Thomas Jones gets a two year deal in Kansas City
Posted by Gayle Saunders on March 10, 2010 · Leave a Comment
By Gayle Saunders
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The Kansas City Chiefs just strengthened their running game with the signing of Thomas Jones. The Chiefs signed the free agent running back, who was a big reason the New York Jets reached the AFC Championship.
People tend to forget that Jones was the NFL’s third-leading rusher last season. Jones had career highs of 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, a year after being selected for the Pro Bowl following a season in which he ran for 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns. Even though Jones rushed for 1,000 or more yards for five straight seasons, the Jets cut ties with him when free agency started last Friday. The biggest concern for the Jets was paying his $3.3 million roster bonus on top of a $2.8 million base salary this season. The Jets failed to reach a compromise with Jones on restructuring his contract. The team wanted him to take a pay cut, and Jones was not interested. Last off season, Jones sat out voluntary activities while trying to renegotiate his deal, which was front-loaded over the first two seasons. He made only $900,000 in base salary last season, but didn’t let that affect his play.
The 31-year-old Jones is expected to team up with third-year running back Jamaal Charles in the backfield, who had his best season in Kansas City with 1,120 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.
Thomas Jones was a major reason the New York Jets ranked first in the league with 172.2 yards rushing per game, However he seemed to tire down the stretch as rookie Shonn Greene came alive, which allowed Greene to take more of the carries down the stretch, but Jones is confident that he can play another four or five seasons because of the unbeleivable shape he keeps himself in.
He was drafted seventh overall in 2000 by the Arizona Cardinals and then was traded to Tampa Bay in 2003, went to Chicago the following year as a free agent and was traded to the Jets in 2007. Jones also ranks second only toLaDainian Tomlinson, who is also a free agent, in yards rushing since 2005. Jones ranks 28th on the career list with 9,217 yards, 190 behind Earl Campbell.