Rising star: Jones hoping for greatness with Dallas Cowboys
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 7/7/2009 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 7/7/2009 3:53 AM
THE DALLAS COWBOYS are preparing for their 50th season in the National Football League. In team history, Don Perkins, Calvin Hill, Duane Thomas, Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith have been the most prominent running backs. If he can consistently replicate what he did for six games as a rookie last season, and if he can stay healthy, Felix Jones could one day be included on that list. "The fact that Felix is a running back for America's Team — the Dallas Cowboys — gives him a chance to be one of the biggest athletes ever from Oklahoma," said Damario Solomon-Simmons, Jones' attorney and business manager. "It's a good situation," Jones says with a smile. At Booker T. Washington High School, Jones was an All-State performer in football, basketball and track. He was the Hornets' first three-sport All-State athlete since R.W. McQuarters in 1994-95. Remarkably, in spite of being a dazzling back at Booker T., Jones was not offered a scholarship by the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State or Oklahoma. Jones wound up at Arkansas, where, while sharing the backfield with Darren McFadden, he had a three-season total of 2,911 rushing yards. Jones averaged 7.7 yards per attempt while scoring 20 touchdowns, and he ranked among the national leaders on kickoff returns. "I've been a big Dallas fan my whole life, so I was thrilled when Felix was drafted by the Cowboys," Booker T. coach Antwain Jimmerson said. "When he was drafted, we had a good time that day." On April 26, 2008, while Cowboy owner Jerry Jones and his coaches discussed what they might do with their first-round selection (the 22nd pick overall), a party ensued at the Owasso home of Jones' uncle, Luther Jones. Felix's family and friends were in the garage, tuned to ESPN's draft coverage while feasting on pork steaks, hot links, potato salad and a big cake shaped like a football. "I grew up watching the Cowboys — Tom Landry, Roger Staubach and those guys," Luther Jones said. "After Felix visited the Cowboys before the draft, he seemed enthusiastic about his chances of going there. Me being a praying man and a Cowboy fan, I just prayed that he would go to Dallas. "When it came time for Dallas to pick, my heart was in my throat. The whole room just erupted. I yelled so loud that I was hoarse for three days." Instead of enduring the stress of watching the draft in his uncle's garage, Felix Jones walked to a nearby pond, put a minnow on a hook and fished while the first-round picks were announced. His life changed with a phone call. On the other end was another Jones — Cowboy owner Jerry Jones. "When Jerry Jones called, Felix flashed that big smile of his," Solomon-Simmons said. "I knew it was done. I knew it was a dream come true." After signing a five-year, $10.53 million contract (with nearly $7.7 million being guaranteed), the 6-foot, 200-pound Jones was immediately productive. On his first NFL carry, in the third quarter of the season-opening triumph at Cleveland, he had an 11-yard gain. A week later, in a Monday night showdown with Philadelphia, Jones scored on a 98-yard kickoff return and the Cowboys prevailed 41-37. He scored on a 60-yard run against Green Bay. Jones was on course to perhaps become the NFL's offensive rookie of the year, but at Arizona, in the sixth game of the season, he sustained a hamstring injury. During rehab workouts, he sustained a toe injury that eventually required surgery. He was sidelined for the rest of the season. His final 2008 numbers: 266 rushing yards on only 30 attempts (8.9 yards per carry), along with a 27.1-yard average on kickoff returns. Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith became Cowboy legends because of their productivity and durability. With Dallas, Dorsett had eight 1,000-yard seasons. In seven seasons, he had at least 250 carries. In Smith's 13 years as a Cowboy, while in the process of becoming the NFL's career rushing leader, he had 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and racked up a total of 4,052 rushing attempts — an average of 312 per season. Because the Dallas coaches likely will go with a three-back attack that also includes Marion Barber and Tashard Choice, Jones may not get enough carries to have a 1,200-yard type of season. "I will do whatever the coaches want me to do," said Jones, who turned 22 in May. "I'm a football player and I love to contribute. It's a team sport. Working with Marion Barber and Tashard, it's a great thing. We compete at a very high level. I have great teammates." Said Luther Jones: "I like the way that Dallas uses Felix. They use Marion Barber to pound at the defense, and then they use Felix as a change of pace." When Felix Jones was a Booker T. Washington senior, the Hornets were beaten by Midwest City Carl Albert in the Class 5A football championship game and by Oklahoma City Southeast in the 5A basketball championship game. Whether Jones can savor a Super Bowl title with Dallas would seem to hinge on the performance of quarterback Tony Romo, who is 0-2 in playoff starts. "Romo definitely is a Super Bowl quarterback," Jones insists. "He's showing his leadership. I'm happy to be his teammate." On Sept. 20, in an NBC-televised showdown with the New York Giants, Dallas plays its first regular-season home game. Jones says he would like to score the first touchdown in the new $1.1 billion Cowboys Stadium. While in high school, he says, he expected to perhaps go on to score touchdowns at TU, OSU or OU, but there was no firm scholarship offer from any of the state's Division I-A programs. "It just didn't work out," Jones says. "OSU recruited me heavily when Les Miles was the coach, but when he left, things changed. OU had Adrian Peterson at the time, so they really didn't recruit me. "I understood the various situations. Everything worked out beautifully for me at Arkansas. It was a blessing that it happened the way it did. I'm a Razorback. I love the Razorbacks."
