The Seattle Seahawks have agreed in principle with free agent running back Julius Jones. Jones agreed to a 4-year deal worth 12 million dollars. It looks like he will once again provide the lightning to someone else’s thunder, as Jones will be splitting carries in his new gig too, with big-bodied free agent running back T.J. Duckett being picked up by Seatle last week.
Still, Jones leaves Cowboys fans wondering what could have been.
Julius Jones once looked like the next coming of Barry Sanders. His fast, silky-smooth moves earned him recognition as the next great Cowboys running back, and his elusiveness earned him countless comparisons to Emmitt Smith. Julius Jones was headed for greatness. Fans began etching his name in the Ring of Honor at Texas Stadium. Reservation for Canton were made.
It all started out so well.
The former Notre Dame star was drafted by Dallas in the second round of the 2004 draft, and wound up making an immediate impression, as fans witnessed him churn out 819 yards in only 8 games.
He looked special.
The next season, Jones tallied 993 yards in 13 games, but the luster began to wear off. Jones finished the year averaging less than 4 yards per carry.
Still, Cowboys fans held out the faith. Julius Jones was their guy.
In 2006, Jones seemed to respond. He rushed for 1,084 yards, his first season to eclipse the 1000-yard barrier. But it was also the beginning of the end. That year, second-year back Marion Barber began to emerge as his potential replacement. Barber racked up over 4.8 yards per carry and scored 14 TDs on only 135 carries.
Jones star in Dallas began to fade.
In 2007, the media donned the pair thunder and lightning, in honor of their distinctive running styles. Jones was the razzle dazzle. Barber was the punch in the gut.
But it quickly became apparent that one was more effective than the other.
In 2007, Marion Barber led the Cowboys with 975 yards and 10 TDs. Meanwhile, the once mighty Jones only mustered 588 yards, averaging a career worst 3.6 yards per carry and finding the end zone only twice. His elusiveness seemingly lost, Jones found himself benched for Barber and ready for a new opportunity.
The Cowboys were obliged to let him seek it.
Still, several other teams were interested in Jones’ services. He was rumored to be courted by the Bears, Eagles, Titans and Lions as well. It seems clear that, though Jones lost his luster in Dallas, he still commanded respect from other teams in the market.
Whether or not Jones ever reaches the potential Cowboys fans once thought he had is not certain, but if he does it will not be as a Dallas Cowboy.
Even though his star was fading here in Dallas the last couple of years Julius has been the very definition of a “good soldier”. He might not have liked his deminishing role as the feature back, but you never heard any rumblings or complaining about it from Jones. I wish him well in Seattle, after all that’s where he had his best games. As for the rest of us Cowboy fans we’ll always wonder what could have been if Jerry would’ve taken Steven Jackson instead of trading the pick for basically Julius Jones and Marcus Spears.