Raiders star RB Josh Jacobs not holding grudges after pay dispute
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[August 31, 2023]
NFL rushing champion Josh Jacobs said Wednesday he harbors no
hard feelings against the Las Vegas Raiders after his
well-publicized contract dispute.
Jacobs declined to sign the $10.091 million franchise tag and held
out from training camp in hopes of landing a long-term deal. The two
sides eventually reached agreement on Saturday on a one-year, $12
million deal plus incentives.
"We made it happen, so it ain't no hard feelings now," Jacobs told
reporters on a conference call Wednesday. "It's a clean slate with
me. It was never ... no hate on each side. I understood it, but at
the same time I understood my value, too. So it was just about
meeting in the middle."
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Running back salaries have been an issue throughout the NFL and
Jacobs decided to hold his ground after a standout 2022 season.
Jacobs, 25, compiled 1,653 rushing yards on 340 touches (4.9 yards
per attempt) and 12 touchdowns while starting all 17 games last
season. He added 400 receiving yards to lead the league with 2,053
total yards from scrimmage.
Jacobs was a first-team All-Pro and received his second Pro Bowl
nod.
Jacobs is currently on the roster exemption/commissioner permission
list, but the expectation is that he will be available to play in
the season opener against the host Denver Broncos on Sept. 10.
He said he isn't sure yet how big of a workload he can handle
against Denver.
"Physically, I ain't missed a step," Jacobs said. "I didn't have no
errors (in practice). I came in and it didn't feel like I missed a
step."
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Jacobs said he kept in shape by working out with
his former high school football team (McLain High) in Tulsa, Okla.
But he missed being around his Las Vegas teammates.
"You want to grind with your guys, especially
knowing there's a lot of new guys coming in," Jacobs said. "You want
the guys to know who you are and respect what you do, respect your
work. That was just the biggest thing, not being able to have that
camaraderie.
"But I wouldn't say they was just all negative, you know? Being at
home allowed me to spend a lot more time with my kids and help my
dad do his diet plans and get in shape and things like that. So, I
mean, it was pros and cons on both sides, but at the end of the day,
I wanted to play football. I wanted to be here with the guys. So,
I'm just glad it worked out."
In 60 games (59 starts) since the Raiders selected him in the first
round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Alabama, Jacobs has rushed for
4,740 yards and 40 touchdowns. He has topped 1,000 rushing yards in
three of his four NFL seasons.
Jacobs is just the second Raiders running back to lead the league in
rushing since the NFL merger in 1970. Marcus Allen accomplished the
feat in 1985 when the team was in Los Angeles, and Clem Daniels led
the former American Football League in 1963 when the franchise was
located in Oakland.
--Field Level Media
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