![]() ![]() But when we first connected last month, he indicated he had zero interest in discussing the first half of his NFL career. What's past is prologue, which is why Jones' rap sheet is compulsory to the story of his evolution. Not only have longtime owner Mike Brown and head coach Marvin Lewis developed a reputation for taking chances on draft prospects with red flags, they've also given second, third and eighth chances to myriad veterans who have fallen on hard times on and/or off the field, including Cedric Benson (2008), Chris Henry (2008), Larry Johnson (2009), Matt Jones (2010), Terrell Owens (2010) and Adam Jones (2010). Here's how Adam Jones evolved from punk to pariah to the type of guy who probably owns one of those cheesy "World's Greatest Dad" mugs.įor NFL players looking to be reborn, Cincinnati is a mecca. How did the highest-drafted defensive player in 2005 stray so far that he was suspended 22 of a possible 28 games over a two-season stretch for various personal conduct violations-so far that he played just nine games in a three-year span and couldn't find work in 2009 -and yet somehow bounce back to become not only a law-abiding citizen, but an avid recreational golfer and a family man? ![]() He thinks he can play at least five or six more years at this level, but he'll have to convince his next (or current) employer that his age and baggage won't cause it to regret the investment.īut it's actually sort of amazing we're even having this discussion. Jones' contract with the Bengals-the three-year, $5.35 million deal he signed in 2013 -expires Wednesday. And that incident-which Jones says he regrets -came as he was on the verge of becoming an unrestricted free agent. When you play a nonglamorous position in this league, no press is often good press. He's aware of the reality that a well-behaved and consistently productive cornerback usually dodges headlines. It wasn't an ideal way for Jones to return to the public consciousness. Yet because he had stayed out of trouble, you couldn't blame a casual fan for forgetting Jones was still in the league, at least until the former first-round pick popped off at the tail end of what would be the decisive play in a January playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, drawing a costly penalty for making contact with an official. Per PFF, Jones surrendered just one touchdown on 75 targets, and only four qualified corners gave up fewer yards per cover snap. He's intercepted nine passes in his last three seasons and is coming off a year in which he was graded by Pro Football Focus as the 13th-best cornerback in football. Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesĮarlier this winter, he made his first trip to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Brown and Duke Tobin have done a great job of paying the offensive line and that’s pretty set for the next few years.Jones has intercepted three passes in each of the last three seasons. Brown and Katie Blackburn are doing a great job. He doesn't get the recognition he should get. "It just shows you what type of player he (Brown) is. "Travis Kelce had something to say," Jones said. to a four-year deal worth $64 million.īrown's departure from the Kansas City Chiefs elicited a response from former UC Bearcat Travis Kelce, who said it was like seeing your best friend turn "evil." The Bengals made headlines a few days into free agency when they inked four-time Pro-Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. Jones also said the Bengals will be in the market for a running back in the later rounds after the offseason departure of Samaje Perine and th e uncertainty surrounding Joe Mixon. "If both of them are gone, I think we'll go with the best player available, but we need a tight end." If I had the pick, I think they should take Darnell Washington, he's a more all-around player," Jones said. ![]()
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