© Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
It wasn’t that way back that then-UConn cornerback Byron Jones lit up the NFL Combine, testing as probably the greatest athletes in NFL historical past whereas setting a brand new world report for the lengthy bounce and propelling himself up draft boards and ultimately into the primary spherical. Jones was chosen at No. 27 total by the Dallas Cowboys, and after gradual begin to his profession whereas switching forwards and backwards between nook and security, Jones ultimately blossomed right into a Pro Bowler and Second Team All-Pro at nook.
Jones then signed a big-money free-agent take care of the Miami Dolphins, however after teaming with Xavien Howard to kind one of many league’s high cornerback duos, he noticed his profession derailed by accidents. Today, Jones stated on Saturday afternoon, he can not run or bounce because of the accidents he sustained enjoying the sport.
Jones revealed that data in response to a tweet from the NFL’s official account, which overvalued his aforementioned efficiency on the 2015 NFL Combine. In his tweet, Jones additionally cautioned gamers to seek the advice of unbiased medical doctors about their remedy for accidents, relatively than listening to staff medical doctors.
“DO NOT take the tablets they offer you. DO NOT take the injections they offer you,” Jones wrote. “If you completely should, seek the advice of an out of doors physician to study the long-term implications.”
Jones sat out your entire 2022 season after offseason surgical procedure to deal with ankle and Achilles points, and has additionally handled knee points up to now. He spent the entire yr on the reserve/PUP (bodily unable to carry out) listing, and primarily based on his tweet, it seems that his time each with the Dolphins and within the NFL is probably going over.
“It was an honor and privilege to play within the NFL nevertheless it got here at a regrettable price I didn’t foresee,” Jones stated. “In my opinion, no quantity {of professional} success or monetary achieve is value avoidable persistent ache and disabilities. Godspeed to the draft class of 2023.”
Jones has two years remaining on the five-year, $82.5 million contract he signed with Miami in 2020, however the Dolphins can launch him this offseason and save between $3.6 million and $13.6 towards the cap, relying on the timing of his launch.
