Josh Jacobs Clears The Air On Raiders Standoff
Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders has been one of a number of star running backs across the NFL that have been engaged in a contract dispute with their teams.
Luckily for him and his squad, he agreed to a one-year contract days ago so that he can continue to suit up for the Silver and Black this season.
Jacobs says that his contract dispute is behind him now and that there are no hard feelings.
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs puts contract squabbles in past: “It’s a clean slate with me”https://t.co/Fc0jF3LUxb pic.twitter.com/zPpOigVT7k
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) August 30, 2023
“I mean I feel like we made it happen,” Jacobs said, via NFL.com. “So, it ain’t no hard feelings now. I feel like I said, ‘We made it happen’ so it’s a clean slate with me. It was never really like no hate on each side. But at the same time I understood my value, too. It was just about meeting in the middle.”
In his first three seasons, Jacobs was a good running back, but in 2022 he hit lofty new heights by rushing for a league-high 1,653 yards while scoring 12 touchdowns.
A contract dispute involving him was perhaps the last thing the Raiders needed after a terrible 2022 season in which they blew multiple leads and sagged to a 6-11 record despite being considered Super Bowl contenders.
This year, Jimmy Garoppolo has replaced Derek Carr at quarterback, and the team is hoping it will unlock the potential it has on both sides of the football.
They have Davante Adams, arguably the best wide receiver in the game, as well as a strong WR2 in Jakobi Meyers, and rookie tight end Michael Mayer is thought to have lots of potential.
On defense, Maxx Crosby is one of the NFL’s better pass rushers, while the recently acquired Marcus Peters is looking to regain his old form at cornerback.
Perhaps the Raiders’ biggest weakness last season was defense, where they ranked 26th in points allowed and 28th in total yards given up.