Jermaine Jones (American football)
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| Dallas Desperados — No. 7 | |
| Defensive Specialist | |
| Date of birth: July 25, 1976 | |
| Place of birth: Morgan City, Louisiana | |
| Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | Weight: 187 lb (85 kg) |
| Arena Football League debut | |
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| 2004 for the Dallas Desperados | |
| Career history | |
| College: Northewestern State | |
Teams:
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| Current status: Active | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Selected AFL statistics (through Week 11 of the 2008 AFL season) |
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| Tackles | 38 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Yards | 30 |
| Touchdowns | 0 |
| Pass breakups | 9 |
| Stats at ArenaFootball.com | |
Jermiane Jones (born July 25, 1976 in Morgan City, Louisiana) is an American football Defensive Specialist for the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League. He was originally drafted in the fifth round (162nd overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He played collegiately at Northewestern State.
In his career, Jones has played for, the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Edmonton Eskimos, Cleveland Browns, and the Dallas Desperados. He is a 12-time Defensive Player of the Game and a 2007 All-Arena Second Team selection.
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[edit] High school career
Jones was an All-State and district offensive MVP as a senior at Central Catholic High School in Morgan City, Louisiana. He was also a two-time All-District selection during his four-year basketball career.
[edit] College career
Jones attended Northewestern State, where he played both football and basketball. He redshirted as a true freshman, but was a walk-on with the basketball team. As a redshirt freshman, Jones played in every game as a reserve receiver and caught five passes for 114 yards. He was selected All-Southland Conference second-team as a sophomore after winning the starting job at cornerback. Jones recorded 40 tackles, eight passes defensed and two interceptions. As a junior, he was an All-Southland Conference first-team selection after finishing the season with 37 tackles, two sacks, 16 passes defensed, five interceptions and a fumble recovery. Jones earned All-Southland Conference honors and was the league’s defensive player of the year as a senior at Northwestern State. He was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in NCAA division 1-AA ranks, registering 52 tackles, 21 passes defensed and a school record six interceptions for 232 yards and two touchdowns. Jones contributed 18 kickoff returns for 406 yards (22.6 avg.).
[edit] Professional career
[edit] 1999
Jones was drafted in the fifth round (162nd overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He was released September 14[1], then signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad September 21. Jones was then signed to the Bears active roster on December 1, but did not play in the final four games.
[edit] 2000
In July 2000, Jones was released by the Bears and on July 25, signed with by the New York Giants. He was released by the Giants four days later and spent the season out of football.
[edit] 2001
On January 31, 2000, Jones was signed by the Dallas Cowboys, and recorded 12 tackles, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery during the preseason. He was released, however, at the end of training camp[2] and signed with the Edmonton Eskimos, of the Canadian Football League, on September 14. He palyed in eight regular season games for Edmonton, recording 22 tackles, five passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, including a 79 return for a touchdown, and an interception. He posted another four tackles in Edmonton’s only playoff game.
[edit] 2002
In 2002, Jones returned to training camp with the Eskimos but was released at the end of camp. He signed with the Dallas Desperados on December 9, before signing with the Dallas Cowboys on December 11. Jones played on special teams against the Philadelphia Eagles but recorded no stats.
[edit] 2003
In 2003, Jones went to camp with the Cleveland Browns, but was released prior to the start of the season.
Jones made his debut in the Arena Football League in 2003, despite missing the first quarter of the season, he put together a record-setting performance in his first indoor campaign, earning All-Rookie honors after finishing the regular season with team records for tackles (73.5) and passes defensed (18). His 73.5 tackles ranked ninth in the league, while his 18 pass deflections was tied for 12th. Jones was placed on the Desperados Reserve/Exempt list December 11, after signing with the Cowboys. He was activated from Reserve/Exempt list on February 28 and made his Arena Football League debut two days later at the Arizona Rattlers,
Jones made his AFL debut on March 2, 2003 against the Rattlers, recording a team-high five tackles and breaking up a pass. The next week against the Colorado Crush, he again led the team with five tackles, while making his first career interception and returning it 45 yards for a touchdown. Jones also added a tackle for a loss against the Crush. He tied for the team lead with four tackles and broke up two passes against the Grand Rapids Rampage then totaled 4.5 tackles and three passes defensed at the Carolina Cobras. Against the Indiana Firebirds, Jones recorded six tackles and broke up a pass. The next week against the San Jose SaberCats, he recorded a career-high 10 tackles while deflecting a pass. Jones led the team with 8.5 tackles at Indiana before recording a game-high 9.5 tackels at the Chicago Rush. He also broke up a Chicago pass and forced a fumble in overtime to set up Dallas’s winning touchdown drive. He recorded a team-high five tackles and two pass deflections against the Los Angeles Avengers. Jones recorded three tackles and a pass defensed against the Tampa Bay Storm then recorded four tackles and a pass defensed at the Georgia Force. In the regular season finale at Grand Rapids, Jones registered a team-high nine tackles and a career-high four passes defensed in helping the Desperados defeat the Rampage and clinch the Central Division title. In his first postseason action, he posted 6.5 tackles and a pass defensed against the Force.
