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Packers expect a big impact from Jones

After an injury riddled '08, Packer WR James Jones expects big things in '09. News Wire

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From Mike Spofford of Packers.com

James JonesAPPacker WR James Jones

The old adage says NFL players make their biggest strides from their first year to their second, and receiver James Jones was on track to do just that in 2008.

In the midst of an impressive sophomore training camp, Jones began the preseason with that memorable touchdown catch on national television against Cincinnati, when he absorbed a big hit over the middle, lost his helmet, and stayed on his feet to run into the end zone.

By early in the third quarter of the third preseason game at Denver, Jones already had seven receptions, second on the team at that point to Donald Driver.

It looked as though topping his impressive rookie numbers of 47 catches for 676 yards would be a matter of course in Jones' second year out of San Jose State. But it wasn't to be.

In the second half of that game against Denver, Jones sprained his right knee. Not thought to be a serious injury at the time, that knee became a source of angst all season long for Jones and the Packers.

"Stressful, frustrating, all those big words," Jones said. "All those words you can imagine."

Simply put, Jones' knee was never quite right. Whether he pushed too hard to come back too fast or underestimated the severity of the injury, or both, the bottom line was Jones couldn't perform the way he and the coaching staff expected him to, and - strange as it may sound - his inexperience with being injured played a factor.

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Po'ed Citizen
Jul 07, 2009
08:53 AM

If healthy all the Packers WR's should make Rodgers look good. Favre never had this good of a receiving core while he was there.

Scott M.
Jul 07, 2009
09:10 AM

This will be an interesting year if Jones can stay healthy for the Packers. Everybody likes to focus on the #1 and #2 receivers but what really makes the WCO sing is that third guy. Most teams have two good corners; very few have three. If you can put a third quality WR out there you can do some serious damage to a defense. He's definitely got the talent, now he's just got to stay healthy.

unclemeat
Jul 07, 2009
09:42 AM

I know I shouldn't feed the animals....

Stop with the "Favre never had" nonsense already. He's had some great receivers over the years.

Don't forget a '96 Super Bowl lineup of:
- Robert Brooks
- Antonio Freeman
- Don Beebe
- Andre Rison
- Keith Jackson (TE)
- Mark Chmura (TE)

People always overlook Brooks, Freeman and even Sterling Sharpe to a degree; because they had careers shortened/altered by injury.

Bob H
Jul 07, 2009
11:12 AM

Agreed, Uncle Meat. Don't tell me that Favre never had this good of a receiving core. He had solid WRs during his tenure with the Packers. If anything, especially early in Favre's career, he threw a heavy dose of quick strikes to Sharpe and Brooks, leading them right into the helmet of a d-back. They both took an awful lot of punishment as a result of catching those balls. Brooks and Sharpe were excellent receivers. It's too bad their careers were shortened due to those injuries.

Bob H
Jul 07, 2009
11:39 AM

Agreed, Uncle Meat. Don't tell me that Favre never had this good of a receiving core. He had solid WRs during his tenure with the Packers. If anything, especially early in Favre's career, he threw a heavy dose of quick strikes to Sharpe and Brooks, leading them right into the helmet of a d-back. They both took an awful lot of punishment as a result of catching those balls. Brooks and Sharpe were excellent receivers. It's too bad their careers were shortened due to those injuries.

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