Robert Jones (American football)
Encyclopedia
Robert Lee Jones is a former American football
linebacker
who played 10 seasons in the National Football League
for the Dallas Cowboys
, the St. Louis Rams
, the Miami Dolphins
, and the Washington Redskins
from 1992 to 2001.
Jones played college football
at East Carolina University
and was drafted in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft
by the Cowboys. He was the NFC Rookie of the Year in 1992. He won three Super Bowl
s with the Cowboys.
in the history of East Carolina University
. He received freshman All-America
honors and also earned All-America
honorable mention as a sophomore. As a senior in 1991, he was a consensus All-America
choice and one of the finalists for the Butkus award. Jones was a co-captain of the 1991 team that finished ranked No. 9 nationally with an 11–1 record and a Peach Bowl victory.
In 2004, he was inducted into the East Carolina University
Hall of Fame.
in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft
, becoming the first player from East Carolina University
to be drafted in the first round.
As a rookie he started immediately at middle linebacker, helping the Cowboys become the top defense in the league in 1992. He was also named NFC rookie of the year.
In 1993, he only started three games while playing behind Ken Norton Jr..
In 1994, he had the best year of his career, going on to be selected to the Pro Bowl
, after registering 162 tackles (then the fourth-highest single season total in Cowboys history) and 4 passes defensed while starting all 16 games at middle linebacker.
During his four seasons with the Cowboys, Jones helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII
, Super Bowl XXVIII
and Super Bowl XXX
.
In the 90's, the Cowboys organization felt they could find linebackers through the draft, without the need of paying a premium and adversely impacting the salary cap
, so they allowed talented and productive players like Ken Norton Jr., Darrin Smith
, Dixon Edwards
and Randall Godfrey
, to leave via free agency, instead of signing them in to long-term contracts.
In 1996, after he became a free agent
, the Cowboys replaced him by signing free agent Fred Strickland
.
Jones chose to sign with the Saint Louis Rams, where he played 2 seasons before being released for salary cap
reasons.
In 1998, he signed a one year contract with the Miami Dolphins
, reuniting him with Jimmy Johnson
. That season Jones became an integral part of a defense that allowed an NFL low 265 points. He started all 16 regular season games at strongside linebacker and finished third on the team with 100 total tackles. He also put together career-high numbers of five sacks, two interceptions and five passes defensed. He returned one of those interceptions for the first touchdown of his career.
After the season, the Dolphins rewarded him with a five year contract extension.
In 2001, after being released by the Dolphins for not restructuring his contract, he signed a one year deal with the Washington Redskins
. During that season he started 9 of 15 games.
In 2002, Jones who had become an unrestricted free agent, signed with the Houston Texans
but subsequently was released upon his request.
One week later, he signed with the Green Bay Packers
, but was released shortly after, to make room for signed free agent Hardy Nickerson
.
Over his 10 year career, he played in 151 total games and registered 974 tackles, 8 quarterback sacks and 3 interceptions.
who also played at East Carolina University
and in the NFL.
Robert's son Cayleb Jones is a top college football recruit at Wide Receiver out of Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin, TX. Cayleb has verbally committed to play at The University of Texas.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who played 10 seasons in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
from 1992 to 2001.
Jones played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
and was drafted in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft
1992 NFL Draft
The 1992 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1992. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft...
by the Cowboys. He was the NFC Rookie of the Year in 1992. He won three Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s with the Cowboys.
Early life
Jones is the most decorated linebackerLinebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in the history of East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
. He received freshman All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
honors and also earned All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
honorable mention as a sophomore. As a senior in 1991, he was a consensus All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
choice and one of the finalists for the Butkus award. Jones was a co-captain of the 1991 team that finished ranked No. 9 nationally with an 11–1 record and a Peach Bowl victory.
In 2004, he was inducted into the East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Jones was drafted by the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft
1992 NFL Draft
The 1992 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1992. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft...
