[AltiTude Ram]

IMO, this is nothing more than a negotiation tactic over his market value.

Jones is in camp and has been since the beginning. His agents think his value is much higher than his pay. Its most likely true based on his play and current market for players at his position. The Rams have all the control for this season. I believe that Jones' team (agents) want more than the Rams have offered. The Rams offered to allow them to explore a trade for current market value. The agents then leaked that offer for their side of the negotiation.

Bottom line is the Rams hold all the cards. They don't have to accept a trade for less value if they don't want to.

Again, I tend to think the agents leaked this to help their case in negotiating a pay raise this year or next. Jones is going to have to play and play well this year in order to get that paycheck!

[Elvis]

Nobody is claiming Jones asked for a trade (not that i know of). But also, Jones deleted the post where he denies it.

Whatever is going on, it's not entirely clear. The Rams usually run a tight ship and don't disrespect their players in public.

It makes a lot more sense that Jones' camp wants more money. The Rams have said no, not until the end of the season. So maybe the Rams said, "look if you're really not happy with the situation, you can look for a trade in case there's one out there that makes sense to us and gets you paid now."

And it's Jones' camp leaking this.

Or maybe not. We really don't know.

[BrooklynRam74]

VancouverRam nails it, IMHO

Some Earnest Jones History...
Ernest Jones the South Carolina Gamecock 2020 tackle leader was rated by virtually all 2021 draftnik publications as a Day 3 pick....draftscout had him as Round 5, others had him in later Rounds all the way down to Round 7. IIRC, nobody had him as a UDFA/PFA guy....

So, with the Rams Jones snuck in as the late 103 Pick at the end of the 3rd Round on Day Two (there were 2 guys picked after Ernest Jones in 2021 Draft in Round 3).
Some folks argued back then that the 2021 Ram braintrust overdrafted not just Tutu, but also one Ernest Jones.

Some Ram History....
As pointed out in Ram History by some knowledgeable posters here already,
we have never paid big bucks for ILBs or Safetymen.
The Rams got burned on the Todd Gurley knee deal.

The here and now in 2024....
IMO, here's some questions:
Is Ernest Jones a NLF All Pro? nope.
Is Ernest Jones even a ProBowler? nope
(Lets recall, even our fragle OC Brian Allen was once a ProBowl alternate)
Do the 2024 Rams awash with Cap Space dollars? nope
With spending our 2025 Second Rounder on DT Fiske, could we use an additional 2025 draft pick? YES.

IMHO, Ernest Jones is replaceable. Trade him for some 2025 draft capital and let some other NFL Team braintrust worry about Jones' knee.

Maybe Jones would want to go back South....either to Carolina or to Atlanta and get reunited with Raheem Morris, who was a big Ernest Jones fan?

JMO.

[actionjack]

This is another case IMO of the Rams doing right by a player. The Rams dont see a future with Jones and rather give him the opportunity to join another team now AND the Rams get some draft capital.

EJ didnt request this, Rams just making there feelings known. NFL is a rough business.

[actionjack]

Jourdan reporting she didnt see EJ at the media portion of practice

[Zen_Ronin]

On NFL Daily, Greg speculated that Speights may have out perfromed EJ by so much that they are offering the trade to save EJ from being "benched" for a rookie. Pure speculation of course, but if it has even a grain of truth, it would seem another example of the Rams trying to do right by one of their guys.

They also made the point the EJ was Morris's guy, and that doesn't automatically make him Shula's guy. Maybe he just doesn't fit into the new scheme enough to warrant a new pay day?

[Elvis]

[actionjack]

On NFL Daily, Greg speculated that Speights may have out perfromed EJ by so much that they are offering the trade to save EJ from being "benched" for a rookie. Pure speculation of course, but if it has even a grain of truth, it would seem another example of the Rams trying to do right by one of their guys.

They also made the point the EJ was Morris's guy, and that doesn't automatically make him Shula's guy. Maybe he just doesn't fit into the new scheme enough to warrant a new pay day?

it would be hard for me to believe that he isnt a Shula guy as Shula was the LB coach during most of his coaching tenure with the Rams and they were close.

Could Spieghts or anyone else beaten him out, possible or maybe it is just fairly close and the Rams know they arent signing him beyond this season and letting him know now.

[ramsman34]

The knee might be a bigger concern for the Rams than anyone knows.

[Elvis]

I think it's either Jones no longer figures in the Rams plans like he once did or Jones really wants to get paid this year. Or maybe more likely some combination of those two things...