Patriots CB JC Jackson, who leads the NFL with 6 INTs and has started four games, was left off the Pro Bowl voting list. According to a league spokesman, the Patriots left him off the list. It’s up to the teams. Jackson is scheduled to be a restricted free agent this offseason.
— Jason Cole (@JasonCole62) November 18, 2020
Update: The Patriots added JC Jackson to the Pro Bowl Ballot. We did it.
This is the kind of small, petty stuff that won’t fly when the Patriots are going 9-7 without Tom Brady. It’s one thing for a player to suck it up and ignore chasing accolades when you’re going to the AFC Championship eight years in a row. But when that gravy train leaves town, intentionally hurting players’ chances of individual accolades just comes off as petty. If I’m JC Jackson I am BULLSHIT this morning. There is absolutely zero reason for the Patriots to do this other than wanting to keep “Pro Bowler” off of Jackson’s resume when it comes time to negotiate a new contract this offseason. It’s not like he was just the low man on the totem pole as a young player either, there are legitimately extra spots for the Patriots to add cornerbacks to the ballot.
In addition, the NFL spokesman said that teams are allowed to put more than two cornerbacks from their team on the Pro Bowl ballot. This is in recognition of the high amount of nickel defense many teams play.
— Jason Cole (@JasonCole62) November 18, 2020
This is the kind of move that could very easily have a player say “you know what to hell with this place I’m out” and I wouldn’t blame him.
Believe me I don’t want players that are only it for themselves and the personal achievements, but this is just a player getting recognized for his production. Jackson has been arguably your best player this season when you’ve needed him more than ever with Stephon Gilmore hurt.
JC Jackson is a ballhawk 🔒🔽 @Patriots
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 16, 2020
📺 #BALvsNE on NBC pic.twitter.com/c9yTC7KKTh
Patriots Wire literally called him the most underrated defensive player in the NFL earlier this year and Pro Football Focus had the numbers to back it up.
J.C. Jackson and Stephon Gilmore have been putting receivers on lockdown. pic.twitter.com/jmypRwOI4Z
— PFF NE Patriots (@PFF_Patriots) July 17, 2020
It just seems penny wise pound foolish to not let Jackson get a little bit of shine. Especially when it’s a player YOU signed as an undrafted free agent and YOU developed who is showing flashes of becoming a stud cornerstone player at 25-years-old. That would be a huge win for Belichick’s recent draft record, which we’ve absolutely hammered here. Jackson has an INT in five straight games and leads the league with six picks. Yea, lets needlessly tweak that guy.
In Bill We Trust?