NFL Rumors: Josh McDaniels acts like Raiders-Chandler Jones drama doesn't exist
On Tuesday, Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Chandler Jones went off on the organization and head coach Josh McDaniels on Instagram in a series of since-deleted posts. It seemed as if it was spurred on by Jones being locked out of the team's gym facilities.
In the rant against the franchise, Jones stated plainly that he didn't want to play for the Raiders as long as McDaniels was the coach. That was the most eye-popping point, without question. So naturally, the head coach was asked about the situation with Jones and the pass-rusher's subsequent absence from practice on Wednesday.
Curiously -- to put it kindly -- McDaniels acted as if there wasn't a problem. The Raiders head coach told the media, via Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, "There's nothing to talk about. He's not going to be here today."
If there was nothing to talk about, I doubt reporters would be asking the question.
In reality, McDaniels seems to be setting himself up for quite a bit of controversy. Even before catching the ire of Jones this week, he alienated Derek Carr and forced his ultimate departure from the Raiders this offseason while also leading the team to a dismal campaign. He replaced him with a later-at-best move of signing Jimmy Garoppolo and the overall roster got worse, not exactly setting himself up for a rebound season.
Now he's handling this controversy like he's Bill Belichick. But there's the issue. McDaniels, like many Belichick disciples before him, try to be their mentor when they get a head coaching job before they earn the caché and gravitas that Belichick has. There's a reason a man with more Super Bowl rings than he can wear on one hand can be prickly and mysterious with the media -- he's got the accolades behind him to prove his process.
McDaniels has none of that. In fact, he's still yet to prove he's a good coach. And while the Chandler Jones drama doesn't appear to be subsiding, the Raiders head coach is only making himself look worse.
NFL Rumors: Jordan Love's Packers debut could be spoiled by injuries
Jordan Love, fittingly, will make his first start as QB1 for the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon against the rival Chicago Bears -- a franchise famously owned by his predecessor, Aaron Rodgers. Given what he showed in the preseason and training camp too, many fans expect Love to continue in the lineage of dominating the Bears.
Unfortunately, his debut might be coming without his two most proven weapons in the Green Bay offense.
On Wednesday, second-year receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs both missed practice with hamstring injuries, as reported by ESPN's Rob Demovsky. Conceivably, that takes away the top two wide receivers on the depth chart for Love and the Packers.
One of the biggest concerns for the Packers offense as they transition to Love at quarterback is the overall inexperience of the pass-catchers. Watson and Doubs, only in year two, are the most experienced of a group that also includes rookie Jayden Reed and rookie tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft at the top of depth charts. Now you're taking away the two most seasoned -- albeit lightly seasoned -- players in that group.
We'll have to wait and see about the status come Sunday for Watson and Doubs. However, it's not the smooth start that Love or any Packers fan was hoping for when it comes to this new-look offense.
NFL Rumors: Chris Jones says he'd play for Chiefs in Week 1 with new deal
The Kansas City Chiefs will kick off Week 1 of the 2023 season on Thursday night when they take on the Detroit Lions. As of now, though, all-world defensive tackle Chris Jones is not expected to be on the field after holding out through the entirety of training camp and the first full week of practice in the regular season.
But according to the man himself, if the Chiefs and he were able to reach a deal on a new contract before kickoff, he'd be ready to take the field.
Nate Taylor of The Athletic asked Jones the simple question of, if a deal gets done, how soon could the All-Pro be back on the field? Jones responded, "If a deal gets done, I could be out there tomorrow."
In the same conversation with the media on Wednesday, Jones gave a very human answer to his desire for the new contract and fought back on the notion of letting the Chiefs down.
"It's always been my goal to be a Kansas City Chief for life," Jones said, via Jared Koller of KCTV5. He then iterated that all he's looking for is "a raise" when you really think about it. A substantial raise by millions of dollars, but still.
It doesn't seem as if the two sides are coming to an agreement anytime soon and, in all likelihood -- even if he's physically ready -- the Chiefs will face the Lions in Week 1 without their best defensive player.
