Jermaine Jones (American football)

Jermaine Jones (born July 25, 1976 in Morgan City, Louisiana) is an Arena 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 Northwestern State.

In his career, Jones has played for, the New York Jets, the Chicago Bears, the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, and the Cleveland Browns. He is a 12-time Defensive Player of the Game and a 2007 All-Arena Second Team selection.

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.

College career
Jones attended Northwestern 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 I-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.).

National Football League (1999–2001)
Jones was drafted in the fifth round (162nd overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He was released September 14, then signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad on September 21. He was then signed to the Bears active roster on December 1, but did not play in the final four games. In July 2000, he 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. 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.

Canadian Football League (2001)
After being released by the Cowboys, Jones signed with the Edmonton Eskimos, of the Canadian Football League, on September 14. He played in eight regular season games for Edmonton, recording 22 tackles, five passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, including a 79 yard return for a touchdown, and an interception. He recorded another four tackles in Edmonton’s only playoff game.

Return to National Football League (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. Then in 2003, Jones went to camp with the Cleveland Browns, but was released prior to the start of the season.

Arena Football League (2003–2009)
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. In 2004, Jones was leading or tied 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 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. 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, setting a franchise record for interceptions in a season. 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. In 2008, Jones played in 14 games and recorded 56 total tackles, three interceptions for 30 yards and 12 passes broken up. He is now unemployed as the AFL is no longer.

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.

Extnernal links

 * Dallas Desperados bio