Is time running out for Jones to prove himself?
By MAC ENGEL
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
IRVING -- There is an anger within Julius Jones that is almost palpable. A chip the size of a small boulder sits on his shoulder. And even when he flashes his disarming smile you're not totally comfortable.
Try as he may, all the things that have been said and written about him since the Cowboys passed on St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson in the 2004 draft continue to bug him.
"Other things off the field are out of my control," Jones said. "Only thing I can do is on the field and let my actions speak. If I'm angry on the field, maybe that shows."
And it does. Without fail.
"I'm always angry on the field. I play angry," Jones said. "It's just how I play. I'm not a nice guy on the field at all."
Don't bank on that changing.
The Cowboys running back enters his fourth year in the NFL knowing that every compliment that is paid to him is laden with qualifiers, and a doubt or two. But in the biggest season of his life he's set to delete all the qualifiers, and prove to his employers he's worth a big investment.
"No, it's not just another year," Jones said.
Never is when you're scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season.
"I want to stay here and play for the Cowboys," Jones said. "I gotta prove that I'm good enough to be here and that they don't need anybody else except who we have."
It's always something with Julius Jones. Always something to prove.
In Year 1, he had to prove to his highly critical coach, Bill Parcells, that he wasn't just an injury-prone rookie.
In Year 2, he wasn't helped when a high ankle sprain dogged him all season. He had one 100-yard game, in Week 16.
In Year 3, Parcells had him labeled as a back who needed to limit his carries so he wouldn't wear down. In sharing time with Marion Barber, Jones averaged 16.7 carries per game, but he was injury-free, and rushed for 1,084 yards.
He was the first Cowboys' back to rush for more than 1,000 yards since Emmitt Smith in 2001. When Jones eclipsed the mark Dec. 16 at Atlanta, the look on his face screamed "Finally!"
"Yeah, that was [big]," Jones said. "Like I said, there are still questions at the beginning of the year about me, so it continues. I've obviously got more to prove."
With the plan set for Jones to share the load with Barber again, Jones at least needs to maintain status quo. Maybe more.
He's no different than any potential free agent who eyes the type of payday that could set him for life. But he's no fool. Share-the-load backs don't receive the type of money the single, feature back does. With two first-round draft picks next year, the Cowboys could always spend one on a running back... say, Darren McFadden from Arkansas. Or the Cowboys could pursue a back such as Chargers backup running back Michael Turner.
And every now and again he's bound to hear disgruntled fans who insist the Cowboys would have been better had they taken Jackson and not traded out of the first round in 2004.
Add it up, and sometimes Julius Jones looks as if he's a little ticked.
"I think all of the above," Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said. "It's Marion playing well. It's his fourth year, and if he gains over 1,000 yards I think he thinks he can have a good year and be a staple as one of the best in the league."
Jones spent the off-season not in North Texas but in greater Phoenix to do his workouts and conditioning. Teammates say it's no big deal; he was here for the team activities and camps. That's the big deal.
He spent the off-season celebrating that he no longer plays for a coach who he said had him running like a robot, not to mention policed his carries.
"I'm just running on my instincts pretty much," Jones said. "I'm letting the line do what they do. I'm running where I'm supposed to go and, after that, I'm letting it happen."
There is a feeling of finality for Jones' season. He will either be, or he won't be.
As a result, he will be here, or elsewhere next season.
All he has to prove, he said, is, "That they don't need anybody else."
JULIUS JONES' IMPACT
Julius Jones believes he's good enough to carry the Cowboys. An inside-the-numbers look at Jones:
The Cowboys are 5-4 when he runs for 100 or more yards, including the postseason.
In 35 regular-season starts, he has rushed for 70 or more yards 23 times.
He is averaging 81.8 yards per start.
He owns two of the top four single-game rushing performances in club history (198 and 194).
With 2,896 career rushing yards, he needs 596 to pass Herschel Walker for seventh all-time in club history.
He is one of five players in club history to rush for 1,000 or more yards in a season.
