Last week, Jaguars wide receiver Matt Jones was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance when police officers found cocaine in a truck occupied by the former first-round pick early on the morning of Thursday, July 10. It was easily the most exciting thing to happen in Jones' otherwise mundane three-year NFL existence. Or maybe not, at least according to Jones' father, who issued a statement to KNWA-TV in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
"Matt is anxious to make a statement and wants to make a statement ... His attorney has advised him to not say anything until they have had a chance to speak together. They will release a statement at the appropriate time.To recap: those weren't Jones' drugs found near his person. The drugs belonged to someone else. It's possible, I suppose, but there are thousands of innocent people currently incarcerated on THAT EXACT SAME CHARGE. Weird, I know.
"We want to make it clear that Matt was not in possession of any drugs ... but that there were drugs in the vehicle and were located in the closest proximity to Matt. He does not claim any responsibility for the drugs."
The police report doesn't help Jones' case, either:
Jones was spotted in the backseat of a Toyota 4Runner when an officer on foot patrol saw him with a "white powdery substance and in his hand, a credit card that he was using to chop up and scrape the powder." When asked by the officer if the powder was cocaine, Jones said, "Yes."And by "yes," Jones obviously meant "these aren't my drugs but I'm too wasted to articulate such thoughts at this time." Jones' NFL future was uncertain before this incident -- there were rumors the Jags might release him -- and if he's found guilty, in addition to the legal issues, Jones could face suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
On the upside, Reggie Williams is looking less like a first-round bust with each passing day. So Jones is good for something.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-15-2008 @ 4:31PM
OH!! said...
Wait.....An NFL player getting charged with a Felony, not taking responsibility and his father issuing the most ridiculous of statements and not a word from anyone so far?
What happenned to the 200 comments obn how much of a thug he is?
Have we changed? Let the law take it's course? wow! We are moving forward. Being responsible.
Right? Right? This is the quantum leap that we are taking......anyone?
helloooooooooo.
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7-15-2008 @ 4:46PM
NFLCzar said...
Where is the outrage? Where are the claims of thuggery?
Hellooooooo? Where are the 2oo comments of shear disbelief that a guy who would have been flipping burgers if not for the NFL is pissing it away as usual? OH! and his father is making ridiculous comments.
Where is the fine sporting folks who are just outraged by this thug?
What has changed? It's an NFL player charged with a Felony!! Where are all the commenters flocking to pile on?
Have we all come to our senses? Wow.
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7-15-2008 @ 7:53PM
Rick said...
I don't get your point!
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7-15-2008 @ 11:53PM
George B Vieto said...
The reason Matt Jones isn't being called a thug is because Matt doesn't have a track record of doing crimes and racial stereotypes still exist.
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7-16-2008 @ 9:49PM
rob said...
His father should spare himself some embarassment and shut his mouth. Maybe his son wouldn't be a coke head if he wasn't so gullible.
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7-16-2008 @ 10:22PM
rob said...
O, Nfl and George- Along those same lines, where's all the Matt Jones supporters saying that he was framed by the police, everybody deserves a second chance, drug addiction is a disease, etc.? Every Mike Vick or Pacman Jones story had plenty of them. I also see the posting of Rampage Jacksons arrest didn't get many responses. Maybe it mostly has to do with the popularity of an athlete?
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7-23-2008 @ 12:47PM
NFLCzar said...
Brandon Marshall did'nt have a record........Javon Walker did'nt have a record.......You're right though, racial stereotypes do exist. That's the entire issue.
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