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Revision as of 23:46, 5 March 2007
{{NFL.com player}} template missing ID and not present in Wikidata.
Thomas Quinn Jones (born August 19, 1978 in Big Stone Gap, Virginia) is an American football running back for the New York Jets. He is an alumnus of the University of Virginia, where he set numerous rushing records. The Arizona Cardinals drafted Jones as the seventh pick of the 2000 NFL Draft. After three years in Arizona, Jones spent a year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before signing a multi-year contract with Chicago as a free agent in 2004.
Early life
Jones' mother, Betty, worked an eight-hour, midnight to morning shift in a Virginia coal mine for nearly 20 years while raising seven children, including Thomas's younger brother; Julius Jones of the Dallas Cowboys. His father encouraged the children to learn five new words per day and made them read the front page of the newspaper before the sports section. He credits his parents with instilling a strong work ethic and ambition to overcome obstacles.
College career
Through four years with the Virginia Cavaliers, Thomas Jones left his mark on the record books of both the team and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He ended his career at Virginia with eight conference and fifteen team records, including finishing as the Cavalier’s all-time rushing leader with 3,998 yards, eclipsing the previous mark of 3,389 yards set by Tiki Barber. His rushing total was the fourth highest in conference history. Jones also set the conference and school record for single season rushing (1,798 yards) and single season all-purpose offense (2,054 yards). While becoming the first player in ACC history to attain 200 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in a single game, Jones set a single game school record with 331 all-purpose yards against the University at Buffalo. Setting an ACC record for 200-yard games, Jones finished with six 200-yard rushing performances. He finished his college career with 4,698 all-purpose yards, fourth all-time at Virginia.
As a senior in 1999, Jones was voted as a consensus first-team All-American by The Associated Press, Football News, the Football Writers Association of America, Walter Camp Foundation, and The Sporting News. Finishing 8th in balloting for the 1999 Heisman Trophy, he was the first ACC consensus All-American running back since 1978 (Ted Brown, NC State) and third in league history. Jones led the conference running backs in receptions and receiving yards, amassed four 200-yard games, and finished third in the nation in rushing (163.5 yards/game) and all-purpose yards (186.7 yards/game).
While successful on the field, Jones also focused in the classroom, attaining his bachelor’s degree in psychology in three years and competing in 1999 as a graduate student.
Professional career
Thomas Jones was chosen by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft with the seventh overall selection. In his three years with Arizona, he rushed for 1,264 yards and 9 touchdowns; however he was often injury-prone, finishing only one full season (2001) for the Cardinals. Up until the 2002 season he was also splitting time with running back Michael Pittman. Jones was traded in 2003 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he rejoined Pittman, and the two continued to share playing time. Though not the featured back, Jones played an injury-free season and attained 627 yards and 3 touchdowns while averaging 4.6 yards per carry with the Buccaneers.
As a free agent in 2004, Jones received his opportunity to be a featured back, signing a multi-year contract with Chicago. In his first season with Chicago, he rushed for 948 yards and 7 touchdowns. After the season, Ron Turner took over as offensive coordinator and installed zone blocking schemes that utilized Jones' speed and ability to make quick decisions. Heading into the 2005 NFL season, Jones figured to return to sharing duty as the Bears used their top draft pick on running back Cedric Benson. However, a lengthy hold-out prevented Benson from pushing Jones for playing time. After starting the season with a poor performance against the Washington Redskins defense, Jones proceeded to recover with season statistics of 1,335 yards and 9 touchdowns. Jones amassed 61 first downs while averaging 4.3 yards per carry. A veteran with, at that time, six years league experience, Jones continued to see extended playing time to assist the offensive line with pass blocking for Rex Grossman. After the 2005 season, Jones fired his agent and hired Drew Rosenhaus in April, 2006.
Jones did not participate in the Bears’ voluntary off season program in 2006, opting instead to work out on his own, leading to Benson lining up with the first team during workouts. On, July 27, 2006, Jones injured his hamstring during a physical at the Bears' summer camp; Lovie Smith announced Jones would fall behind Cedric Benson on the depth chart . However, on August 4, Benson injured his shoulder after colliding with Brian Urlacher during a routine practice drill, and Jones returned to his featured back position.
The Bears’ two-headed rushing attack showcased both players during the 2006 season. Benson, at 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds, acted as a straight-ahead runner, whereas Jones used his quicker 5-foot-10 and 215-pound frame to find holes in Chicago’s zone-blocking scheme to get through the defense. During the regular season, Jones gained 1,210 yards and Benson amassed 647 yards; both averaged over four yards per carry. Jones had four 100-yard performances during the regular season and continued to see an increased role in the passing game as Benson had not yet mastered pass protection .
During the 2006 playoffs, Jones rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries en route to a 27-24 Bears’ victory over the Seattle Seahawks. The next week he rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries in the NFC championship game against the New Orleans Saints, helping the Bears advance to the Super Bowl with a 39-14 victory. Jones’ 123 rushing yards against the Saints set a Bears postseason record. In Super Bowl XLI, Jones finished with 112 yards rushing and 18 yards receiving, including a 52-yard run that marked Chicago's longest run of the season. Though averaging 7.5 yards per carry in the game, the Bears' only called 15 running plays in the 29-17 loss to Indianapolis.
Traded to the Jets.
Trivia
- Jones was one of three college teammates who reunited in Super Bowl XLI. Jones, his teammate John St. Clair, and Terrence Wilkins of the Indianapolis Colts were roommates at the University of Virginia .
- Thomas and his brother Julius are the first brother tandem in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season (2006).
- Jones' late uncle, Ed Clark, played college football at Purdue University.
External links
- ESPN.com: Thomas Jones Player Card
- Thomas Jones: One-on-One (The Chicago Sports Review, February 2006)