Why are J.C. Jackson and Jack Jones still in New England?

On Wednesday it was reported that J.C, Jackson will not be traveling to Germany with the New England Patriots for their upcoming matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. It was later reported that he and Jack Jones were late to the team hotel last weekend, which could have led to their benching in the first quarter against the Washington Commanders. On Wednesday's Felger and Mazz, Felger gave his thoughts as to why Jackson and Jones are still with the Patriots.

Why are J.C. Jackson and Jack Jones still with the Patriots? 

Felger: I heard Beetle and Zo talking about this...Why is J.C. Jackson still here? Why is he here in the first place? Why is Jack Jones still here? Why are these guys still here? You suck. They obviously have problems as professionals or adults or whatever. And I've heard some stuff about J.C. Jackson and he's got some issues. And obviously, I'd say Jack Jones has some issues because the man thought it was okay to bring loaded guns to the airport. So why are these guys here? And they ask the question and I'm talking to my radio, I'm like, Why do you think they're here guys?

Jim Murray: Affordable.

Mazz: Cheap.

Felger: J.C. Jackson is being paid by somebody else and Jack Jones is on a really cheap rookie contract. Answer your own question. Why are they here? Because they have affordable contracts. That's why they're still here. And that, to me, is a much bigger thing. That has to come to an end. That has to stop. Like this penny pinching, and you can point to Bill, you can point to anyone else, put it wherever you want, it's the organization that continues to do this and they continue to skimp on quality because they're obsessed with the cost and the price and the value and you've lowered yourself in the process. You have coaches and front office people who are unworthy, but they're here because they're cheap or free or someone else is paying their salary. You have coaches here who are here not because they're worthy but because they're cheap or are being paid by somebody else. You have players who are here who are unworthy, but they're here because they're cheap or being paid by somebody else and J.C. Jackson is the most recent example. The Chargers are paying his salary. So he's here and he remains here.

Listen to Felger and Mazz from 2-6 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with hosts Mike Felger, Tony “Mazz” Massarotti, and Jim Murray “Big Jim”. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @FelgerAndMazz on Twitter to keep up with the show!

Greg Bedard of BostonSportsJournal.com joined Felger and Mazz on Tuesday, as he does every Tuesday during the football season, to discuss the latest with the New England Patriots following their 20-17 loss to the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Bedard gives his 3 up and 3 down from the loss for the Patriots!

Some notes from the game courtesy of NFL.com....

The Patriots have fallen to 1-4 at Gillette Stadium during the 2023 season.

With the loss to the Commanders, the Patriots are 0-4 against NFL teams in 2023. Their final game against an NFL opponent will be in week 12 when they visit the New York Giants. 

The Commanders won the possession battle in the game, having the ball for 37:10. The Patriots possessed the ball for a total of 22:50 in the loss.

Rookie receiver, Demario Douglas, led all Patriots pass catchers with 55 yards receiving. Douglas is up to 277 yards receiving on the season.

Mac Jones's interception late in the fourth quarter was his 9th interception of the season. Jones has now thrown interceptions in seven of his nine appearances in 2023.

Ja'Whaun Bentley led all Patriots defenders with 13 tackles in the loss to the Commanders. Bentley also leads all Patriots defenders in tackles on the season with 68.

The Patriots won the turnover battle in the loss, forcing the Commanders to fumble once and intercepting Sam Howell once.

JuJu Smith-Schuster made 6 receptions for 51 yards in the loss. The 51 yards receiving was the most receiving yards Smith-Schuster has had in a game as a member of the Patriots.

The Patriots will travel to Germany in week 10 to play in their fourth international game. The Patriots have never lost an international matchup. In 2009 they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35-7 in London, in 2012 they beat the St. Louis Rams 45-7 in London, and in 2017 they defeated the Oakland Raiders 33-8 in Mexico City.

Greg Bedard: He's been on a heater. He was tremendous. This was his best game of the season. At least five total quarterback pressures. He's he's been a beast inside. He's playing really, really well for this team.

Greg Bedard: Very similar to Barmore. Same number of like impact plays and quarterback pressures They both played really well and won their matchups.

Greg Bedard: Had him for just one knockdown. I thought he was tremendous in this game. It's amazing what he's done since moving on the right tackle and it makes you wonder why they didn't do this a lot, lot sooner.

Greg Bedard: I had him for eight plus plays and 13 minus plays in this game. This is now, outside of the fourth quarter against the Bills, he's been playing losing football for five straight weeks.

Greg Bedard: I think he did okay in this game. But seven total quarterback pressures and almost getting your quarterback decapitated on that sack that was negated by the ridiculous roughing the passer penalty is just not good enough.

Greg Bedard: Multiple missed tacklesincluding the third and 23. He didn't even play that much. Like he's one of those guys that I look at and I'm just like, I don't know how much he's invested in this anymore. I think there are starting to be some guys inthe secondary and on this fence that are starting to get in that group.