CB Mike Jenkins Offered Contract By Jaguars, Checks Other Options
By Luke Sims
Dec 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins (21) celebrates a turnover against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Part of being a 2-14 team is being rejected. After coming off such a slump of a season, the Jacksonville Jaguars simply don’t command the same amount of respect and same amount of influence that they once had. It has been a number of years since the Jags were legitimately good but the team used to market itself as being just a couple pieces away. Everyone knows the Jaguars are a complete rebuilding effort now.
Cornerback Mike Jenkins knows it and he’s taking the Jaguars’ contract offer and looking at other teams. Most notably, the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders appear to be in the running. If Jenkins is looking for a competitor, he likely won’t find one in either of those teams.
While I understand that he wants to check his other options and find out his real market value, you have to wonder why Jenkins is leaving Jacksonville to look around. I’ve heard comments from Jags fans ranging from “he doesn’t want to be here” to “he just isn’t as excited as everyone else.” Some have even gone as far as saying they don’t want Jenkins because he is checking his other options. Based on what we know of owner Shahid Khan, I think it’s going down a little differently.
Khan told head coach Gus Bradley and GM Dave Caldwell to check their other options before he hired them. He made sure they didn’t feel pressured to come to Jacksonville. He made sure that this was the decision they wanted to make. That process may be making its way through the entire culture of the Jacksonville Jaguars. We know Jenkins has his offer in hand and we know he’s visiting with other teams, but the Jaguars may be fine with that. They know they are thin at defensive back, but Jenkins won’t be a major problem solver even if he walks.
We’ll have to see how Jenkins takes his free agency tour, but I think he’s coming back to Jacksonville. If he doesn’t, then he doesn’t and the Jags are no worse off than they would have been had the one-time Pro Bowler come to Jacksonville.
– Luke N. Sims
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