November, 30, 2014. Chargers and Ravens in Baltimore. With 3:47 left to play, Philip Rivers found Keenan Allen for a 23-yard touchdown that cut Baltimore's lead to 30-27. The Chargers had all kinds of momentum on their side.
Then the talk started in the press box, because the next decision was a tough one: Do you give Jacoby Jones a chance to return the kickoff?
They did, and Jones ran it back 72 yards to put the Ravens in field goal range (of course, the Bolts won the game, but at the time it felt like Jones had just killed their playoff hopes). I tell you this because on Wednesday the Ravens released Jones, making him a free agent.
Jones was second in the NFL last year in total return yards (to Devin Hester) and average yards per return (to Adam Jones -- no relation). He is a wide receiver by trade, and the Chargers could use depth at wideout, especially if the guy they bring in is a speedster who can stretch the field. Jones only caught nine passes in 2014 but just cue up the 56-yard touchdown he caught in the second quarter of Super Bowl XLVII to see the kind of speed this guy has.
A dangerous return man is something the Bolts have not had since Darren Sproles left for New Orleans in 2010. San Diego ranked 25th in the NFL in average offensive starting field position. The Chargers tried a bunch of different guys back there (Chris Davis, Shaun Draughn, Branden Oliver, Donald Brown) but nobody showed consistent, game-changing ability like Jones has.
Jones was released just one year after signing a 4-year, $12 million contract. The Ravens have a few big-ticket free agents to hang on to and need help in the secondary (rumor has it they're high on Chargers free agent Brandon Flowers) so Jones became a special team luxury they could no longer afford to keep.
But, it's a luxury the Chargers would desperately love to have. Jones is not a top priority for the Bolts, but he'll certainly be on their radar, and that's a good thing.
