Report about Matt Jones' bad workout doesn't change anything

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 17, 2010 9:46 AM EST in Analysis

Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole wrote a piece that claimed Bengals newest wide receiver Matt Jones had such a poor workout, it's surprising that the Bengals signed him in the first place.

Matt Jones, a 6-foot-6, 218-pounder who once ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, didn’t exactly impress the football people with the Bengals despite getting signed.

“It was one of the worst workouts I have ever seen,” one of the sources said. “I don’t care how fast his 40 time is or was, he’s a slow-twitch athlete.”

We're written about Jones, claiming that he's given a chance mostly on his size and potential. His work ethic, which most people question, isn't necessarily inspiring.

One of his former coaches with the Jaguars said the onus is completely on Jones.

“He has always had the athletic ability,” the coach said. “The desire, that’s another matter. All I’ll say is that it’s up to Matt what kind of player he wants to be.”

In one respect, a bad workout in February for a player that took a year off is probably something that's somewhat expected. If Jones was gearing up for a return to the NFL, he was likely thinking that the interest level for him would come after the draft, free agency and maybe even training camp. He'd be that guy that others teams would need after injuries rotten the wide receiver depth.

In another respect, Jones has a crappy work ethic.

Either way, it doesn't change our position. He's cheap talent. If he doesn't work out, the Bengals cut him for a minimal loss. And he's starting from scratch and has to beat out several wide receivers to even make the team.

Of course, that doesn't mean that James Walker won't take this opportunity to go balls-out on theorizing why insiders, unnamed sources, people within the organization, are making public comments about it.

Could this discontent be coming from the coaching staff? There have been rifts in the past between owner Mike Brown's football decisions and the coaches having to make it work on the field, especially with examples like this in which Cincinnati is trying to get a troubled player on the cheap to fill an important role.

Settle down, James. We're talking about Matt Jones. Matt freaking Jones.

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Comments

No big deal

All this does is simmer our wild expectations of him being our next #2 guy. He was simply brought in to compete with Simpson, Purify, and some future draft picks for a roster spot. Good chance he won’t make the team by September.

This also make me feel optimistic that they are still in the market for either another FA or a high draft pick for a quality WR.

by smoormandiddy on Feb 17, 2010 10:09 AM EST reply actions

That is what I was just thinking

They won’t lose much with this signing, but to only gain.

by WHYUS!! on Feb 17, 2010 10:22 AM EST up reply actions

Exactly. Even if he makes the reg season roster as a #3 or #4, he is still a 6’6’’ red zone target with jumping ability. The team needs help at WR and he is an offseason street FA signee with upside. It’s not like any team is picking up Randy Moss right now.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Feb 17, 2010 10:42 AM EST up reply actions

It's another example

of outside reporters trying to bring the Bengals down. I could only imagine if the Patriots made the signing, claiming it to be insurance with Welker coming off of injury, there would be too many fluff pieces to count talking about how guys like Randy Moss and Corey Dillon were changed to team players when they came to New England, and Jones will be the next in line. But since the Bengals sign him, we get reminded at every turn how almost four years ago some Bengals got arrested (and one was for driving a boat while drinking, which I’m sure some people didn’t even know was illegal)

I once defended the managerial styles of Jerry Narron after a Reds loss in a bar after a long night of drinking. I wish I could say that I don't remember doing that.

by chazerize on Feb 17, 2010 10:29 AM EST reply actions

haha too true.

who DOESN’T drink on freakin’ boat?

Sonny my pitched my wild

by GrooveLeg on Feb 17, 2010 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

BUI

My brother always says “calm down guys, he got a BUI (boating under the influence”, which is like, the Cadillac of UIs"

by Rocket_Man_G on Feb 17, 2010 4:05 PM EST up reply actions

always the victim

1. Guys like Rey not getting nailed for DUI, hitting cars, partying with underage girls, etc. might go along way toward cleaning the Bengals’ image. Mike Brown signing everyone he can with a criminal record doesn’t help either. The media isn’t making this shit up you know.
2. The Pats have a long track record of bringing in these types and being successful. We haven’t won a playoff game for 20 years. You win and it doesn’t matter. Everyone knows this by now.
3. Who on god’s green earth doesn’t know it’s illegal to drive a boat drunk? And if you were raised by wolves or grew up in the Deep South and truly didn’t know this…how does it make it any less illegal?

by bodacio zk on Feb 17, 2010 11:26 AM EST up reply actions

Never the criminal?

1.) I’m not saying that some were not deserving to be made fun (Thurman, Henry, ect.) but for it to still come up after four years just seems like overkill. Yeah, the Bengals had guys arrested, but lets just let it go.

2.) True, the Pats have turned guys around, but look at the problem people the Bengals have signed recently and with no problems in the aftermath. If you want a better example, the Eagles got more praise then insult for taking a chance on Vick last year. I could only imagine the outcome if he had signed with Cincy.

3.)This was more for the effect that people never read what the Bengals were arrested for, just saw “Another Bengal Arrested” and ran with it. They treated every case like Odell’s rap sheet.

