Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce didn’t name anyone specifically when criticizing his team after Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Panthers, but cornerback Jacques Jones is standing his ground.
Pierce blasted his players for making “business decisions” on the field during a 36-22 loss to the Panthers and promised to make “business decisions” himself, and he doubled down on that on Monday, criticizing the “entire defensive effort.”
Footage quickly emerged on social media excoriating Jones, particularly on one play where Jones was seen watching the ball go by without attempting a tackle, and on a second play where Jones was seen failing to make a tackle altogether.
So Jones took to social media on Tuesday to defend himself.
“Y’all want to badmouth me early,” he wrote. “Instead of posting one tackle, look at the other seven I made. I’ll move on to next week. I’m playing better than when I played. I know that and I’ll show it.”
Guess y’all couldn’t wait to say bad things about me🤣🤣 Instead of posting one tackle, look at the other 7 tackles I made. I’m moving on to next week. I know I’m better than I played and I’ll show it.
— Jack Jones🏄🏽♂️ (@presidentjacc) September 24, 2024
He also insisted that any effort issues fans may point out have nothing to do with his being fired by the New England Patriots midway through last season.
That’s not why Bill fired me. LOL.
— Jack Jones🏄🏽♂️ (@presidentjacc) September 24, 2024
Pierce again didn’t get specific about what “business decisions” he wanted to make after the loss to the Panthers, which came on the heels of an upset win over the Ravens in Baltimore the week before. And the Raiders’ problems don’t just end with Jones, who had seven total tackles, third-most on the team in that game. But those two incidents certainly weren’t Jones’ finest moments, especially taken out of context.
Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew also struggled, completing just 18 of 28 passes for 214 yards, one touchdown and one interception against the Panthers. Minshew also threw an interception before being replaced in the fourth quarter by backup Aidan O’Connell. O’Connell, the team’s starter last year, then led the Raiders on a long touchdown drive. Pierce did not say whether Minshew would remain the team’s starting quarterback after the game, but Minshew is reportedly scheduled to start next week against the Cleveland Browns.
The Raiders have collective problems to sort out before Sunday’s game at Allegiant Stadium, and Jones acknowledged some of that is his fault. But blaming him entirely won’t solve the problems.
“I recognized that in a game like we did against the Ravens when you’re on a roll and playing a team that everyone expects to win, mistakes are going to be made. … I just look back and think all of us, myself, my staff … we’ve got to be better,” Pierce said Monday.
