Jump to content

Jones has suitors but wants to stay with Bears


Wesson44

Recommended Posts

Jones has suitors but wants to stay with Bears

Recommend (4) Comments

 

March 1, 2009

BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com

Kevin Jones never used his knee as an excuse last season, but he was eight months removed from surgery to repair a torn right anterior cruciate ligament when the season began.

 

Now the running back is ready to show what kind of player he still is five years after being a first-round pick of the Detroit Lions.

 

RELATED STORIES

No reaching for the stars

''This is Kevin Jones' comeback year,'' Jones said Saturday from Blacksburg, Va., where he was visiting former college teammates at Virginia Tech. ''Whatever opportunity I get, it's going to happen.''

 

The Bears have offered him a contract to return, and he has received interest from the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ''pretty much all the teams that need backs right now,'' Jones said. He doesn't have any scheduled visits and isn't putting a timetable on the process as he searches for a new deal with agent Drew Rosenhaus, whom he hired last season.

 

The Bears used Jones sparingly, giving him 34 carries while Matt Forte got the bulk of the work. Jones was inactive for four games before going to Lovie Smith's office and asking for an opportunity to play special teams. He made an immediate impact in that role, and his role on offense might expand if he returns. General manager Jerry Angelo and Smith have said they want to have more of a two-back attack.

 

''I've been telling you all along, and you may have thought, 'This kid is crazy,' during last year, I want to come back to the Bears,'' Jones said. ''I like the staff; I like all the teammates. If you want an example of what an NFL team should be like, the coaching staff, everything, that's it. I'd love to be back, but sometimes business gets in the way.

 

''It's a negotiation process, and I am making sure I am in the right situation. The Bears expressed interest and I want to be back, but we've got to hammer out the paperwork. We'll see what happens.''

 

Jones would be in the mix with former third-round pick Garrett Wolfe to pick up some of Forte's work. Forte was fourth in the league with 316 carries.

 

The Bears also are taking a wait-and-see approach with offensive lineman John St. Clair. Angelo expressed a desire to re-sign him, but it's not believed the team has moved off the original offer it made Feb. 13

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought for sure he wouldn't want back. This leads me to believe that he rarely played last year not because he sucked, but rather because he still wasn't completely healthy.

 

I wouldn't mind him as a stop gap as our 2nd RB for a year or two while he fix other areas of need. Hell, and maybe when Jones is finally healthy, maybe he would show that he can be a really good 2nd RB with Forte, and we can eliminate 2nd RB as a need in the future. We'll see.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought for sure he wouldn't want back. This leads me to believe that he rarely played last year not because he sucked, but rather because he still wasn't completely healthy.

Exactly. If he was 100% last yr and had been used as he was, I'm sure there is no way he would want to come back here.

 

Peace :dabears

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Exactly. If he was 100% last yr and had been used as he was, I'm sure there is no way he would want to come back here.

 

Peace :dabears

In the article (SunTimes?) he says he wasn't 100%. Also says he loves being here, but it's a business and he will go where he can get paid.

Yeah, I'd like to have him back, but I just bet he'll get an offer and we won't match. Too bad. He knows the system and is now ready to be a complete contributor.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought for sure he wouldn't want back. This leads me to believe that he rarely played last year not because he sucked, but rather because he still wasn't completely healthy.

 

I wouldn't mind him as a stop gap as our 2nd RB for a year or two while he fix other areas of need. Hell, and maybe when Jones is finally healthy, maybe he would show that he can be a really good 2nd RB with Forte, and we can eliminate 2nd RB as a need in the future. We'll see.

Agreed and I'd welcome him back.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've said it before but I'd be glad to have him back as our #2 RB because I think he'll be much better this year than last. I still want to see Garret Wolfe getting 5-7 carries and/or catches per game but there's no reason we can't use Jones for 7-10 carries too. Keep Forte to around 20 touches per game (he gets a fair amount of receptions too) and then let it play out throughout the year balance wise as guys get injured.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've said it before but I'd be glad to have him back as our #2 RB because I think he'll be much better this year than last. I still want to see Garret Wolfe getting 5-7 carries and/or catches per game but there's no reason we can't use Jones for 7-10 carries too. Keep Forte to around 20 touches per game (he gets a fair amount of receptions too) and then let it play out throughout the year balance wise as guys get injured.

 

 

I completely agree with you again. I don't like giving Forte much more than 20 carries. If we can do this it can keep all of our RB's fresh for the long stretch and hopefully even the playoffs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...