Raiders sign veteran WR James Jones

Originally published on Silver & Black Report on March 17, 2014

The Oakland Raiders announced the signing of veteran wide receiver James Jones on Monday.

Jones, who assisted in the Packers' Super Bowl XLV victory, played seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers while accumulating 310 receptions for 4,305 yards and 37 touchdowns in 104 games (47 starts).

The signing of Jones gives the Raiders yet another Super Bowl-winning veteran on the roster that can help mentor a relatively young team.

“I think that will be huge just from the leadership standpoint," Jones said in a conference call about the locker-room presence him and other free-agent signings can provide. "A lot of those guys have been in the big games, like you said, won Super Bowls, so we know what it takes to get there. Just our presence in the locker room, our presence on the practice field, just hopefully we can show the young guys how to practice, show the young the guys what it’s going to take to get to the next level. Hopefully, that will rub off on them and we’ll be able to turn it around and do some great things.”

Jones posted a career-year in 2012 as he hauled in 64 receptions for 784 yards and a league-high 14 touchdowns. The 29-year-old wide receiver was slowed down last season by a knee injury but still appeared in 14 games and finished with 59 receptions for 817 yards and three touchdowns.

Jones returns home after being drafted by the Packers in the third round out of San Jose St. University. Jones admits that coming home was an appealing aspect of this offer.

“It was one of them, just being able to come back, get some warm weather, play at home," Jones said. "A lot of my family and friends can see me play, drive from home straight down the street to work every day. Not bad.”