Jones Poised For A Career Resurgence

DANIELE FRANCESCHI – Argos Admirals Insider

CALGARY, AB. – Greg Jones may be a rookie, but he certainly isn’t playing like one.  The 25-year-old Cincinnati, Ohio native has become a proverbial special teams demon for the Double Blue in 2014.

When asked to comment regarding his recent on-field success, Jones immediately deferred the spotlight to his linebackers coach Casey Creehan.  

“Coach Creehan has been extremely patient with me,” said Jones, who has tallied a team-high 11 special teams tackles in just six games of action this season.  “His guidance and support has been terrific.  I’ve really enjoyed learning from him.  He’s well-versed in all aspects of pro football.”

Jones played four seasons at Michigan State University.  As a senior, he became the first-ever Spartans football player to earn back-to-back consensus First-Team All-American honours (2009-2010).  Beyond the impressive accolades, Jones has many fond memories of his time at Michigan State and made it a point of emphasis to express his gratitude towards the Spartans’ renowned coaching staff.

“It was an honour and a privilege to play football at Michigan State University,” said Jones following Wednesday’s practice.  “To be honest, I didn’t really focus too much on the accolades.  It’s really a testament to the work that my coaches put in on a weekly basis.  I was in a position where I had a lot of freedom to make big plays.”

Ranked as one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2011 NFL Draft, Jones was selected in the sixth round by the New York Giants.  Although he wasn’t necessarily satisfied with his position in the draft, Jones says he ecstatic when he finally heard his name announced during Day Two of the NFL’s annual draft proceedings.

“I was absolutely thrilled when I heard my name called,” said Jones.  “Initially, my agent had projected me going earlier in the draft but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.  It was an emotional day.  There were a lot of ups and downs, but overall, I was just thankful to be drafted.”

As a result of injuries sustained by several members of the Giants’ defensive personnel, Jones was thrust into action in week one of the 2011 regular season.  The six-foot, 242-pound linebacker registered four tackles in a losing effort against the Washington Redskins.  Even in defeat, the former Michigan State standout was able to find solace in the fact that he had finally achieved his life-long dream of playing and starting in an NFL game.  All in all, it was a surreal moment for Jones and his family.

“It all began in training camp.  I had a good camp and an excellent pre-season,” said Jones of his rapid ascension towards the top of the Giants’ depth chart.  “We had a lot of our guys go down due to injury during training camp.  As a result, I was able to start the opening week of the regular season against Washington.  As a kid, I dreamt of that moment.  It was an awesome experience.”

Statistically, Jones enjoyed a solid rookie campaign, totaling 31 tackles in 16 regular season games.  The former Big-Ten Defensive Player of the Year recorded seven tackles in four playoff games en route to capturing his first-career Super Bowl championship as the Giants earned a dramatic 21-17 victory over their AFC rivals, the New England Patriots.

To say that Jones’ rookie season was eventful is quite an understatement.  Furthermore, as if hoisting the prestigious Vince Lombardi Trophy wasn’t enough, Jones made national headlines when he proposed to his then girlfriend, Mandy, on the field following New York’s Super Bowl win.

Spoiler alert:  She said yes!

“Actually, I was planning on proposing to her while we were on vacation (following the season) but she found out,” remarked Jones.  “I don’t know who disclosed that information to her, but nevertheless, it forced me to create a new plan.  Once we had advanced to the Super Bowl, I thought about proposing to her on the field after the game.  As you can imagine, it was a very special moment.”

Recently, the couple welcomed their first child, a beautiful baby girl named Ava Marie.

“I am a dad,” proclaimed Jones.  “I have a lovely little girl.  She is three months old and I am so proud to be a father.”

After being released by the Giants during 2012 training camp, Jones spent parts of two seasons as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.  A pair of ankle injuries limited Jones to just six games of action during his brief tenures with each team.

Interestingly, Jones was first introduced to the CFL by former Argonauts defensive back Pacino Horne.  A member of the Argos’ 100th Grey Cup championship winning squad, Horne invited Jones to one of his games during the 2012 season. 

“(He) brought me out to one of his games,” said Jones, referring to his initial encounter with the CFL.  “I was mesmerized by the speed of the game.  I couldn’t believe how small the linebackers were.  I’m used to being bulky and focusing on building muscle, but playing in the CFL requires a more diverse skill set.”

At that particular point in time, Jones was still pursuing various NFL opportunities.  However, upon being released by Tennessee in 2013, Jones pondered the possibility of making the trip north of the border to play in the CFL. 

Earlier in his career, Jones would have likely dismissed the idea, but after watching Horne play in 2012, his paradigm of thinking changed.

Ironically, after engaging in contract negotiations with numerous CFL teams, Jones eventually struck a deal with the Argonauts.

“Following my stint in the NFL, I took some time to think about my future and weigh my options,” stated Jones.  “It was a difficult time in my life.  After a while, my agent finally received a call from the Argos.  I was just glad to be back playing football.”

Jones is a fearless competitor.  He’s willing to undertake any task in order to contribute to his team’s success.  Despite the Argonauts’ disappointing 3-8 record, he’s optimistic the Boatmen will hit their stride in time to embark on a magical Grey Cup run.

“I want to win,” declared Jones.  “I’m willing to do whatever the coaches ask of me.  I enjoy playing football regardless of my role on the team.”

By association, winning a Grey Cup title involves one particular activity that Jones is eager to participate in.

“Although I’m already a Super Bowl champion, I want to see what it feels like to sip champagne out of the Grey Cup,” said Jones.  “It’s something that I have yet to experience because you can’t drink anything out of the Vince Lombardi Trophy.”