Patriots punish Javon Baker over Instagram video after interaction with police
Javon Baker got in a bit of trouble with the police over the weekend, and now he’s in a bit of trouble with the Patriots.
The team has disciplined Baker internally after the rookie wide receiver streamed an Instagram Live video in which he made critical comments about police, Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo confirmed to reporters on Monday. Baker’s discipline will not rise to the level of missing Sunday’s season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“Everything that you just stated in no way represents what the organization is about, in no way represents what we are about as a team, or how Javon needs to go out there and represent himself,” Mayo said, when asked about Baker’s Instagram rant. “We’ve handled it internally. We had a great conversation. I think it’s a combination of immaturity and realizing the grand scheme, that we’re on a big stage here and you can’t do those things.
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“As far as our relationship with law enforcement, I think it’s outstanding. We’ll continue to strengthen that relationship going forward.”
Baker went on Instagram Live after getting a ticket from a police officer at Logan Airport, where he was dropping someone off. He voiced his displeasure with what he apparently believed was some level of abuse of power by the police, at one point saying, “Just because you’re a police officer, that don’t mean nothing, bro. With my tax dollars, I pay you. Come on, bro, you work for me.”
Even if one were to share Baker’s opinion on the police, in general, it was a tough look for the rookie receiver to respond to a ticket involving his car by streaming live on Instagram while driving, at times taking his eyes off the road and on his phone. A ticket isn’t the biggest deal in the world, especially after what happened with former Patriots cornerback Jack Jones a year ago. But the Patriots’ swift action in disciplining Baker should teach him the hard way that he needs to stay out of trouble.
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Baker had a hit-or-miss training camp and opens the regular season as, at best, the fifth wide receiver in the Patriots’ pecking order. So, the hope is he can take his focus off his Instagram and apply it to football.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
The Patriots' 2024 rookie class is setting a lofty goal
As the Patriots organization as a whole tries to return to its old standard of winning, their 2024 rookie class is setting a lofty goal of its own.
It’s no secret the Patriots are in the early stages of a rebuilding period. For any rebuilding team the draft is crucial, but that first draft is the most important. It’s meant to be the foundation for the entire roster-building process moving forward.
What the Patriots hope ends up being their “foundational class” from the 2024 draft includes eight players – quarterbacks Drake Maye and Joe Milton, wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, tight end Jaheim Bell, offensive linemen Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson, and cornerback Marcellas Dial. All eight made the team’s initial roster this week, something that hasn’t happened in New England since 1997.
That 1997 class came in under very different circumstances, coming off a Super Bowl season. With the organization now trying to turn things around after missing the playoffs three times in the last four years this class faces much more pressure.
Talking to those eight players on Wednesday, they’re all embracing that challenge – and appreciate the opportunity to be doing it together.
“It means a lot, but I’m definitely not surprised because I feel as if this class is a room full of ballers,” said Dial, sixth-round pick when asked about all eight players making the team. “So, definitely not surprised about it, but it feels great to have everybody around that I came in with.”
‘“It means a lot,” said Bell, a seventh-round pick. “We want to be the best rookie class that [the Patriots] have drafted. And that’s what we’re trying to do. The guys on offense that made the active roster, I feel like we bring a lot of explosiveness to the offense. And I feel like we can do nothing but help it go.”
That goal was echoed by Milton, another sixth-round pick. “We all had a goal in mind when we got here, and we all said that we would try to be the best rookie class the Patriots ever had,” Milton said. “So that’s just something that we try to do every day by putting one foot in front of the other and keep going.”
Contending for ‘best Patriots draft class’ means matching groups that were truly foundational. The classes in 1976, 1977, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2010, and 2012 all had that kind of impact. If the 2024 class can even get in the ballpark of those groups, this Patriots rebuild will be off and running.
It’s a lofty goal for the eight Patriots’ rookies, one they know they won’t accomplish overnight.
“Just going through training camp not really looking too far ahead, being where we were at, it was just a great thing that we’re all here. Now it’s time to do our part and do what got us drafted in the first place and make this team get better every single day,” said Robinson, a fourth-round pick.
“The same guys I came in with are the same guys I’m going to be able to grind with this upcoming season,” added Wallace, a third-round pick. “So it’s really cool to have that happen.”
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“We put in hard work to be here, and we’re still working,” Bell said. “We’re going to continue to work as hard as we can and we’re going to help this place to go.”
“None of us are too big for the moment,” said Milton. “We’re all just enjoying that we’re here, but at the same time, that we all have to do work.”
Overall, Dial probably summed up the current mindset of the rookie class best. “I would say, eager and ready to shock the world,” he replied when asked to sum up the group’s current mentality.
For the Patriots to turn things around quickly, it’ll take a major contribution from this draft class. They’ve checked the first box of making the team, now it’s about making an impact.
