Donnie Jones released by Eagles after veteran punter decides NOT to retire

Well, Donnie Jones isn’t retiring after all.

Despite making an official retirement announcement earlier this offseason, Jones has changed his mind and decided he still wants to keep playing.

But it won’t be for the Philadelphia Eagles.

From NFL insider Ian Rapoport:

Donnie Jones requested and received his release today from the team’s reserve/retired list because he wants to keep playing, agent Ken Harris told me. Philly allowed him out, which is a nice gesture. Now, Jones will figure out where he wants to play for his 15th season.

The Eagles didn’t keep Jones, who turns 38 this July, because not having him on the 2018 roster saved them $1.625 million in much-needed cap space.

The downside to this move is that it’ll be a bummer to see Jones (and his sweatpants) punting for another team in 2018.

The upside is that Jones going to another team means less competition for the Eagles if they want to add a new punter to compete with Cameron Johnston.

Back in Eagles training camp last year, I heard Jones tell BGN alumnus Jimmy Kempski that he wants to play until he’s 40. I guess he wasn’t joking about that.