Lamarcus Joyner Is Happy To Have Moved On From Raiders
Former Las Vegas Raiders safety/nickel corner Lamarcus Joyner has been making some rather interesting comments lately. Making references to being misused and playing out of position.
Let’s go back down memory lane first…
Four years ago, Joyner convinced himself he was a slot cornerback in spite of having a great year at free safety. This great epiphany and brilliant idea may have become what necessitated his departure from the Los Angeles Rams.
Joyner then decided to take his talents to the Raiders. Then, Scott Bair of NBC Bay Area News did an introductory interview with Joyner back in 2019, asking him about what brought him to the Silver and Black.
“After getting to talk to him (coach Jon Gruden) and some of the guys in the building, I was very excited about the way they were going to use me and how people were happy to have me here. It’s just something I’ve been doing since literally high school, college. Going from nickel to safety, nickel to safety, it’s what keeps me going.”
No problem
“I love the nickel back position. It’s a natural instinctual position for me,” Joyner said. “I get to do a lot of things I’m great at, tackling. I’m great at covering.’
Things didn’t exactly go as planned for the Raiders and Joyner. When he signed to a four-year $42 million deal back in 2019, he was supposed to be the most complete player on the defense. Additionally, he drew the exciting job of shutting down the slot receiver.
Joyner never delivered at either position. Not as a safety. Not as a nickel corner. His tenure with the Silver and Black was a disaster from the start. Joyner has been paid $22 million dollars. For that money, the Raiders received eight passes defensed, zero interceptions, zero forced fumbles, zero fumble recoveries, 115 total tackles, 16 starts, and 28 games.
