‘Pacman’ takes part in first practice
|
Jones had hoped to practice Sunday after agreeing in principle to a deal Aug. 17, but the complicated contract had to be approved by the NFL and the players’ association. His agent, Michael Huyghue arrived in Nashville on Sunday to help work through the final details.
Appropriately enough for a player who was one of the last two first-round draft picks to reach a deal, Jones’ arrival on the field didn’t come without secrecy.
With cameramen and reporters waiting to watch Jones walk onto the field, the Titans hid him on the back of a cart loaded with equipment at a side loading dock and drove him onto the practice field where he joined his teammates after they had stretched.
Coach Jeff Fisher said he’s glad to have his top pick on the field.
“It’s a unique arrangement, but it’s good. It’s best for both sides right now, and the most important thing now is Pac. He’s been ready to return really since camp started. I can only imagine what he’s going through,” Fisher said.
The Titans didn’t take it easy on Jones, the sixth pick overall and first defensive player taken in the draft. The cornerback who left West Virginia after his junior season found himself facing off against starting receivers Drew Bennett and Tyrone Calico in a one-on-one passing drill.
Jones first tried jamming rookie Courtney Roby, then Bennett at the line before both receivers caught passes. Receivers coach Ray Sherman yelled to his receivers to club Jones if he grabbed someone else.
Then Calico went up against Jones, and the rookie grabbed him and held on. The 6-foot-4 Calico started banging the generously listed 5-10 Jones before breaking loose. The next time up, Jones ran alongside Calico who caught a long pass.
“You’re going to get beat here and there,” Jones said. “For the most part, I’m here to make plays. This is my first day out here. It’s going to pick up in a little while.”
Jones broke up one pass to rookie tight end Bo Scaife, and he was the only one to run 15-yard sprints with his teammates all lined up behind him at one goal line. Fisher said he was impressed with how Jones was able to maintain his conditioning during his holdout.
“He stopped after 15,” Fisher said. “He thought he was going to do a number of 15-yard gassers. I explained we wanted to keep going, then he said he had several left. And I said, ‘We have to play Friday.'”
Jones didn’t get to catch any punts, something Fisher promised he will get plenty of before Friday night’s exhibition in San Francisco. The Titans ranked last in the NFL last season in punt return average.
“I can’t wait,” Jones said. “That’s a big part of my game, and we need some help in special teams. Whatever Coach asks me to do, I’m going to do.”
The cornerback also will be given a chance to win the right cornerback job.
Tony Beckham, a fourth-round pick in 2002 out of Division III Wisconsin-Stout, tried to show it won’t be easy for Jones to step in as a starter. He intercepted a pass by Billy Volek intended for rookie Brandon Jones in one team drill, and he nearly picked off two more passes at the end of practice.