Published: 7/7/2009 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 7/7/2009 3:53 AM
THE DALLAS COWBOYS are preparing for their 50th season in the National Football League. In team history, Don Perkins, Calvin Hill, Duane Thomas, Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith have been the most prominent running backs. If he can consistently replicate what he did for six games as a rookie last season, and if he can stay healthy, Felix Jones could one day be included on that list. "The fact that Felix is a running back for America's Team — the Dallas Cowboys — gives him a chance to be one of the biggest athletes ever from Oklahoma," said Damario Solomon-Simmons, Jones' attorney and business manager. "It's a good situation," Jones says with a smile. At Booker T. Washington High School, Jones was an All-State performer in football, basketball and track. He was the Hornets' first three-sport All-State athlete since R.W. McQuarters in 1994-95. Remarkably, in spite of being a dazzling back at Booker T., Jones was not offered a scholarship by the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State or Oklahoma. Jones wound up at Arkansas, where, while sharing the backfield with Darren McFadden, he had a three-season total of 2,911 rushing yards. Jones averaged 7.7 yards per attempt while scoring 20 touchdowns, and he ranked among the national leaders on kickoff returns. "I've been a big Dallas fan my whole life, so I was thrilled when Felix was drafted by the Cowboys," Booker T. coach Antwain Jimmerson said. "When he was drafted, we had a good time that day." On April 26, 2008, while Cowboy owner Jerry Jones and his coaches discussed what they might do with their first-round selection (the 22nd pick overall), a party ensued at the Owasso home of Jones' uncle, Luther Jones. Felix's family and friends were in the garage, tuned to ESPN's draft coverage while feasting on pork steaks, hot links, potato salad and a big cake shaped like a football. "I grew up watching the Cowboys — Tom Landry, Roger Staubach and those guys," Luther Jones said. "After Felix visited the Cowboys before the draft, he seemed enthusiastic about his chances of going there. Me being a praying man and a Cowboy fan, I just prayed that he would go to Dallas. "When it came time for Dallas to pick, my heart was in my throat. The whole room just erupted. I yelled so loud that I was hoarse for three days." Instead of enduring the stress of watching the draft in his uncle's garage, Felix Jones walked to a nearby pond, put a minnow on a hook and fished while the first-round picks were announced. His life changed with a phone call. On the other end was another Jones — Cowboy owner Jerry Jones. "When Jerry Jones called, Felix flashed that big smile of his," Solomon-Simmons said. "I knew it was done. I knew it was a dream come true." After signing a five-year, $10.53 million contract (with nearly $7.7 million being guaranteed), the 6-foot, 200-pound Jones was immediately productive. On his first NFL carry, in the third quarter of the season-opening triumph at Cleveland, he had an 11-yard gain. A week later, in a Monday night showdown with Philadelphia, Jones scored on a 98-yard kickoff return and the Cowboys prevailed 41-37. He scored on a 60-yard run against Green Bay. Jones was on course to perhaps become the NFL's offensive rookie of the year, but at Arizona, in the sixth game of the season, he sustained a hamstring injury. During rehab workouts, he sustained a toe injury that eventually required surgery. He was sidelined for the rest of the season. His final 2008 numbers: 266 rushing yards on only 30 attempts (8.9 yards per carry), along with a 27.1-yard average on kickoff returns. Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith became Cowboy legends because of their productivity and durability. With Dallas, Dorsett had eight 1,000-yard seasons. In seven seasons, he had at least 250 carries. In Smith's 13 years as a Cowboy, while in the process of becoming the NFL's career rushing leader, he had 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and racked up a total of 4,052 rushing attempts — an average of 312 per season. Because the Dallas coaches likely will go with a three-back attack that also includes Marion Barber and Tashard Choice, Jones may not get enough carries to have a 1,200-yard type of season. "I will do whatever the coaches want me to do," said Jones, who turned 22 in May. "I'm a football player and I love to contribute. It's a team sport. Working with Marion Barber and Tashard, it's a great thing. We compete at a very high level. I have great teammates." Said Luther Jones: "I like the way that Dallas uses Felix. They use Marion Barber to pound at the defense, and then they use Felix as a change of pace." When Felix Jones was a Booker T. Washington senior, the Hornets were beaten by Midwest City Carl Albert in the Class 5A football championship game and by Oklahoma City Southeast in the 5A basketball championship game. Whether Jones can savor a Super Bowl title with Dallas would seem to hinge on the performance of quarterback Tony Romo, who is 0-2 in playoff starts. "Romo definitely is a Super Bowl quarterback," Jones insists. "He's showing his leadership. I'm happy to be his teammate." On Sept. 20, in an NBC-televised showdown with the New York Giants, Dallas plays its first regular-season home game. Jones says he would like to score the first touchdown in the new $1.1 billion Cowboys Stadium. While in high school, he says, he expected to perhaps go on to score touchdowns at TU, OSU or OU, but there was no firm scholarship offer from any of the state's Division I-A programs. "It just didn't work out," Jones says. "OSU recruited me heavily when Les Miles was the coach, but when he left, things changed. OU had Adrian Peterson at the time, so they really didn't recruit me. "I understood the various situations. Everything worked out beautifully for me at Arkansas. It was a blessing that it happened the way it did. I'm a Razorback. I love the Razorbacks."
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