Bears thinking about Thomas Jones

[DMD]

The amazing thing to me is that they still like to mention Adrian Peterson when they never use him and he is not in the same class as Jones or Benson.

 

Link to article

 

Bears to mull over options with Jones

By Larry Mayer

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS – The Bears want Thomas Jones to return for the 2007 season, but it’s not a slam dunk that the veteran running back will remain with the team.

 

Jones, who has rushed for 3,493 yards and 22 touchdowns on 850 carries in three seasons with the Bears, is entering the final year of a four-year contract.

 

“We’d certainly like to have Thomas back next year,” general manager Jerry Angelo said at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “I’m going to do some more thinking about his situation.

 

“He’s expressed some things to me personally and we’ll work on some things. My understanding is he really enjoyed the season and really likes being a Bear and it has nothing to do with anything but what he feels might be in his best interest.

 

“I told him that I would listen, and I did, and we’re going to mull over some things.”

 

Jones rushed for 1,335 yards in 2005, the most by any Bears running back other than Walter Payton. The former Virginia star then gained 1,210 yards in 2006, becoming the first Chicago player to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons since Neal Anderson did so three straight years in 1988-90.

 

“I would definitely like Thomas Jones to be a Bear next year,” said coach Lovie Smith. “Thomas has been one of our leaders. He had an outstanding season.

 

“I like what we’re able to do at the running back position. Thomas is our starter. I like what Cedric Benson did coming onto the scene last year and I’ll always talk about Adrian Peterson too.”

 

Sharing the workload with Jones this past season, Benson showed flashes of what the Bears envisioned when they selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft out of Texas.

 

Asked if Jones has expressed a desire to return to the Bears under the same conditions, Smith said: “I don’t think anyone wants to come back under the same conditions. (I think Jones wants it the same personally and won't likely get it Things change. Look at our (coaching) staff. That’s a part of life in the NFL when change does happen.

 

“Thomas Jones is a warrior. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. Of course we would like for him to come back.”

 

Benson emerged during the second half of the 2006 season, rushing for 432 of his 647 yards in the final seven games. He capped the regular-season with the first 100-yard game of his career, gaining 109 yards on 13 carries in a Sunday night loss to the Green Bay Packers.

 

Although Benson still lacks experience as an NFL feature back (exactly how many years does this continue to be an issue?), Angelo insisted that he would feel comfortable turning over the starting job to the former Texas star if that’s what the scenario dictates.

 

“If that situation does pose itself, then yes,” he said. “Are there still some unknowns? Yes, but when we brought Thomas Jones in here (as a free agent in 2004), there were some unknowns, and we felt good about him and he answered the bell.

 

“It’s just part of the business sometimes. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. You’d like to know that everybody you put out there has been tried and tested, but it doesn’t work that way.

 

“You've seen the way we've built this team. We went out there and played a lot of youth. We put people out there and we had a lot of confidence that they had the tools to do the job, but yet they have to grow on the job and the only way you’re going to know is when you put them out there. It’s hard to simulate a game in practice."

 

Benson sprained his knee in the Super Bowl, a minor injury that will not require surgery. He also missed six games as a rookie in 2005 with a similar problem and sat out part of training camp and all four preseason games with a shoulder injury.

 

“He’s had some injuries,” Angelo said. “I can’t go on any more than that, so I can’t say there isn’t some concern. But he works pretty good in the offseason and takes care of himself. It’s a violent game and if you get hit in the wrong place at the wrong time, you’re going to get an injury.”

 

 

[Hat Trick]

Came across to me that Angelo was giving the respect that TJ has earned. It also came across to me that he was showing no real hesitation in going with Benson and talked like that;s the direction they are going to go.

[Randall]

It's kind of like training your replacement before your time is up isn't it?

[whitem0nkey]

The amazing thing to me is that they still like to mention Adrian Peterson when they never use him and he is not in the same class as Jones or Benson.

 

 

well peterson is definitly not a 3rd string back, he is better than that. Peterson is more than capable to be a 3rd down back and a solid back up.

 

to say they never use him is also wrong. sure as a running back that would be true because you have 2 starters in front of him and it just a log jam. but to the bears peterson behind hester is the the most important special teams player he always leads the bears in special team tackles.

[whitem0nkey]

and what kind of pick would the bears get for a jones?

 

3rd round

Edited February 26, 2007 by whitem0nkey

[DMD]

well peterson is definitly not a 3rd string back, he is better than that. Peterson is more than capable to be a 3rd down back and a solid back up.

 

to say they never use him is also wrong. sure as a running back that would be true because you have 2 starters in front of him and it just a log jam. but to the bears peterson behind hester is the the most important special teams player he always leads the bears in special team tackles.

 

 

Peterson is a big contributor on special teams but he's mentioned on an even level with Benson and Jones when he only had 10 carries and six catches last year.

[whitem0nkey]

would Buffalo be interested in some kind of trade for Mcgahee?

Edited February 26, 2007 by whitem0nkey