Jakobi Meyers was one of the most productive signings of the Josh McDaniels era in Las Vegas, and Meyers talked this week about the difference he felt when he joined the Raiders.
“[In New England] I had to prove who I was every day,” Meyers told NBC Sports Boston. “Every single day I had to be better. Not the same, but better. Here I wanted to be better every single day, so it’s different.”
Meyers caught 71 passes in his first year with the Raiders and recorded eight receiving touchdowns, which equaled his touchdown total in four years with the Patriots.
Asked if the Raiders use him “better” than the Patriots, and Meyers said he feels like he is more of a “focus” with the Raiders.
“Yeah, not to call people out or throw anybody under the bus, but I was more of a focus here than I was [in New England],” Meyers said. “I was more so doing what I had to do to survive and feed my family.”
The Raiders agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal with Meyers in March of last year and according to Meyers, it was the stubbornness of Bill Belichick that cost the Patriots their top receiver. According to Meyers, Belichick wouldn’t move on his offer, and the Raiders’ offer was just slightly better.
“They just wouldn’t budge [on their contract offer],” Meyers said. “At the end of the day, [Bill Belichick] didn’t want to move, and I respect it. It’s his job to do what’s best for his team, or what he think is best for his team. It just didn’t align with what I felt like I was worth.”
How far below the Raiders where the Patriots with their offer?
“A million. And they wouldn’t move,” Meyers said.
twitter: @raidersbeat
Thanks Bill, that’s the best decision you made all season! Good luck on your job search.