Robert Jones (American football)

Robert Jones
No. 55, 52, 50
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: (1969-09-27) September 27, 1969
Place of birth: Blackstone, Virginia
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight: 244 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school: Nottoway County (VA)
College: East Carolina
NFL Draft: 1992 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 755
Sacks: 8
Interceptions: 3
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Robert Lee Jones (born September 27, 1969) is a former American football linebacker who played 10 seasons in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, the St. Louis Rams, the Miami Dolphins, and the Washington Redskins from 1992 to 2001.

He played college football at East Carolina University. He was the NFC Rookie of the Year in 1992. He won three Super Bowls with the Cowboys.

Early life

After attending Nottoway County High School, in order to meet academic requirements for College, Jones attended Fork Union Military Academy post-graduate program for one year, before accepting a scholarship to East Carolina University.

Jones would become the most accomplished linebacker in the history of East Carolina University. He received freshman All-America honors and also earned All-America honorable-mention as a sophomore. As a senior in 1991, he was a consensus All-America choice and one of the finalists for the Butkus award.

He was a co-captain of the 1991 team that finished ranked No. 9 nationally with an 11–1 record and a Peach Bowl victory. In 2004, he was inducted into the East Carolina University Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Jones was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round (24th overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft, becoming the first player from East Carolina University to be drafted that high.

The team moved Ken Norton Jr. to outside linebacker, allowing him to become the second rookie (Eugene Lockhart) in Cowboys history to start at middle linebacker, and the second rookie (Lee Roy Jordan) linebacker in franchise history to start in a season-opener. He helped the Cowboys establish the top defense in the league in 1992, was named NFC rookie of the year and was selected to the NFL all-rookie team.

In 1993 he only started three games after being benched in favor of Ken Norton Jr., who took over his middle linebacker duties. In 1994, he would come back to have the best year of his career, going on to be selected to the Pro Bowl, after registering 162 tackles (then the fourth-highest single season total in Cowboys history) and 4 passes defensed while starting all 16 games at middle linebacker.

During his four seasons with the Cowboys, Jones helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII, Super Bowl XXVIII and Super Bowl XXX.

In the 90's, the Cowboys organization felt they could find linebackers through the draft, without the need of paying a premium and adversely impacting the salary cap, so they allowed talented and productive players like Ken Norton Jr., Darrin Smith, Dixon Edwards and Randall Godfrey, to leave via free agency, instead of signing them into long-term contracts. In 1996 after he became a free agent, the Cowboys replaced him by signing free agent Fred Strickland.

St. Louis Rams

On March 5, 1996, Jones signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams.[1] In 1997, he led the team with 115 tackles. On June 2, 1998, he was released for salary cap reasons.[2]

Miami Dolphins

On June 10, 1998, he signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins, reuniting him with Jimmy Johnson.[3] That season Jones became an integral part of a defense that allowed an NFL low 265 points. He started all 16 regular season games at strongside linebacker and finished third on the team with 100 total tackles. He also put together career-high numbers of five sacks, two interceptions and five passes defensed. He returned one of those interceptions for the first touchdown of his career. After the season, the Dolphins rewarded him with a five-year contract extension.

On March 1, 2001, he was released by the Dolphins after not restructuring his contract.[4]

Washington Redskins

On June 12, 2001, Jones signed a one-year deal with the Washington Redskins,[5] starting 9 of 15 games during the season.

Houston Texans

On April 25, 2002, he signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans for the franchise's inaugural year,[6] but upon his request was released before the season started on May 14.[7]

Green Bay Packers

One week later he signed with the Green Bay Packers, but was released shortly after to make room for signed free agent Hardy Nickerson.[8]

Over his 10-year career, he played in 151 total games and registered 974 tackles, 8 quarterback sacks and 3 interceptions.

NFL stats

Year Team Game Combined Tackles Tackles Assisted Tackles Sacks Forced Fumbles Fumble Recoveries Fumble Return Yards Interceptions Interception Return Yards Yards per Interception Return Longest Interception Return Interceptions Returned for Touchdown Passes Defended
1992 DAL 15 0 0 0 1.0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1993 DAL 13 19 18 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1994 DAL 16 118 84 34 0.0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
1995 DAL 12 72 54 18 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
1996 STL 16 98 83 15 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4
1997 STL 16 77 60 17 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
1998 MIA 16 79 52 27 5.0 0 0 0 2 14 7 14 1 6
1999 MIA 16 79 58 21 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2000 MIA 16 51 33 18 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2001 WSH 15 39 31 8 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Career 151 632 473 159 8.0 2 2 0 3 14 5 14 1 23

[9]

Personal life

Jones is the brother-in-law of Jeff Blake who also played at East Carolina University and in the NFL. Robert's son Cayleb Jones was a top college football recruit at wide receiver out of Austin High School in Austin, TX., who signed to play for the University of Texas. He played at the University of Arizona and Declared for the draft in December 2015. Robert's second son Zay is a wide receiver at East Carolina University.[10] His third son, Levi Jones, was a linebacker at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas.

References

  1. ↑ "Rams Acquire Jones As Full-time Defender". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Rams Release Jones". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Dolphins Sign Jones". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Transactions". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Redskins Get Agreements With Jones and Coleman". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Texans signs Jones". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Transactions". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Packers sign Carter as potential backup". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Robert Jones Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  10. ↑ ECU receiver Isaiah Jones says football-focused family fuels his success
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