On Saturday, Florio reported that Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones was sliding down or off several draft boards because of spinal stenosis.
The condition, a narrowing of the spine between the fourth and fifth vertebrae, contributed to Jones’ departure from USC and it has apparently led some NFL teams to view the highly regarded Jones as too big of a risk for a premium draft pick. Jones, who transferred to Georgia and starred for them after leaving the Trojans, hit back at the talk that he’s damaged goods after going through his combine medical exam.
“The doctors checked me out and they feel like I am fine,” Jones said, via the Detroit News. “I don’t have any contusions on it. I didn’t have a bunch of MRIs or anything like that. I only had one incident of having a stinger at USC in 2009 and I haven’t had any symptoms after that. I played two years of SEC football. I practiced every day and never had any symptoms. … Everybody saw me, everybody felt me and pulled on me and yanked on me today. They understand where I am at.”
Teams will get a full medical evaluation on Jones in the coming weeks, but the nature of his medical history makes it clear that different doctors are going to have different reads on Jones’ condition. Each team will have to weigh those opinions along with Jones’ production when they decide when and if to make him their choice on draft day.