DE Jones rips Raiders brass in now-deleted posts

1 year ago 3
  • Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterSep 5, 2023, 04:33 PM ET

    Close

      Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role - writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA's Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis' Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones, entering the second year of the three-year, $51 million free agent contract he signed with the team last year, is apparently upset with the franchise.

Jones took to social media Tuesday morning to air his complaints about, among other things, not being allowed into the team's facility to work out over the weekend.

"F--- IT. I DON'T WANNA PLAY FOR THE RAIDERS IF THAT'S MY HC, OR GM...I WANT PATRICK GRAHAM IVY LEAGUE N---A," Jones posted on his since-deleted Instagram story, referencing head coach Josh McDaniels, general manager Dave Ziegler and Graham, the Raiders' defensive coordinator.

"It's a shame that I am a top athlete with 112 sacks in the NFL and I have to go to a local gym to work out during the season for no apparent reason this is wild to me Josh and you know it you need to do what's right," Jones also wrote, apparently part of a text string aimed at McDaniels.

Those posts were much different than what Jones wrote on X, formerly Twitter, a day earlier, saying he "can't wait to play this year! Feelin great in practice!"

While the Raiders have yet to reply for comment, Jones' agent, Ethan Lock, had no comment on the situation.

Jones, 33, got off to a slow start last season before picking up steam late with three sacks against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13 and another sack a week later at the Los Angeles Rams. The next week, his improbable 48-yard fumble return against the Patriots as time expired gave the Raiders a 30-24 victory.

An elbow injury at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Eve ended his season.

The Raiders used the No. 7 overall draft pick on edge rusher Tyree Wilson, purportedly to learn behind Jones. Wilson, coming off a right foot injury of his own, came off the non-football injury list Aug. 16 and made his preseason debut in the exhibition finale at the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 26.

Read Entire Article