Cards Trade RB Thomas Jones for WR Marquise Walker

[The_Philster]

The Arizona Cardinals have traded running back Thomas Jones to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for wide receiver Marquise Walker.

The 6-2, 219-pound Walker was the Buccaneers' first selection in the 2002 NFL Draft (third round, 86th overall) following an all-America career at Michigan.

Walker is the Wolverine's career leader with 176 pass receptions, topping the previous mark of 161 catches by Anthony Carter (1979-82). Walker's 2,269 receiving yards rank behind only Carter (3,076), Amani Toomer(2,657, 1992-95), and David Terrell (2,317, 1998-2000)in Wolverine history. In addition, he caught at least one pass in 38 consecutive games, another Michigan record....more (http://www.azcardinals.com/press/pressdetails.php?sid=1257)

[The_Philster]

TAMPA - Spurred by uncertainty surrounding Michael Pittman's status, the Bucs again turned toward Arizona for running back help and obtained former first-round draft choice Thomas Jones for second-year wide receiver Marquise Walker on Friday.
Player-for-player trades are rare in the NFL, but Tampa Bay's front office grew increasingly jittery that Pittman, the club's leading rusher, will be unavailable for the 2003 season. A grand jury indicted Pittman on two felony counts Thursday and he faces jail time if he is determined to have violated his probation...
more (http://bucs.tbo.com/bucs/MGAPYZ6ZWGD.html)

[The_Philster]

Team trades Marquise Walker to Cardinals for Thomas Jones to provide insurance at running back
TAMPA - With Michael Pittman's future as a Buccaneer in jeopardy, the team made a bold move Friday to secure some insurance for the running game.

The Bucs traded second-year receiver Marquise Walker, who did not play last season, to the Arizona Cardinals for disgruntled running back Thomas Jones, Pittman's former teammate.

Jones, the seventh overall pick in the 2000 draft, is in the final year of his contract and will cost the Bucs $535,000 in base salary. Coincidentally, Jones lost his starting job to Pittman when both were with Arizona....

more (http://www.sptimes.com/2003/06/14/Bucs/Jones_gives_Bucs_a_ba.shtml)

[The_Philster]

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' dreams of a repeat Super Bowl title are being scuttled by offseason turmoil.

In the wake of yet another ugly off-field incident involving an NFL player, there is a very real chance running back Michael Pittman will go to prison. He was indicted on two counts of aggravated assault last week for allegedly ramming his Hummer into a car carrying his wife, a babysitter and his 2-year-old son. The incident occurred outside Phoenix on May 31.

Now the defending Super Bowl champions are turning to Pittman's backup in Arizona, acquiring running back Thomas Jones from the Cardinals for second-year wide receiver Marquise Walker in a trade Friday....

more (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~28391~1456396,00.html)

[The_Philster]

The names roll right off your tongue. Andre Wadsworth, Tom Knight, Leeland McElroy, Johnny Rutledge, Kelly Stoufer, Chuck Levy, and the list goes on and on and on. All Arizona Cardinals draft choices. All busts.

But when the Thomas Jones era officially came to an end on Friday after the Cardinals traded him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Marquis Walker, the reality set in. Of all the Cardinals busts, none has been bigger then Jones.

Sure, you can make a case that Wadsworth being drafted higher, No. 3 overall in 1998, was a bigger bust. But I'll always believe that Wadsworth would have been a good player in this league had he not gotten injured...more (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cheapseats/gambo/0616gambo16-ON.html)

[The_Philster]

TAMPA, Fla. -- Thomas Jones is glad to be starting over.

A major disappointment in Arizona, the disgruntled running back is eager to turn his career around with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who obtained him in exchange for receiver Marquise Walker last week.

"Honestly, I look at it as a blessing. The whole offseason I waited to see what they were going to do, and somehow I ended up coming here. I am definitely happy to be where I am right now," Jones said after a workout Thursday....

more (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/apfootball_story.asp?category=2020&slug=FBN%20Buccaneers%20Jones)