at any one position a the professional level, at ANY level.
If Rex wants the guy, great! is Rex doesnt want the guy, fine. I trust Rex’s judgement. In the meatime, I’m rooting for the guys on the roster and hope one of them step up their game enough to be sifficient for a season-long run. I think regardless of personnel this season WR becomes a top priority next offseason and theres plenty to pick from in free agency next year, let alone the draft. I understand that doesnt solve the problem for this year, but i believe any of the guys on our roster to be a good enough option for now
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If Rex thinks that he’s easy to defend, why waste the roster spot? If he doesn’t have the HC’s confidence walking in the door, why sign him? Plus, we do have 6-4 Marcus Henry (his YouTube highlights are pretty amazing) and 6-6 Urrutia. Both guys had very promising college careers. And, I’m not giving up on Brad Smith so easily. Unlike Jones, Smith is a YAC god and is a Wildcat threat. I still think that Smith is way too good of an open field runner to give up on. IMO, WR might have the biggest learning curve in football, which is no surprise considering that NFL DBs are world-class athletes that can hit like freight trains. Smith is still making then transiition from running QB to WR and, IMO, his progress was retarded in his 2nd season at training camp when Mangini had him wearing a red jersey. Let’s see what Smith can do…he is 6-2 and solidly built. And, we haven’t talked about Clowney or Stuckey. Forget Matt Jones. Now, Plax…that’s a different story…
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Guys you got to drop the Plax stuff… Its never going to happen. The comish will never let him play and NY wants to lock him up.
Don’t get me wrong I think it would be awesome to see in in green but its never going to happen.
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Rex also said B Franks was a dominant blocker…. I would take what he says good or bad with a grain of salt.
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Tim says:
Matt will be a great addition for any team. He’s always been a fantastic athlete an now this incident has made him a a more focused person. He will be a steal for someone.
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In 07-08, Matt Jones had 24 catches for 317 yds and 4 td’s. That same year, Brad Smith had 32 grabs for 325 yds and 2 td’s. This past year, Jones got more and more opportunities in the JAX offense, while B-Smizzle got fewer chances in our offense. Both are converted college QB’s, and Brad is actually a bit younger. And oh yeah, Brad is a stand-up guy, and Jones is a doofus at best and a thug at worst.
So before we take on the riskiest player I can imagine, are we sure that Brad couldn’t continue to develop into the WR we need him to be?
I don’t see him as an upgrade over Brad Smith.