The Las Vegas Raiders were agitated at the end of their Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, when several players engaged in a brawl. Cornerback Jack Jones and Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer were at the centre of the action.
Both players were expelled for their roles in the incident, and there was talk that they could be punished. However, this will not be the case. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the league has no plans to punish any players but may impose fines.
This is fantastic news for the Raiders, as Jones is their #1 cornerback. They’re already really thin at cornerback, so losing him would have been a significant blow, especially with the Baltimore Ravens coming up next. It’s no surprise that Jones is the first Raiders player to be ejected this season. He has a fiery personality.
However, he should proceed with caution. The NFL is alright with giving him a slap on the wrist this time, but they may not be so forgiving if there is another occurrence. Jones is far too crucial to the Raiders to risk missing any time while suspended.
On one hand, it’s encouraging to see how close this Raiders squad is. It’s difficult to see the Josh McDaniels version of this club engaging in a brawl with its full roster. At the same time, starting fights in a game in which your team is losing does not seem good.
Under Antonio Pierce, this Raiders group exudes confidence, but they must demonstrate that they can also play smartly. They were poised last season after Pierce took over, but they have yet to experience significant adversity under the coach. It will be fascinating to watch how Pierce handles season lows now that he has a full-time job.
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