COWBOYS VS. GIANTS, 7:15 P.M. SUNDAY, KXAS/CH. 5
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
IRVING -- There is an anger within Julius Jones that is almost palpable. A chip the size of a small boulder sits on his shoulder. And even when he flashes his disarming smile you're not totally comfortable.
Try as he may, all the things that have been said and written about him since the Cowboys passed on St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson in the 2004 draft continue to bug him.
"Other things off the field are out of my control," Jones said. "Only thing I can do is on the field and let my actions speak. If I'm angry on the field, maybe that shows."
And it does. Without fail.
"I'm always angry on the field. I play angry," Jones said. "It's just how I play. I'm not a nice guy on the field at all."
Don't bank on that changing.
The Cowboys running back enters his fourth year in the NFL knowing that every compliment that is paid to him is laden with qualifiers, and a doubt or two. But in the biggest season of his life he's set to delete all the qualifiers, and prove to his employers he's worth a big investment.
"No, it's not just another year," Jones said.
Never is when you're scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season.
"I want to stay here and play for the Cowboys," Jones said. "I gotta prove that I'm good enough to be here and that they don't need anybody else except who we have."
It's always something with Julius Jones. Always something to prove.
In Year 1, he had to prove to his highly critical coach, Bill Parcells, that he wasn't just an injury-prone rookie.
In Year 2, he wasn't helped when a high ankle sprain dogged him all season. He had one 100-yard game, in Week 16.
In Year 3, Parcells had him labeled as a back who needed to limit his carries so he wouldn't wear down. In sharing time with Marion Barber, Jones averaged 16.7 carries per game, but he was injury-free, and rushed for 1,084 yards.
He was the first Cowboys' back to rush for more than 1,000 yards since Emmitt Smith in 2001. When Jones eclipsed the mark Dec. 16 at Atlanta, the look on his face screamed "Finally!"
"Yeah, that was [big]," Jones said. "Like I said, there are still questions at the beginning of the year about me, so it continues. I've obviously got more to prove."
With the plan set for Jones to share the load with Barber again, Jones at least needs to maintain status quo. Maybe more.
He's no different than any potential free agent who eyes the type of payday that could set him for life. But he's no fool. Share-the-load backs don't receive the type of money the single, feature back does. With two first-round draft picks next year, the Cowboys could always spend one on a running back... say, Darren McFadden from Arkansas. Or the Cowboys could pursue a back such as Chargers backup running back Michael Turner.
And every now and again he's bound to hear disgruntled fans who insist the Cowboys would have been better had they taken Jackson and not traded out of the first round in 2004.
Add it up, and sometimes Julius Jones looks as if he's a little ticked.
"I think all of the above," Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said. "It's Marion playing well. It's his fourth year, and if he gains over 1,000 yards I think he thinks he can have a good year and be a staple as one of the best in the league."
Jones spent the off-season not in North Texas but in greater Phoenix to do his workouts and conditioning. Teammates say it's no big deal; he was here for the team activities and camps. That's the big deal.
He spent the off-season celebrating that he no longer plays for a coach who he said had him running like a robot, not to mention policed his carries.
"I'm just running on my instincts pretty much," Jones said. "I'm letting the line do what they do. I'm running where I'm supposed to go and, after that, I'm letting it happen."
There is a feeling of finality for Jones' season. He will either be, or he won't be.
As a result, he will be here, or elsewhere next season.
All he has to prove, he said, is, "That they don't need anybody else."
JULIUS JONES' IMPACT
Julius Jones believes he's good enough to carry the Cowboys. An inside-the-numbers look at Jones:
The Cowboys are 5-4 when he runs for 100 or more yards, including the postseason.
In 35 regular-season starts, he has rushed for 70 or more yards 23 times.
He is averaging 81.8 yards per start.
He owns two of the top four single-game rushing performances in club history (198 and 194).
With 2,896 career rushing yards, he needs 596 to pass Herschel Walker for seventh all-time in club history.
He is one of five players in club history to rush for 1,000 or more yards in a season.
COWBOYS VS. GIANTS, 7:15 P.M. SUNDAY, KXAS/CH. 5
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