Darren McFadden News
Julius eager to prove his doubters wrong
SAN ANTONIO -- Julius Jones asked me to relay a message to his many detractors: Prepare to be wrong.
"Write this down: Keep talking. Please keep talking," he said. "Because I am telling you, you have not seen the best of me, no way, by no means yet."
His intended audience includes those in the Cowboys organization who question his mental and physical toughness. And coach Parcells, who seemed to sour on him last season. As well as everybody who views him as a place-warmer for Darren McFadden.
So consider your message delivered, Julius.
And since I've done you one favor, let me do you one more by passing along this message: Prove yourself or prepare to be gone.
It is sad it has come to this. Really, it is. Because contrary to popular opinion, Julius is a good back. The best examples are so crusty it is useless to tout them. But suffice it to say, there used to be a day when comparisons to Tony Dorsett and Curtis Martin were being tossed around, and seriously.
He looked to have special potential until something untracked.
"It started out good my rookie year," Jones said. "After it seemed like... I don't know. I can't put my finger on it. I don't know that we were on the same page."
And by we, he meant he and Parcells.
Now, I do not necessarily buy Jones' spin-doctoring that Big Bill had him "running like a robot." He appeared to be running just fine early last season. Valley Ranch voices said his lack of zig, zag and wiggle seemed to come when his nicks started adding up, furthering his rep as a little soft.
Speaking of Jones' rep, not good.
Depending on whom you talk to, the biggest knock on Jones is his durability, his mental toughness, his ability to get tough yards. You name it and somebody is questioning whether Jones has it, and that is a lot of questions -- especially for a guy in a contract year already in danger of losing more of his carries to Marion Barber.
The knocks explain Jones' rumored spot on the trading block.
And those rumors were among the reasons Jones did not train in Dallas, with his teammates, this off-season but instead went to Arizona with his brother, Thomas, a running back with the Jets, and a trainer. He said he needed to go away and get his head right.
"This is a very important year," he explained. "I wanted to remove myself from the situation and work out and get focused and come back better. And I'm ready. I'm ready for a big year."
Coach Wade Phillips was not exactly thrilled by Jones' off-season digs but admits the results were good. Jones arrived at minicamp in fabulous shape and also with a grasp of the plays and protections, ready to have the kind of year many have stopped hoping for from him.
These are exactly the doubters Jones is trying to reach.
He wants them to understand he wants to be back in a Cowboys uniform next season and intends to do everything in his power to ensure that happens.
He realizes hardly anybody thinks this is a possibility.
It does not take a brain surgeon to deduce a diehard "Pig Sooey-er" like Owner Jones and almost all Cowboys faithful are wishing failure upon Cleveland in hopes that draft pick from the Brady Quinn trade becomes Darren McFadden.
"That is how it is. I understand it. You got to get them on the bandwagon, and that is what I am going to do," Jones said. "That is why I said continue to doubt me, continue to talk, and you'll see."
OK, I did my part, Julius. Message delivered. The rest is up to you.
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