I’ve covered the NFL for nearly 30 years and I’ve seen many odd situations.
What is happening between Jakobi Myers and the Las Vegas Raiders falls into that category.
On the surface, it appears that everything is going swimmingly between the team’s top wide receiver and the franchise. But it’s not. Hence, the the odd situation.
In late August, it was reported that Meyers asked to be traded because the team didn’t want to give him a new contract. Plus, the Raiders told Meyers they have no plans of trading him. Last week, Meyers addressed his current state. He said he still wanted to be traded because of the team’s stance. He said the reason why he wasn’t holding out was out of respect for his teammates and that he would still play while this situation plays out.
Then, Meyers went out and balled put like he did last year, in a 20-13 Raiders win at the New England Patriots in Week 1. Meyers had a game-high eight receptions for 97 yards. He was targeted by quarterback Geno Smith 10 times and he was on the field for 93 percent of the Raiders’ offensive snaps.
He was and is a big part of the team’s attack. Just like he did when the Raiders traded Davante Adams last season, Meyers stepped up and did his job. He did it while being unhappy, but he did it without complaining.
It’s time for the Raiders to do right by Meyers, who turns 29 in November.
They need him and they can’t afford to trade him. So, they must pay him more. Meyers is in the last year of a three-year, $33 million contract.
I get that the Raiders may not want to commit big-time money to Meyers for the long-term. But they need him now, so he should be given what he has earned and for the professionalism he has shown during this situation.
The solution is easy. All the Raiders have to do is give him a few more million for this season and then figure out the future in the offseason. They have the cap room and it would probably satisfy Meyers in the short term.
There is no reason there to be any acrimony between a key player and the team. Meyers has done his part and and now it’s time for the Raiders to do theirs.
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