[edit] 2004
In 2004, Jones picked up where he finished his rookie season leading or tying for the team lead in tackles nine times while finishing with a franchise record 74.5 tackles. He also recorded 14 passes defensed (tied for fifth in the league) and intercepted four (tied for eighth in the league).
In the season opener against the Cobras, Jones recorded three tackles and a game-high two passes defensed. Against the Philadelphia Soul, he recorded three tackles and two passes defensed before earning ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors with two tackles and an interception at the New York Dragons. At the Columbus Destroyers Jones recorded a team-high 6.5 tackles and an interception. Against the Grand Rapids Rampage, he tied for the team lead with four tackles and recovered a fourth quarter fumble. At the Carolina Cobras, Jones once again led the team with six tackles while deflecting a pass in the end zone. He finished with two tackles against the Los Angeles Avengers before finishing second on the team with 2.5 tackles and a pass breakup at the Soul. He posted a game-high tying eight tackles with a pass deflection and a fumble recovery against the San Jose SaberCats. Jones tied for second on the team with three tackles at the Arizona Rattlers then added a game-high 5.5 tackles and an onside kick recovery at the Orlando Predators. Against the Dragons he once again led the team with nine tackles while intercepting a fourth-quarter Aaron Garcia pass. Jones led the team with 7.5 tackles with two passes defensed at the Austin Wranglers before recording 2.5 tackles and tying his single game career-high with four pass deflections at the Chicago Rush. Against the Destroyers he led the team with four tackles while intercepting a third-quarter pass. Jones ended the season with a team-high six tackles against the Storm, allowing him to finish the season with a club-record 74.5 tackles.
[edit] 2005
In 2005, his third season in Dallas, Jones again proved his ability as he led the team in tackles for the third consecutive season (66.5) while also leading the team and finishing fifth in the league with six interceptions. His 126 interception return yards led the league while his three returns for touchdowns tied for the league lead and were a single-season career high.
Jones opened the season against the Rush, second on the team with five tackles before leading the team in tackles the next two games. In the game against the Destroyers, he tipped a fourth quarter Chad Salisbury pass that Will Pettis intercepted, leading to the game-winning score. Jones was second on the team with five tackles, while breaking up three passes against the Orlando Predators before earning ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors with a team-high 3.5 tackles and an interception at the Philadelphia Soul. Against the New Orleans VooDoo Jones posted five tackles and a pass breakup. He once again earned Defensive Player of the Game honors at the Austin Wranglers with a team-high 8.5 tackles, three passes defensed and an interception. At the Los Angeles Avengers he was named ADT Defensive Player of the Game for the second-consecutive week after finishing third on the team with 3.5 tackles and his third interception of the season, returned one 44 yards for a touchdown. He recorded one tackle with a team-high two passes defensed at the Colorado Crush before earning Defensive Player of the Game honors, finishing second on the team with 4.5 tackles and adding a forced fumble and an interception against the Nashville Kats. Jones posted one tackle before leaving the game early in the second half at the San Jose SaberCats with a right shoulder injury. He missed his only game due to the injury at the Columbus Destroyers, but returned to the field to lead all defensive players with four tackles against the New York Dragons. At the Las Vegas Gladiators he posted three tackles, including his 200th career, before leading the team with eight tackles and returning his fifth interception of the season 22 yards for his second return for a touchdown at the Georgia Force. In the season finale against the Soul, Jones was second on the team with 6.5 tackles while forcing a fumble and breaking up two passes. He recorded his sixth interception of the season, returning it 45 yards for a touchdown, his third score of the season.
[edit] 2006
In 2006, Jones led the Desperados in tackles for the fourth consecutive season, posting a career-high and team record 99.5 tackles. He also finished fourth in the league in tackles. Jones recorded eight interceptions on the season, returning one for a touchdown, establishing a franchise record for interceptions in a season.
In the season opener against the Kansas City Brigade, Jones finished second on the team with six tackles and two broken up passes. At the Utah Blaze he earned Defensive Player of the Game for his 10 tackle performance and pass breakup. Jones then led the team in tackles, again, with seven tackles at the Columbus Destroyers and one pass defensed then added another five tackles and a pass breakup against the Austin Wranglers before being forced to leave the game early after suffering a concussion. Against the Gladiators, he again earned Defensive Player of the Game honors after becoming just the second player in franchise history to record two interceptions in a game. Jones also led the team with eight tackles and three pass breakups. At the Chicago Rush he finished second on the team with nine tackles and added a pass breakup. He then posted another six tackles and a pass breakup at the Tampa Bay Storm. At Orlando, Jones led the team with eight tackles and one pass broken up. Against the Philadelphia Soul he was again the team leader with nine tackles, before tying for the team lead with seven tackles and one pass defensed against the Destroyers. At the New York Dragons, Jones intercepted a pass and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown, recorded two pass breakups and two tackles to earn Defensive Player of the Game honors. Against the Grand Rapids Rampage he finished second on the team with 5.5 tackles and one pass breakup. At Georgia Jones recovered a blocked field goal attempt and returned it 11 yards for a score while also posting five tackles. Against the Arizona Rattlers he was named Defensive Player of the Game for the fourth time on the season with three tackles, two pass breakups and his fourth interception of the season. At the Soul Jones intercepted two passes for the second time this season and led the franchise in tackles with seven. He was named Defensive Player of the Game against the Dragons with another two interception game, his third of the season, recovered two fumbles, forced another and had two tackles. In the Divisional Playoff Game against the Georgia Force, Jones led the team with 9.5 tackles. He again led the team with 5.5 tackles and one pass breakup against the Predators in the Conference Championship Game.
