So Joe finally got to have a 1-on-1 chat yesterday with Deion Jones, the veteran Bucs inside linebacker who once was as Pro Bowler for the Falcons, a guy who has made tens of millions of dollars playing football.
Here Jones is now in Tampa at 30 years old hoping to make a complete return to his star form. But Jones, who appears to be in fantastic shape, is very much a process guy, one day at a time. He feels great after injuries derailed his career, and he’s impressed Bucs coaches a lot. But Jones will tell you it’s a win-each-day grind for him and whatever happens he’s blessed to be a part of it.
The Bucs have a lot of those types of guys; the team comes first and save the chest-pounding for others.
It’s Year 10 for Jones. The 2016 Falcons second-round pick is playing on a minimum salary. He joined the Bucs last December after being on the street all season after Buffalo following Buffalo cutting him in the summer.
A devoted family man, Jones’ love of football runs deep. He knows his role on the roster but hasn’t lost a shred of confidence that he can again be a dominant player. Joe certainly sees a player who looks to have had live legs in spring practices and this week.
It does happen every year in the NFL, a former stud player revives himself for a season or two late in his career. If that’s Jones, then the Bucs’ strong depth just got deeper.
