Gunzlingr
05-05-2003, 08:27 AM
By Brian Allee-Walsh
Staff writer
Free safety Tebucky Jones brings a physical presence to the Saints' secondary seldom seen during the franchise's 37-year history.
He possesses the speed and cover skills of a cornerback, the size of an outside linebacker (6 feet 2, 230 pounds) and the hard-nosed mentality of a middle linebacker.
All reasons why Saints officials acquired Jones in a trade with the New England Patriots in March and signed him to a seven-year, $29.25 million contract that includes a $6 million signing bonus.
"He's a big man," Saints coach Jim Haslett said during the Saints' three-day minicamp that concluded Sunday. "He's got a certain presence out there. I think he's ready to blossom."
Although Jones is only one piece of the Saints' defensive makeover, he is expected to play an important role on a unit that yielded at least 20 points in all but one game last season.
Haslett said Jones is a proven winner and has a Super Bowl championship ring as evidence. In fact, Jones' last appearance in the Superdome came in Super Bowl XXXVI (Feb. 3, 2002) as a member of the New England Patriots.
more (http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1052114115128800.xml)
Staff writer
Free safety Tebucky Jones brings a physical presence to the Saints' secondary seldom seen during the franchise's 37-year history.
He possesses the speed and cover skills of a cornerback, the size of an outside linebacker (6 feet 2, 230 pounds) and the hard-nosed mentality of a middle linebacker.
All reasons why Saints officials acquired Jones in a trade with the New England Patriots in March and signed him to a seven-year, $29.25 million contract that includes a $6 million signing bonus.
"He's a big man," Saints coach Jim Haslett said during the Saints' three-day minicamp that concluded Sunday. "He's got a certain presence out there. I think he's ready to blossom."
Although Jones is only one piece of the Saints' defensive makeover, he is expected to play an important role on a unit that yielded at least 20 points in all but one game last season.
Haslett said Jones is a proven winner and has a Super Bowl championship ring as evidence. In fact, Jones' last appearance in the Superdome came in Super Bowl XXXVI (Feb. 3, 2002) as a member of the New England Patriots.
more (http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1052114115128800.xml)