, becoming the first player from East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
to be drafted in the first round.
As a rookie he started immediately at middle linebacker, helping the Cowboys become the top defense in the league in 1992. He was also named NFC rookie of the year.
In 1993, he only started three games while playing behind Ken Norton Jr..
In 1994, he had the best year of his career, going on to be selected to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
, after registering 162 tackles (then the fourth-highest single season total in Cowboys history) and 4 passes defensed while starting all 16 games at middle linebacker.
During his four seasons with the Cowboys, Jones helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII was a football game played on January 31, 1993 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1992 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football Conference champion...
, Super Bowl XXVIII
Super Bowl XXVIII
Super Bowl XXVIII was an American football game played on January 30, 1994, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1993 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football...
and Super Bowl XXX
Super Bowl XXX
Super Bowl XXX was an American football game played on January 28, 1996 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona to decide the National Football League champion following the 1995 regular season...
.
In the 90's, the Cowboys organization felt they could find linebackers through the draft, without the need of paying a premium and adversely impacting the salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
, so they allowed talented and productive players like Ken Norton Jr., Darrin Smith
Darrin Smith
Darrin Andrew Smith is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League who played for the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks and the New Orleans Saints. While with Dallas he won two Super Bowl rings. At different times in his pro career he has played all...
, Dixon Edwards
Dixon Edwards
Dixon Voldean Edwards, III is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League from 1991 through 1998...
and Randall Godfrey
Randall Godfrey
Randall Euralentris Godfrey is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. Godfrey played college football at the University of Georgia, where he majored in housing and consumer economics. He also played High School Football at Lowndes High School in Valdosta Georgia...
, to leave via free agency, instead of signing them in to long-term contracts.
In 1996, after he became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
, the Cowboys replaced him by signing free agent Fred Strickland
Fred Strickland
Fredrick William Strickland, Jr. is a former American football linebacker who played for twelve seasons in the National Football League from 1988 to 1999. He played college football at Purdue University and was drafted in the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft....
.
Jones chose to sign with the Saint Louis Rams, where he played 2 seasons before being released for salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
reasons.
In 1998, he signed a one year contract with the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, reuniting him with Jimmy Johnson
Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)
James William "Jimmy" Johnson is an American former NCAA and National Football League head coach. As of 2010, he is currently an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday, the Fox network's NFL pregame show. He was the first football coach whose teams won both an NCAA Division 1A National Championship and a...
. That season Jones became an integral part of a defense that allowed an NFL low 265 points. He started all 16 regular season games at strongside linebacker and finished third on the team with 100 total tackles. He also put together career-high numbers of five sacks, two interceptions and five passes defensed. He returned one of those interceptions for the first touchdown of his career.
After the season, the Dolphins rewarded him with a five year contract extension.
In 2001, after being released by the Dolphins for not restructuring his contract, he signed a one year deal with the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. During that season he started 9 of 15 games.
In 2002, Jones who had become an unrestricted free agent, signed with the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
but subsequently was released upon his request.
One week later, he signed with the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, but was released shortly after, to make room for signed free agent Hardy Nickerson
Hardy Nickerson
Hardy Otto Nickerson is a former American football linebacker who played 16 seasons for four teams from 1987 to 2002 in the National Football League and is currently the head football coach at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, Calif. He attended Verbum Dei High School, a Catholic school...
.
Over his 10 year career, he played in 151 total games and registered 974 tackles, 8 quarterback sacks and 3 interceptions.
Personal life
Jones is the brother-in-law of Jeff BlakeJeff Blake
Jeff Bertrand Coleman Blake is a retired American football quarterback who played in the National Football League. Although he finished his career with the Chicago Bears, he was formerly a quarterback for the New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona...
who also played at East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
and in the NFL.
Robert's son Cayleb Jones is a top college football recruit at Wide Receiver out of Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin, TX. Cayleb has verbally committed to play at The University of Texas.