ExtremeRavens Posted July 14 Posted July 14 If you hung around current Ravens vice president Ozzie Newsome during his 33 years as an NFL executive, he was always dropping some nuggets of wisdom. Back in the mid 1990’s, when the team was still at its old training facility in Owings Mills, Newsome once said, “Every team needs its share of knuckleheads, and you can’t win without them.” He was right. And then there are the eggheads, which described Jacoby Jones, but in every positive sense of the word. Jones, 40, died “peacefully at his home in New Orleans,” according to a statement from the NFL Players Association on behalf of Jones’ family. But long before his death, he had already left an indelible impression on football fans in Baltimore. His postseason success in 2012 led the franchise to its second Super Bowl title since arriving in the city in 1996. But sports is about so much more than just competition. It’s about relationships that endure for decades, which is why you still see those existing bonds between those great San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys teams of the late 1990’s or the Ravens of 2000 or 2012. Jones, a wide receiver and return specialist, had that endearing type of personality. He was charismatic, joyful, joked around a lot and was beloved by his teammates. He was a man of strong faith, which is why he once let middle linebacker Ray Lewis lay his hands on him in prayer before a game. And oh, could Jones dance. The one-time “Dancing with the Stars” contestant could bust as many moves on the field as he did at a nightclub, and regardless of the situation, Jones always found happiness. I didn’t know him well, not like some of the older Ravens such as Michael McCrary, Peter Boulware, Lewis and Jonathan Ogden, but he could always make you smile with a quick phrase or by saying something outrageous. “I loved Jacoby Jones,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. “We all did. His spirit, enthusiasm and love for people were powerful. He was a light. He was a man of faith.” There was more. “Jacoby was one of the most fun-loving teammates and people I’ve ever been around,” former Houston Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Always dancing and laughing with a permanent smile on his face.” Every team has its share of star players, and the Ravens had their own in 2012, even though Lewis and safety Ed Reed were on the downsides of their respective careers. But in the postseason, everyone has to turn up their game. Great players have to dominate, average players need to become good and some knuckleheads have to make major contributions. The 2012 season was Jones’ time to shine. The All-Pro kick returner had only 30 catches for 406 yards and one touchdown during the regular season, but he could have easily been the Most Valuable Player in the playoffs. He made the 70-yard, game-tying touchdown catch in the final seconds of regulation in the Ravens’ AFC divisional round playoff game against the Denver Broncos, which has been called the “Mile High Miracle” after Baltimore went on to win in double overtime. It was indeed a miracle. Quarterback Joe Flacco’s pass was so high and so far that the ball seemed to have dew on it when Jones made the catch. Then there was the 56-yard touchdown catch and the 108-yard kickoff return for a score against the 49ers after the lights had gone out at halftime in Super Bowl 47. The Ravens were able to hang on for a 34-31 victory. This all fits in with Jones’ fun-loving personality. He still holds Super Bowl records for the longest play and kickoff return at 108 yards and the most all-purpose yards in the game with 290. Jones also holds the Ravens’ record for most career kickoff returns for touchdowns (four), most kickoff returns for touchdowns in a single season (two) and the longest kickoff return in team history, having returned two for 108 yards against the Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. But there is more to Jones’ legacy than just having postseason success. He’ll go down as one of the top characters in team history. The late Tony Siragusa was amusing but could be vicious at times. Former tight end Shannon Sharpe was the mouthpiece of an offense that lacked identity in 2000. Lewis and Reed were two of the greatest players ever, but nobody made as big of an impact on the Ravens as Jones in such a short period of time. Only running back Jamal Lewis in his rookie season can compare. Jones had been in the NFL for five years with the Houston Texans before signing with the Ravens and becoming the perfect fit. His legacy will long be remembered in Baltimore. View the full article Quote
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