We alluded to it before, but here is a more detailed breakdown of how Thomas Jones has been shafted throughout his career despite being drafted 7th overall in 2000.
Skip the first four years of his career when he never caught on with the team that drafted him (Arizona Cardinals) or the team that traded for him but didn’t really use him (Tampa Bay Bucs). So we fast forward to the years with Da Bears and in comes Ron Turner. The former University of Illinois head coach establishes an offense in 2005 that plays heavily to Jones’ ability, to which Jones finally had a breakout year with 1,478 total yards and nine touchdowns.
However, for some inexplicable reason, the Bears drafted Cedric Benson 4th overall in 2005. Why Jerry Angelo thought he could all of the sudden draft running backs with a track record of failing miserably (see Curtis Enis and Rashaan Salaam), we have no idea. But, he decided to do so, which was the beginning of the end for Jones in Chicago. Jones even followed up his 2005 season with another 1,300-yard season in ’06, but the Bears were determined to let the world know they didn’t make a mistake by drafting Benson, so they traded Jones to the Jets where he promptly reeled off the best seasons of his career. And how did Benson do in Chicago? Well he’s tearing it up in Cincy right now.
But Jones’ travels weren’t done there. The Jets decided to take Iowa running back Shonn Greene in the 2nd round of the 2008 draft, and with 2 great running backs on the roster, the Jets figured they'd let the older Jones go. Of course, TJ was promptly picked up by the Chiefs, where he will sit behind Jamaal Charles until he proves he's the better back again. After recording a 1,400 yard, 14 touchdown season (career bests), he gets rewarded by being shipped to the purgatory of the NFL. Sorry Thomas, we feel for ya.
