NY Times: Energized by New City and Its Barbecue, Jones Thrives With the Chiefs

[KcMizzou]

This is a nice read on Jones. The guy seems to really love KC.

It's a few days late.. hopefully not a repost.

Energized by New City and Its Barbecue, Jones Thrives With the Chiefs
By GREG BISHOP

On Thanksgiving night, Thomas Jones stood atop a stage in front of thousands in downtown Kansas City, Mo. At that moment, he felt, for the first time in forever, that he had found a home.

Jones’s career path ranks among the strangest in N.F.L. history, nearly 11 seasons now, with five teams, his productivity climbing with experience, even after 30, when most running backs head into retirement. As he closed in on 10,000 career rushing yards (Jones has 9,983), he was selected, with his teammate Jamaal Charles, to light the downtown area known as the Plaza.

In freezing weather, on live television, they flipped on the lights. Weeks later, Jones struggled to describe the feeling in a telephone interview.

“Looking out from that stage, I felt like Mick Jagger,” he said. “The energy was amazing.”

Jones will almost surely gain at least 17 yards Sunday against St. Louis, joining an exclusive club of 10,000-yard rushers, as member No. 25. With Charles and Jones, the Chiefs lead the N.F.L. in rushing at 165.4 yards per game. They also lead the A.F.C. West at 8-5, a half game ahead of surging San Diego.

To Jets fullback Tony Richardson, this sounds like a familiar pattern for his former teammate. Throughout his career, Jones has helped turn struggling franchises into contenders — in Chicago, he reached the Super Bowl; with the Jets, the A.F.C. title game — only to be discarded for younger replacements. Richardson ventured that no back reached 10,000 rushing yards with less fanfare.

“He’s never been on a team longer than three years,” Richardson said last week. “It seems like every time he has a good year, he’s gone. I don’t know what that’s about. But if you know anything about T. J., you know he prefers it that way.”

That, Jones said, is why he has fallen for Kansas City. He lives in a two-bedroom apartment in the Plaza. He estimated that he spent 15 percent of his time there, and the other 85 percent at the Chiefs’ facility.

Four times each week, he eats dinner at his favorite restaurant, Jack Stack Barbecue, where they prepare his order on sight (fire-skewered wings, half pint of baked beans and half pint of salad), no words required. This meal requires an extra hour of working out, but Jones has no complaints. “I feel like I’m part of the barbecue staff,” he said.

Kansas City reminds Jones of the southwest Virginia coal country where he grew up. He said he thought the residents shared his values and appreciated his work ethic. He is without distractions in Kansas City, just football and soul searching, a narrowing of focus.

Jones says he particularly loves the drive into the stadium, where the smell of barbecue wafts through the air and the energy gives him goose bumps. The Chiefs are 6-0 at home this season, and Jones does not see that as a coincidence.

“People here love football,” Jones said. “They care about each other. They work hard. This is the kind of place where I’m supposed to be.”

Jones, 32, has not ruled out playing another season (or four). He said that his body felt the same on Monday mornings as it did 10 years ago, although he has altered his routine (more massages, more cold tubs, more legendary workouts) this season. Jones has one year remaining on his contract, and he plans to play next season and then evaluate the future.

This year, Jones has gained 766 yards at an average of 4.0 a carry, and he has become a mentor to Charles, one of the most dynamic backs in the league. Their partnership, Jones said, will help him extend his career.

First, though, the Chiefs must get into the playoffs. They travel to St. Louis on Sunday, then close the season with home games against Tennessee and Oakland. Jones refused to look ahead, but should the Chiefs win their division and the Jets secure a wild card, Jones could face the team that released him last off-season.

“That would be pretty strange,” he said.

Just like his career path, which will culminate soon, perhaps on Sunday, with 10,000 career rushing yards — a milestone that says what Jones does not.