Oakland Raiders Running Back Josh Jacobs to Abstain from Training in Labor Dispute
The renowned running back for the Las Vegas Raiders, Josh Jacobs, is skipping training camp due to a disagreement over his contract. He recently left Las Vegas and has plans to absent himself from the whole preseason or even longer.
Jacobs ruled the NFL as the top runner in the previous season. However, the league's leading rusher will not show up for training camp.
The Raiders employed a franchise tag on Jacobs when they couldn't reach a contract agreement during the offseason. Jacobs doesn't want to be governed by the Raiders' tender offer; thus, he's willing to stay away from training camp until they come to a new deal.
Jacobs was picked in the draft's late first round by the Raiders, who used to be in Oakland. While at Alabama, he was an outstanding running back and led them to national championships in 2017.
Throughout his first four years in the NFL, the 25-year-old Jacobs secured two Pro Bowl spots. He surpassed 1,000 rushing yards three times with the Raiders and boasted 40 rushing touchdowns across 60 games.
Jacobs played every single game last season. He rushed 340 times for 1,653 yards and 12 touchdowns with an average of 4.9 yards per carry. He also caught 53 receptions totaling 400 yards.
The NFL's Top Rusher Refuses to Participate in Preseason
In today's NFL, running backs no longer earn what they once did due to the league's emphasis on the passing game rather than the traditional run-based offense of the past. In this offseason, three running backs were issued franchise tags by their teams. Tony Pollard from the Dallas Cowboys and Saquon Barkley from the New York Giants couldn't work out extensions for their contracts before the deadline.
Both Pollard and Barkley will now play under the franchise tag, collecting a $10.091 million base salary. Barkley decided not to hold out when he signed a one-year deal with the Giants before training camp commenced on Tuesday.
Jacobs remains the only player holding out, threatening to sit out the entire season to force the Raiders to renegotiate his contract. He possesses the upper hand given his exceptional talents on the field. In 2022, Jacobs earned the first rushing title for the Raiders since Marcus Allen in 1985.
Jacobs dominated the league in 2022, leading with 2,053 total yards from scrimmage. Since he entered the NFL in 2018, he is ranked fourth in total rushing yards and tied for third in rushing touchdowns.
The Raiders had a 5-1 record when Jacobs rushed for more than 100 yards last season, a notable stat considering they only had six wins in 11 games in total. In each of their six victories, Jacobs carried the ball at least 20 times.
McDaniels Supports Jacobs' Decision
Jacobs firmly believes he's worth more than the franchise tag's salary and is employing a lengthy holdout as a negotiation tactic. He's also upset that the Raiders declined to provide him with a fifth-year contract option in 2022, hence the current standoff.
Head coach Josh McDaniels publicly supports his star running back.
"I respect every player's decision to do what they feel is right for them," said McDaniels. "I hold him in the highest regard as both a player and a person, and I'm looking forward to welcoming him back when he's ready."
Veteran running back Melvin Gordon, now a part of the Baltimore Ravens, advised Jacobs on the potential consequences of missing games.
"If you're going to hold out, just consider doing it until late in training camp," said Gordon. "I wouldn't skip the entire season because you won't get that $10 million back."
In the absence of Jacobs, veteran running backs Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden would be relied upon. The Raiders also have Zamir White, a fourth-round pick from the Georgia 2022 NFL Draft, on the roster.
The Raiders can potentially cancel the franchise tag, allowing Jacobs to become a free agent who can be signed by other teams. Alternatively, the Raiders could explore trade options, though Jacobs would need to have a present contract.
Bets on the Underdog Raiders
Sportsbooks don't anticipate a successful season for the Raiders in 2023, with a 6.5 over/under projected win total. Without Jacobs, their chances of winning more than six games are slim.
The Raiders have -475 odds to miss the playoffs, as indicated by a prop bet from Draft Kings, while they have +380 odds to qualify for the playoffs.
The Raiders face difficult odds, having +6500 chances to win Super Bowl LVIII and +4000 odds of securing the AFC Championship.
The AFC West is a challenging division with the defending Super Bowl winners, the Kansas City Chiefs, as its member. The Chiefs are foreseen to win the AFC West at -165 chances, with the Los Angeles Chargers standing at +340 and the Denver Broncos at +550. Last year, the Raiders settled for third place in the AFC West, but they're the underdogs with a +1200 shot at winning the division.
The Raiders have brought in Jimmy Garoppolo to take the QB role, replacing Derek Carr. They'll need Jacobs if they want to contend with the Chiefs, who reign in the West for another year. The Chargers are predicted to have a solid season once QB Justin Herbert is completely healed. New head coach, Sean Payton, is leading the Broncos, while QB Russell Wilson aims for a rebound from his underwhelming 2022 campaign.
Read also:
- Remaining contenders down to two in DFB's struggle versus Brazil.
- Law enforcement agencies in various metropolises plan expansive measures for May 1.
- Berlin Transport Senator Schreiner Steps Down over Doctorate Issues
- The Next Development in the DAZN/DFL Billion Euro Controversy
Source: www.casino.org