I once defended the managerial styles of Jerry Narron after a Reds loss in a bar after a long night of drinking. I wish I could say that I don't remember doing that.

by chazerize on Feb 17, 2010 12:28 PM EST up reply actions

Well that’s the thing: It would’ve gone away had we won big or if Mike Brown didn’t continue to sign guys with a rap sheet. History awful franchise + A comedic run of brushes with the law=Butt of jokes. Inescapable until the Bengals prove them wrong.

In general, we have a pretty huge problem in this country. When the media reports something we don’t like there’s always an emotional, knee-jerk response, rarely exploring the possibility that the information might be true. This writer or news agency is “biased” or they’re “out to get us”. Walker’s just doing his job, and if the Bengals don’t provide enough positive storylines, then that’s their own damn fault. I’m reading this article and I don’t see the slightest hint of malice or inaccuracy.

BTW….if it’s just Matt Freaking Jones….why so many posts dedicated to the guy? Not a big deal, right? Relax, James, right?

by bodacio zk on Feb 17, 2010 8:05 PM EST up reply actions

gotta find something to do

before pitchers and cathers report right?

I once defended the managerial styles of Jerry Narron after a Reds loss in a bar after a long night of drinking. I wish I could say that I don't remember doing that.

by chazerize on Feb 18, 2010 9:18 AM EST up reply actions

Good point. I’m pumped for some Redlegs.

by bodacio zk on Feb 18, 2010 10:34 AM EST up reply actions

Boats and Beer go togeather like Peanut Butter and Jelly.

Driving a boat sober is like bowling sober.

by smoormandiddy on Feb 17, 2010 11:49 AM EST reply actions

Sounds like you're about to break out into a Neil McCoy song.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 17, 2010 11:56 AM EST up reply actions

Or the Titanic's liquor cabinet.

by Todd G on Feb 17, 2010 12:36 PM EST up reply actions

haha +1

by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Feb 17, 2010 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

Only pros to to picking up Jones!

No kidding the Bengals have nothing to lose if Jones doesn’t work out. Maybe a little respect and dignity? Nope. We get the least respect, are joked about all the time, and really don’t care how people feel outside the organization. I picked up Matt Jones on my Madden 10’ and Madden 09’ squads and he was awesome in the game. Of course this doesn’t translate into anything, but I found it very amusing. The guy is 6’6", fast, and has a lot of potential. If we had some good WRs coaches, we might actually be able to do something with him. I just hope he turns it around.

by DonMegga on Feb 17, 2010 1:02 PM EST reply actions

sorry for the extra to

by DonMegga on Feb 17, 2010 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

He's not looking too quick, this video's from April though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OkjTFywJHM

by Jaegner on Feb 17, 2010 1:41 PM EST reply actions

We sign Matt Jones

the Ravens sign Donte Stallworth to a very similar deal. That’s the reason the Bengals have been a laughingstock, and the Ravens are a perennial playoff team

I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers

by Nunyabidness on Feb 17, 2010 3:42 PM EST reply actions

and when exactly

was stallworth a world beater? i watched him when i lived in philly and when he played for the browns. he’s never been great. his best year was 05. other than that, it’s not really fantastic.

the reason the ravens are a perennial playoff team is ed reed, ray lewis, suggs, and ngata.

RIP Slim.

by brandone on Feb 17, 2010 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

mason has been pretty solid for them too.

by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Feb 17, 2010 3:55 PM EST up reply actions

but i think we can all agree

that it isn’t their offense that makes them a perennial playoff team. kyle boller…an old mcnair…

i did forget about jamal lewis. he was a major player in that too.

RIP Slim.

by brandone on Feb 17, 2010 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

There is a big difference...........

Stallworth, who like Brandone said, is not demonstrably better than Jones will be their #1 WR and Jones will be our #3 at best and probably our #4. Mason probably should retire and their next best is Kelly Washington. We know all about him.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Feb 18, 2010 9:01 AM EST up reply actions

Jones has to know...........

that if he doesn’t step up he is done. Big ego athletes think they are above it all and that hteir path is golden. Once they lose it if they are winners they get the wake up call and get motivated. Losers lay down. If Jones is a winner he can be a good player and a big help in the red zone and short possession passes and will be well worth it. If he is a loser we will know in TC and any big money career is out of his reach forever and the Bengals don’t risk much. Excellent risk/reward ratio.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Feb 17, 2010 9:21 PM EST reply actions

Matt Jones

Bullshit, Put that 700,000 towards a guy thats wants to play and is in shape to play. To me thats throwing almost a million away to what GET A BODY TO FILL THE ROSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by James Schmid the great on Feb 17, 2010 10:12 PM EST reply actions

To be fair, it's only a pittance over the league vet minimum. It's not like they broke the bank on the guy, they got him on the cheap.

The problem is how expensive “on the cheap” is in the NFL to guys like you and me. They basically got Matt Jones in stripes for lox and a bagel or two.

by Craig Conrad on Feb 18, 2010 7:20 AM EST up reply actions