The wheels of justice grind very slowly, and we've already seen that in Jack Jones' gun case with a probable cause hearing scheduled Aug. 18 — right before a preseason date with the Packers.
In most cases, with a player with an otherwise clean background, the team and the NFL would wait until the case was adjudicated, and then see if there was any punishment. And most teams would wait for the NFL to do something. No reason to penalize yourself if the league wasn't going to impose any sanctions.
In the meantime, the negative public relations would be minimal — if the player hadn't been in trouble before. The coach/team could easily blame this on a one-time screwup and that the player has learned their lesson. The player would publicly apologize and all would be forgiven.
Different circumstances, but similar sentiment when Julian Edelman was suspended for PEDs in 2018. He addressed it head-on when camp started.
“I’ve got to follow the protocols a little better and make sure this never happens again,” he said at the time. “I’m accountable for my actions, and ultimately my focus now is getting my knee right and going out and trying to play football at a high level.”
Edelman hadn't been in trouble before, and there was nary a mention of the suspension after he addressed the issue.
Jones is an entirely different issue, and not just because of the serious gun charges. He's been in trouble with the law previously, and with both his college teams (USC and Arizona State). That caused the former five-star prospect to fall to the fourth round of the draft and the Patriots.
Even with all that, Jones found a way to run afoul of the Patriots as a rookie. He finished his first season suspended by the team for, at least in part, missing rehab sessions for his knee.
Before the incident at Logan Airport, Jones appeared to be doing all the right things with the team after his suspension, as he received top starter reps in the final practice before the summer break before camp.
“Told him to keep his head,” Jalen Mills told the Boston Herald in January. “He’s a talented player. This organization’s going to need him. He’s still a young guy. And at the end of the day, make sure it’s a new slate, clean slate and show the guys what you got.”
Mills is absolutely right about Jones. He is talented, and the team's going to need him to be at its best this season. With Jones in the fold as one of the top 3 corners, the Patriots have a chance to have a nice trio there with top pick Christian Gonzalez and veteran Jonathan Jones, and a little depth with Marcus Jones waiting in the wings.
Without Jones, the Patriots aren't immediately shorthanded, but their depth is non-existent with Shaun Wade next up with injury.
Jones has talent, no question. That's what makes the situation for the Patriots more complicated. If he was a late-round reserve, he'd be gone by now. The team hasn't made a move with Jones yet, and it would be a surprise at this point if they did.
However, there is a way for the Patriots to navigate the Jones situation that diffuses the issue for the team (it's going to be a topic of discussion until camp) and possibly and finally gets Jones on a positive and productive track: the team should announce a team suspension of Jones for up to four games.
(One note: while team suspensions for past gun-related incidents preceded league discipline, it might not technically be legal in the new CBA/conduct policy for the team to suspend Jones. However, as long as the team works it out with the player and he agrees not to file a grievance, the team can do whatever they want. The team could essentially say, "Off the record, either you agree to this — and we think this is best thing for you — or we are cutting you. Your choice.")
That would essentially end the story for now from a team perspective. The Patriots will have done something. If this case goes to trial, it's not going to happen for at least a year. Attorney Rose Scapicchio may be able to get the charges reduced or dismissed at some point — and that could include someone else taking the blame for the guns being there — but the facts of the case from a team perspective would not really change. At the very least, Jones displayed terrible judgment in allowing this to happen, likely just days after Bill Belichick instructed the players not to put themselves or the team in a bad position over the next five weeks.
Again, if Jones was a clean player, a team suspension would not be needed. Putting aside Jones' issues in college, Jones has already run afoul of the team — just six months ago.
The players know Jones has already screwed up, and has done it again — this time publicly. He's besmirched the Patriots brand held closely by the Kraft family. If Belichick doesn't impose another punishment, players will wonder about accountability, and that's a dangerous slope in a team environment.
A team suspension would also mitigate the chances of Roger Goodell weighing in and imposing his own discipline, perhaps pressured by the NBA's suspension of Ja Morant.
Another team suspension would also put Jones on clear notice that he is out of chances with the team, if that sentiment hasn't or isn't given to him directly in short order.
You're also hopeful that Jones would take advantage of the services provided by the league under the personal conduct policy:
Any player arrested or charged with violent or threatening conduct that would violate this policy will be offered a formal clinical evaluation, the cost of which will be paid by the league, and appropriate follow-up education, counseling, or treatment programs. These evaluations will be available at designated facilities around the country on a confidential basis. The player may select the particular provider at the designated facility. The evaluation, counseling and other services are not disciplinary, but are instead intended to help and assist the player address the issues giving rise to the proceedings. The player’s decision to make beneficial use of these clinical services will be considered a positive factor in determining eventual discipline if a violation is found, and his satisfactory participation in counseling, treatment, or therapy may mitigate the fine or suspension that might otherwise be imposed.
Jones accepting the club discipline and also the services offered by the league — which are voluntary and not mandatory (although the team should make it mandatory) — would give him the best chance to be successful for himself and the team.
There's no question the Patriots are better with Jones on the field. Sending Jones a clear message in the short term could make him and the team better in the long term.
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NOTE FROM BEDARD: Love the passion of our members, but I have one request: can we keep it a little cleaner in the comments on this topic? I've received some complaints. I don't want to start deleting comments. Try to keep politics and race out of it. Let's try to stay with the Patriots' on-field product and the decisions the team might make. Thanks!
