FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – In just a little over a year, Jermaine Jones has become arguably the most iconic player to pull on a New England Revolution kit.
His impact to the game across the region has been massive, both on and off the field since he signed an 18-month Designated Player contract in August 2014.
That deal is now quickly coming to a close, and though he has continuously expressed his desire to remain in New England, he admits that there has been no recent progress in talks to continue his MLS career in the same place where it started.
“The club knows what I want, my agent knows it,” said Jones, whose mindset is more focused on the field with the Revs in need of a positive result at New York City FC on #DecisionDay (Sunday, 5 pm ET; MLS LIVE) to ensure they reach the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.
“I’ll be focused that we make it the same that we did last season and all the other stuff with come.”
He has been revered by the Revs faithful, and repaid the admiration in vocalizing his desire to stay.
Earlier in the season he stated that he would prefer a long-term contract so that he can justify relocating his wife and five young children from Los Angeles to Boston.
“I always say that I’m happy here,” said the 33-year-old central midfielder. “I like it, my family like it, but at the end of the day we all know that the number has to be right, too.”
Last year his high-profile signing paid off in spades, with Jones churning out 2 goals and 4 assists in 10 regular-season games to lead the team on a run to MLS Cup, where they would eventually succumb to the LA Galaxy in extra time.
This season has been a bit tougher for the US national team stalwart. He started the season on the sidelines after offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia, and again spent time away from the game when the injury flared up in midsummer.
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He has played just 17 games for the Revs in his first full season in MLS, and has yet to get on the scoresheet, but feels that things are getting better with each day on the pitch.
“I always say my fitness and everything, I feel better and better,” he said before addressing the team’s current position heading into their final regular-season game. “But of course I’m not happy too that the situation is now how we have it.
"You see we were in the second position in the East and now we maybe can come in on four[th place], or six or so. It’s not a really good position, or moment right now, but we hope that we can change it with that New York game.”
Revolution club policy is to not discuss contract negotiations, but the organization is likely doing its due diligence in weighing out the magnitude of Jones’ impact, and how long it could possibly extend.
