The Mike Vick redemption story has begun in Philly.
So when does Matt Jones’ begin?
Jones, a first-round pick of the Jaguars in 2005, was released in March, two days after finishing a five-day jail sentence.
Jones landed in the hoosegow because he tested positive for alcohol while in a diversion program. He entered the diversion program via a plea deal stemming a drug possession arrest last July. He was arrested for drug possession after police found him cutting up cocaine with a Foot Locker credit card while sitting in a parked car.
Dave Butz, Jones’ agent, said his client been training in Bradenton, Florida at IMG Academy. Butz also said that Jones worked out last week at “Proehlific Park,” with former NFL wideout Ricky Proehl.
“He’s spent $20,000 of his own money to make sure he stays in shape and ready to go,” Butz said of Jones. “Interest is picking up and I expect in the next week or so that he’ll be going to a number of workouts and will be getting signed.”
Butz explained that Jones hasn’t been signed because teams first want to see the players they signed and drafted in the spring compete during camp. After one or two preseason games, those that can’t cut it will be released, possibly paving a path for Jones.
Going off of last year, it would appear he could help someone. Jones, still only 26 years old, had 65 catches in 12 games before serving a three-game suspension imposed after he entered the diversion program.
Following a disappointing start to his NFL career, it seemed that the six-foot-six speedster finally gained some momentum, and that he was turning his career around. Jones explained that the alcohol violation came when he drank “a couple of beers” while playing golf last March.
Czar Florio had a good take on the situation back then.
Butz, who said he wouldn’t name possible suitors for Jones, was asked if Vick’s signing by the Eagles on Friday might persuade a team that previously was afraid to pull the trigger on Jones to give him a chance.
“I don’t think Matt Jones and Michael Vick belong in the same sentence, to be honest with you,” said Butz. “There is no comparison between their situations and what they’ve done. Matt has never been convicted of a crime.”
Where’s Jesse Jackson bitching about collusion?
paging saint dunghole…
It’ll be interesting to see if Jones receives even half of the fawning sympathy Mick Vick got.
I like that Dunghole thing. Some team will pick him up. He was a good Razorback. Look for the Cowboys to consider.
“Matt has never been convicted of a crime.”
Isn’t a plea deal involving a diversion program pretty much the same as getting convicted of a crime? Especially when you violate the terms of the diversion program and get sent to jail for it?
(That said, the Ravens could really use him)
what kind of credit card was jones using to cut up coke in his car?
Jesse Jackson(failed presidential candidate) will be replaced by Ross Perot (failed presidential candidate) Jones doesn’t merit Jackson’s attention.
Maybe Holmgren(recently retired coach) can play the Dungy(recently retired coach) role in trying to get a mediocre at best wide receiver back in the game since it worked for a mediocre at best quarterback.
Question for Florizzle…. Is this the same Dave Butz with the 9 3/4 head that used to carry his kid around after games in it like it was a bucket?
If a QB who can’t throw accurately gets a second chance, a WR who can’t catch certainly should as well.
If he could play like Ricky Proehl, he would have a job.
you haters……..Hating on the coke influenced white man………Let him make a video with Young Jeezy…….Or Vanilla Ice……..LOL…………He’s a sunstroked gangsta, who before he got caught licking up lines with his pre approved debit card, was an NFL cash cow……..You haters just won’t give him a chance, let the man play, he will be back and all you haters will have to deal with it……
Too bad…if he was a black guy, Rev. Al Dungy would be on his side !
Paging Tony Dungy.. Paging Tony Dungy..
“Sorry, Mentor Dungy isn’t taking calls at this time.”
Dallas.
They differ 1 way, matt jones was never good
“I don’t think Matt Jones and Michael Vick belong in the same sentence, to be honest with you,”
Sweet jeezus, ya think? Let’s not forget that before his suspension last season, he managed to make 65 catches in only 12 games. For 761 yards, 11.7ypc, 2td. Surely good enough for some team to take a flier on. If he’s stupid enough to make another mistake if he gets signed, well then, he deserves to be out of the league. Sure would be nice to see someone advocate on his behalf.
I’m really surprised no team has taken a flier on him. He put up pretty decent numbers last year (65 rec 761 yds 2 TD) considering he missed 4 weeks due to suspension.
The Ravens, for one, could really use him right now with all the injuries they have at WR.
What do you guys know about matt jones? What kind of background is he from, single parent so on and so forth. I don’t know
From what I understand dungy mentors under privileged black males, which vick was. Why do people have a problem with dungy supporting vick and not jones. If dungy was saying jones shouldn’t be allowed back in the league I would understand some peoples anger, but he hasn’t. He just hasn’t gone out his way to help him.
Jones deserves another chance of course, what he did was only destructive to himself.
The difference is no one is willing to take a chance on him bcus he was never good. Like it or not vick was an electrifying player that was a 3 time probowler and had the potential to make a franchise millions. Matt jones doesn’t and never will.
The comments on here just show how racially divided this country still is. People really have a problem with black men helping other black men
The way the Buccaneers receivers players played last night, they could use a Matt Jones. The Bucs need to make this happen.
jones was forced to change positions, as all white RBs and CBs are.
despite that, he was the jags offense last year.
and jones didnt bankroll or take part in a dog-killin’ operation.
Meezle, are we going to do this all day? lol
People get angry with Dungy being praised as a mentor for a few reasons. Number 1, his own son killed himself so he obviously isnt that great of a mentor (that being said this was tragic and wish death upon no person). Number 2, there is nothing in this post, in any comments that talks about race. Maybe what angers white people is that there is always someone like you who has to throw the race card out there every time a black man gets into any type of trouble.
