|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Previous Player Back to List Next Player |
|
Ultimately, there are only so many Terrell Owens with the perfect blend of genetics and talent. For the vast majority of players in the N.F.L., there is a lot of work. Jones was undersized and unwanted. In Arizona there was just too little talent around him. In Tampa Bay there were other stars. By the time he got to Chicago, he was a workout demon reflected in the bulk he had added by taking advantage of the trainers and conditioning coaches provided by his teams. Where other players would party on the money, enjoy their status and whine about their lack of playing time; Jones was making it happen. This is the year of the undersized back making good through hard work and determination. Jones isnıt perfect. The contract disputes in Chicago were wrong from the standpoint of the Bears and from his side. The ego came forth and the pain of disrespect shattered the image of the back making good after toiling in obscurity. Yet, Jones wasnıt all wrong. What was wrong were decisions being made in the front office. It was probably right to draft a running back when they chose Cedric Benson. Jones had had a mediocre year and was showing signs of breaking out but after all they werenıt paying him much and had never expected him to be their savior. Character goes a long way in sports and the discussion of Bensonıs will come later. Jones on the other hand took opportunity and ran with it, posting two very respectable years, running behind a very strong line and under clouds of controversy. Jones exhibited a toughness and strength that the years spent honing his body and craft were not spent in vain. He emerged as a first string worthy back that can lead a team to the Superbowl! So what, that Chicago had given Benson the tall dollars; his holdout, petulant attitude, and better then you demeanor, had alienated the clubhouse and split the team into factions. Jones was the long suffering veteran they all respected and deserved his due. This illustrates a glaring injustice in the N .F.L. that players have been talking about but no one wants to fix. Rookies are given enormous contracts on unproven talent and worth, while hard working veterans toil on lesser deals. Here they had to keep a malcontent instead of a team favorite who had earned everyoneıs respect. If there was a rookie cap in salaries, then the league minimum could be raised and players like Jones could rework their original deals when they out-perform them. Instead, Jones will be the main man in New York. And he will perform! The line is adequate the schedule daunting but not oppressive. The team has veterans in Pennington and Coles but not superstars. Jones can easily become the new Curtis Martin on this team. He can become the focus of the offense and capitalize on the absence of a true leader. He can be the TD hungry monster who propels this team forward. It will be hard for them to win 10 games again, or so every pundit is fond of saying, but Jones could be the unknown factor that makes this happen. No one is saying that he will take the Jets to the Superbowl, but, he could get them into the playoffs! Iım projecting his high at 1300 yards rushing, 500 yards receiving, and 12 TDs. Thatıs a respectable fantasy season. He is resilient and will survive this season as he has so many others. The new money will not go to his head as he still has a lot to prove. What holds him back is the questionable talent on the team, but, the Jets have built a solid foundation. Pennington could go down again, but probably not this season. Besides, Tuiasosopo is better then most people realize and this is just the type of offense that he could succeed in. Jones is a hungry man and that makes him the one to bet on. |
|
|
|