Getty Jack Jones’ time in New England ended on Monday.
Just months after a disturbing off-field incident, the New England Patriots cut cornerback Jack Jones on Monday, November 13th.
Athletic’s Patriots insider Chad Graff, who confirmed the news through a league source, responded to the question, “Why now?” The injury-plagued team sits at 2-8. Shaun Wade is the next left cornerback on the depth chart, and he only has 15 tackles and one pass deflection this season.
“The Patriots tried so hard [maybe too hard] to make it work with Jones,” Graff wrote. “He was taken in the fourth round of last year’s draft because of character issues after Jones was arrested and pleaded guilty to burglary of a Panda Express restaurant in college.”
“Then he was arrested this offseason for allegedly bringing loaded weapons into Boston Logan Airport. The charges were dropped when Jones agreed to one year of probation before trial. But the Patriots backed him because they liked his coverage skills at cornerback. He was never suspended by the team for these allegations,” Graff continued.
Jones showed potential in 18 games played and two starts with the Patriots. He recorded 42 tackles, seven pass deflections, two interceptions, one pick six, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Local production of Jack Jones declined
Most of that production came during his rookie season, and he wasn’t able to build on that this year. He had just one pass deflection and 12 tackles plus a quarterback hit this fall, and “the situation became untenable for the Patriots and Jones over the last three weeks,” Graff noted.
“The Patriots benched Jones for the first two drives of last week’s game against Washington because he showed up late to the team hotel before the game,” Graff wrote. “But they were disappointed when, instead of responding as they had hoped, Jones sulked alone on the bench while the defense was on the field. Jones then sat on the bench again during the first two drives of the team’s next game and did the same, sitting alone in a large trench coat at the start of the Patriots game in Germany on Sunday.
“Upon his return from Europe, the Patriots ultimately decided that his behavior was not worth his on-field performance,” Graff concluded.
Bill Belichick Mum about Jack Jones
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick twice dodged the media on how the team worked with Jones in the last two games. Belichick retired after the 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, November 12th.
“Yes, I’m not going to get involved in any player’s personal situations,” Belichick told reporters in a video conference Monday before the announcement.
Belichick also sidelined after the Commanders’ loss when both Jones and JC Jackson didn’t start. The long-time coach simply said “no” and emphasized that “everyone played” at the secondary level.
“We played all corners,” Belichick told the media on November 5th. “We all played safeties. We really played everyone on defense.”
Jabrill Peppers of the Patriots talk about retiring Jack Jones
New England safety Jabrill Peppers has had to deal with questions about Jones’ status given limited playing time and his absence from the sidelines. Peppers was asked if he had spoken to Jones about it.
“No, not yet,” Peppers told reporters on Sunday, via MassLive.com. “But I have a very good relationship with him.”
Regardless of whether they have connected or not, Jones will have to find a new opportunity elsewhere.
Matthew Davis covers the NFL for Heavy.com, focusing on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers. He has also covered prep sports in Minnesota as a writer for the StarTribune since 2016. More about Matthew Davis
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