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Bengals Adam Jones politicked for a kickoff return against the Panthers

Bengals cornerback Adam Jones, one of the team's most dynamic returners, asked his special teams coach to return a kickoff after the Panthers took a 31-24 lead with over four minutes remaining. Nothing but good happened.

By Josh Kirkendall

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Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

If Adam Jones wanted to defeat Mitch McConnell and Alison Grimes for the Senate seat that's up for election in Kentucky this November, he could probably do it. However, since Congress is deadlocked into self-glorification and feeding into narcissistic personalities, it's best that Jones sticks with the Bengals... where he can actually do good for his constituents.

Down 31-24 with 4:50 remaining in the game, Jones approached special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons and asked to return the kickoff following Carolina's touchdown that gave them a one score lead.

"I have been doing more in practice so I said, 'Darrin let me get back there,'" Jones said via the Cincinnati Enquirer. "He said, 'All right, just be smart with the ball.' It all worked out for the good. I had helluva blocks out there. I take my hat off to those guys. I hit it running and they opened up for me, it's pretty good. It's always good if you can get a clean read and run up on the kicker."

Jones returned the kick 97 yards to the Carolina Panthers three-yard line. Running back Jeremy Hill punched the football into the endzone on the ensuing play, tying the game at 31. It was the longest non-scoring play in franchise history. Per the Cincinnati Enquirer, it was also the first time that Jones returned a kickoff in the regular season since Oct. 7, 2012 against the Miami Dolphins.

Despite scoring five touchdowns on punt returns, he's never scored a touchdown on a kickoff return -- and he returned 63 kicks during his first two seasons with the Tennessee Titans.

"I always tell them my 60-yard is very fast," Jones said. "After that, I don’t know, but somebody might get me. I've been back there in practice," Jones said about returning kickoffs, via Bengals.com. "I hit it running. They opened it up for me. It’s always good when you get a clean read and run up on the kicker."

Jones also has two punt returns over over 40 yards this season and came into the game with a league-leading 23.6 yard/return average.

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