[edit] 2007
In 2007, Jones finished with a team-best 87.5 tackles and seven interceptions with two interceptions returned for touchdowns to garner AFL All-Arena Second Team honors.
Jones recorded the first interception of the season for the Desperados in the season opener at the New York Dragons, marking his 20th career interception and would also add five tackles and two passes defensed. Against the Tampa Bay Storm, he led all Desperados defensive players with nine tackles and two passes defensed. Jones led the team at the Kansas City Brigade with six tackles along with four passes defensed and made two interceptions to record his fourth career game with two interceptions. He had a team-high 6.5 tackles and one pass defensed against the Austin Wranglers. Jones led the team with three pass breakups against the Columbus Destroyers, while also recording 4.5 tackles. He tied his season-best four passes defensed against the Philadelphia Soul while also recording two tackles and one interception. Jones earned Defensive Player of the Game honors against the Nashville Kats after producing 5.5 tackles, two passes defensed and one interception that led to a late fourth quarter score that sealed the victory for the Desperados. He led the franchise for the fifth time on the season with 8.5 tackles at the Utah Blaze. Against the Chicago Rush, Jones tied a career-high with 10 tackles while also recording one pass defensed. He garnered his second Defensive Player of the Game honor against the New York Dragons as he set single-game team records in interceptions returned for touchdowns (two) and interception return yards (55) while also adding three tackles to help hold the Dragons to the second lowest point total in team history (13) and allowed the fewest yards in team history (138). Jones made his 400th career tackle at the Colorado Crush while recording two tackles, one pass defensed. He was the second-leading tackler on the Desperados defense with 5.5 tackles and also added one pass defensed against the Destroyers in the Divisional Playoff Game.
[edit] 2008
In 2008, thru week five, Jones has one interception returned for 10 yards. In the week three win over the Crush, he had two pass break ups.[3] During the week five win over the Dragons, Jones had one pass breakup.[4] During week six, Jones recorded five tackles and one pass break up. In week seven, he recorded just two tackles. During week nine, Jones recorded three tackles, and one interecption which he returned 20 yards.[5] In the week 10 win over the Columbus Destroyers, Jones recorded three tac[6]kles. During the Desperados week 11 win over the Georgia Force, Jones recorded four tackles (three solo).
[edit] Career Statistics
| Career Defensive Statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Year | Team | G | Tack | Solo | Ast | Sack | FF | FR | Int | Yds | TD | Pass Def. | |||
| 2003 | Dallas Desperados | 13 | 68 | 57 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 45 | 1 | 18 | |||
| 2004 | Dallas Desperados | 16 | 70 | 60 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 13 | |||
| 2005 | Dallas Desperados | 15 | 63 | 56 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 126 | 3 | 17 | |||
| 2006 | Dallas Desperados | 18 | 98 | 95 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 84 | 1 | 15 | |||
| 2007 | Dallas Desperados | 17 | 82 | 71 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 71 | 2 | 22 | |||
| 2008 | Dallas Desperados | 10 | 38 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 0 | 9 | |||
| Total | 102 | 419 | 366 | 48 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 363 | 7 | 94 | ||||
[edit] Personal life
During the offseason, Jones runs a training clinic in Louisiana and works with high school and college athletes to improve their strength, endurance and speed. Jones has participated in The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program, providing less fortunate children with clothes and toys for Christmas and annually visits with youth participating in school visits as part of the Desperados Impact Player Program. He has twice served as a celebrity coach at the Dallas Cowboys Let Us Play! Sports Camp for Girls, a three-day camp for inner-city girls served by Dallas area non-profit organizations that uses athletics as a tool to increase self-esteem, physical fitness and a desire for higher education. Jones, along with his wife, Shanda, made pizzas in the Papa John’s Mobile Kitchen for the people displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Jones has one child, a daughter, Amber born November 12, 2004.
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE3DF1E3AF935A3575AC0A96F958260 Transactions Published: September 6, 1999
- ^ Monday, September 03, 2001 NFL roster moves
- ^ Clamping Down on Colorado Rob Phillips DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer March 17, 2008 11:25 PM
- ^ Big D Prevails Mickey Spagnola DallasCowboys.com Columnist March 30, 2008 6:22 PM
- ^ No Show by Nick Eatman DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
- ^ Mr. Milestone by Mark NorrisDallasCowboys.com Staff Writer May 11, 2008