And statistically, when compared to their positions, I would argue that Jones was close to being more productive at his position. I mean Vick is probably the most over rated QB ever, I mean he sucks as a QB. And the pro-bowl is a popularity contest. Anyone who uses the pro-bowl to judge talent is an idiot.
Yeah, meezle, think about it — if I had some kind of racist attitude against rooting for black players, how could I watch any NFL game?
For the most part, people dislike Vick because of what he DID, not the color of his skin. The reason Dungy comes up in this context is because he specifically said he wants to mentor people of a certain color.
A white player gets in trouble and is looking for a second chance, and the strongest advocate he can find is Ricky Proehl (no disrespect intended).
If that’s no plain enough to understand good luck getting past your own issues.
Killachap let’s just agree to be arch rivals,
If you read some of my other posts, I have blasted others for bringing race into these discussions, but if you look at eskinsuxs post you can’t tell me that wasn’t racially charged. If you knew me and saw how I live my life, you would c I’m not that guy. I agree the probowl doesn’t judge talent but people use the superbowl in the same way. He has this many rings, he did that in the superbowl, yes I’m talking to you eli manning.
That shot at dungy was low, you don’t know the circumstances of his suicide, he could’ve been suffering from depression so on so forth, not to make excuses for him.
You really do need to get off your high horse with your self rightous attitude. You are entirely to judgemental and for ppl to be angry with dungy for what you said, ask them this, what have they done for their community that might possibly have cost them their son
I have no problem with Matt Jones being picked up by a team. It’s not like he did anything serious, anyway. I disagree with those who say he has no skills. It takes WR a while to be productive, and he had to switch positions from college.
It’s hilarious how people “hate on” Dungy for helping trouble black men. Are you saying he’s a racist? That’s even more humorous. I’ve seen Coach on the Sean Hannity show, having an amicable interview. Would you see Pat Buchanan having an intellectual sit-down with Tavis Smiley? Probably not. So to say Dungy is a “racist” is preposterous.
I’m black and I don’t care what color a guy is, as long as he can help my Eagles win. I suggest you naysayers follow the same logic.
Bring him to Washington. They could use a big reciever with a nose for the ball.
Devin and Malcolm and Fred are busts. Sorry ‘Skins fans, it’s time to cut our losses
I bet Jones would complete more than 53.8% of his passes if he played QB.
Darth ringo that’s his perogative to mentor whoever he wants, who cares. Sorry no one is breaking their neck to help matt jones. Matt jones will find a team with or without support, at face value it looked like no one wanted vick so maybe that’s why dungy helped. I don’t know his motives.
I just think people are far less tolerant of black athletes, big ben and kobe is a perfect example. I’m not trying to compare vick to jones acts bcus they can’t b.
I wouldn’t sign him simply bcus he has a footlocker credit card, I mean what athlete does that? Randy moss said it best ”Straight cash homie”
meezle: I will agree to be your arch enemy, after all every superhero needs an arch enemy.
I’m not on a high horse, like I said in a different post arguing this point with someone else, or maybe you too I cant keep track anymore, I’m doing what everyone else is doing, stating opinions. I just do it passionately, I’m not always right and dont calim to be.
and yes the dungy shot was low, but the point is still there. i hesitated on using it as an example if that makes me look any better….
Is Jones free from the inconsistent wrath of judge Goodell? Baltimore isn’t the only team that could use this moron. Niners, KC, even Denver, perhaps.
Matt Jones belongs on the Houston Texans!
Round um’ up boys.
kobe is a perfect example….Yeah that 135 million the lakers gave him are slave wages,…..Just think how much more he could have made selling sprite………
Matt Jones does not belong in Baltimore, I don’t want him getting high behind my team’s back.. Let him go to Dallas, they are used to that kind of suff, i.e(Michael Irvin)….
@☼CBS, FOX, ESPN, NFLN nbc
“They could use a big reciever with a nose for the ball.”
Well, he does have a nose for certain things, that’s for sure.
southernboi727 says:
August 16, 2009 3:40 PM
“The way the Buccaneers receivers players played last night, they could use a Matt Jones. The Bucs need to make this happen.”
I thought the Flo-man asked you to go away! Have you decided to conform to the “MAN”?
And people wonder why the Shakester rips on the south.
P.S. He (Flo-mister-misterburgher) didn’t just ask once but multiple times, yet this dick thinks we don’t notice.
Sixburgh ur a clown, my ”bro” kobe offered a settlement to have it disappear, and I’m not even sure he did that. He was never convicted. He was dropped from his endorsements b4 it went to trial
I never said my ”bro” vick made a mistake, go through and read my previous posts, u seem like that type
Who said race doesn’t play here? I’m sure you’d love to replace ”bro” with something else, btw, black people don’t even use that phrase
PS. I think you boy ben is innocent, just guilty of boning ugly chicks. Check ur faxes b4 you get ur panties in a bunch next time
Sixburgh ur a clown, my ”bro” kobe offered a settlement to have it disappear, and I’m not even sure he did that. He was never convicted. He was dropped from his endorsements b4 it went to trial
I never said my ”bro” vick made a mistake, go through and read my previous posts, u seem like that type
Who said race doesn’t play here? I’m sure you’d love to replace ”bro” with something else, btw, black people don’t even use that phrase
PS. I think you boy ben is innocent, just guilty of boning ugly chicks. Check ur faxes b4 you get ur panties in a bunch next time
meezle says:
“Check ur faxes b4 you get ur panties in a bunch next time”
Here’s what I know:
> you ARE a racist…based solely on the content of your posts, so denying that you are just makes you look ignorant as well!
> you ARE an uneducated (that other word I’d love to replace bro with)…based on your last comment, posted above!!!