Report: Bengals signed Matt Jones despite awful workout

WoodysGirl

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Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on February 16, 2010 4:11 PM ET

In the long history of PFT, this may be the first post in which a team trashes a player immediately after signing him.

So congratulations go out to the pair of Bengals team sources that killed Matt Jones' workout to Yahoo's Jason Cole. Kudos to them for also throwing Pacman Jones under the bus while they were at it. First, Matt Jones:

"It was one of the worst workouts I have ever seen," one source said of the receiver. "I don't care how fast his 40 time is or was, he's a slow-twitch athlete."

Yet the Bengals signed him anyway? The other source had similar words:

"He obviously has great size, but not even that is much of an advantage when you don't move very fast. He's not really the solution to what we need."

Maybe a coach is trying to motivate Matt Jones through the press. It's more likely that the sources are fighting back against a move orchestrated by owner/G.M. Mike Brown.

At least Matt Jones has a chance to prove his worth. Pacman may not ever get the chance based on this report:

"[Pacman] worked out, but he wasn't really ready to work out, if you know what I'm saying," Cole was told. "If he really wants to get back in the league, I don't know what he's been doing to get ready for it."

But wait, it gets even worse! The Bengals, as forgiving as a team can possibly be, was unimpressed with the excuse-making Jones made when asked about his past.

MDS and I were chatting about this story, remembering the days Pacman was the most exciting young cornerback in the league. He's convinced Pacman isn't ever getting back in the NFL.

If the Bengals won't give Pacman a shot, who will?
 

Idgit

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In before Matt-Jones-was-distracted-by-white-lines-on-field and/or first-reflexive-defense-of-Matt-Jones-by-stasheroo!
 

speedkilz88

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Idgit;3279527 said:
In before Matt-Jones-was-distracted-by-white-lines-on-field and/or first-reflexive-defense-of-Matt-Jones-by-stasheroo!
The guy is probably in terrible shape sitting out this long.
 

big dog cowboy

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16.jpg
 

Bob Sacamano

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This makes me chuckle as I remember every time stash brought up his 40 time, I would post that slow-as-molasses-Crayton averaged more yards per catch, and had longer catches than Matt.
 

Chocolate Lab

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speedkilz88;3279531 said:
The guy is probably in terrible shape sitting out this long.

My first thought as well... Although he was always much more fast than quick.

And Clayton was saying the same thing about the Bengals and Pacman even last Saturday. Said they pretty much couldn't get him back on the plane and out of town fast enough.
 

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Chocolate Lab;3279572 said:
My first thought as well... Although he was always much more fast than quick.

And Clayton was saying the same thing about the Bengals and Pacman even last Saturday. Said they pretty much couldn't get him back on the plane and out of town fast enough.

No

he wasn't.
 

Chocolate Lab

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Bob Sacamano;3279574 said:
No

he wasn't.

Yes

he was.

The guy has always been a long strider with very little quickness.

And for the record, Mosley and Galloway were talking about him the other day, and they both hinted that they knew a lot of dirt on Jones, but they wouldn't be specific. Mosley did say he had one of the worst, laziest attitudes even in practice, though. Said they had to practically beat him to get him to even jog between drills, that kind of thing. But then Jones has always looked and acted like a burned out stoner.
 

Bob Sacamano

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Chocolate Lab;3279577 said:
Yes

he was.

The guy has always been a long strider with very little quickness.

Being a long-strider doesn't mean you are fast.

Just ask Roy Will I Aint.
 

Big Dakota

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Just a question. Do any of you guys think he would have done any better had he put on 15-20 pounds and tried TE?
 

big dog cowboy

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Big Dakota;3279580 said:
Just a question. Do any of you guys think he would have done any better had he put on 15-20 pounds and tried TE?
No amount of weight could fix his off the field issues. So my answer is no.
 

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big dog cowboy;3279581 said:
CL is right. Jones ran a 4.4 at the scouting combine.

As did Roy Williams.

C'mon, the longest catch of Matt Jones' career was 49 yards.
 

Chocolate Lab

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Big Dakota;3279580 said:
Just a question. Do any of you guys think he would have done any better had he put on 15-20 pounds and tried TE?

Naw... Blocking is really boring and, like, hard work, dude...
 

gimmesix

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Chocolate Lab;3279577 said:
Yes

he was.

The guy has always been a long strider with very little quickness.

And for the record, Mosley and Galloway were talking about him the other day, and they both hinted that they knew a lot of dirt on Jones, but they wouldn't be specific. Mosley did say he had one of the worst, laziest attitudes even in practice, though. Said they had to practically beat him to get him to even jog between drills, that kind of thing. But then Jones has always looked and acted like a burned out stoner.

Although there are a lot of knocks against Jones, I find it hard to dismiss how he played his final season with Jacksonville.

He might be lackadaisical, but he still caught 65 passes for 761 yards in 12 games (10 starts). That tells me he can help a team if he keeps his head on straight and hasn't gotten too out of shape.

He isn't likely to ever become a top-notch receiver, but it looks like (from the numbers) he can be a competent one. So I find little fault with the low-risk chance the Bengals are taking despite him being a "slow-twitch" athlete.
 

burmafrd

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Long striders can be very fast- look at Edwin Moses. Roy can still run a fast 40 but he is not quick.
 

Yeagermeister

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speedkilz88;3279531 said:
The guy is probably in terrible shape sitting out this long.

Then that's his own fault. He should have been working out the whole time in case a team called him. What else did he have to do?
 

Rampage

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WoodysGirl;3279505 said:
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on February 16, 2010 4:11 PM ET

In the long history of PFT, this may be the first post in which a team trashes a player immediately after signing him.

So congratulations go out to the pair of Bengals team sources that killed Matt Jones' workout to Yahoo's Jason Cole. Kudos to them for also throwing Pacman Jones under the bus while they were at it. First, Matt Jones:

"It was one of the worst workouts I have ever seen," one source said of the receiver. "I don't care how fast his 40 time is or was, he's a slow-twitch athlete."

Yet the Bengals signed him anyway? The other source had similar words:

"He obviously has great size, but not even that is much of an advantage when you don't move very fast. He's not really the solution to what we need."

Maybe a coach is trying to motivate Matt Jones through the press. It's more likely that the sources are fighting back against a move orchestrated by owner/G.M. Mike Brown.

At least Matt Jones has a chance to prove his worth. Pacman may not ever get the chance based on this report:

"[Pacman] worked out, but he wasn't really ready to work out, if you know what I'm saying," Cole was told. "If he really wants to get back in the league, I don't know what he's been doing to get ready for it."

But wait, it gets even worse! The Bengals, as forgiving as a team can possibly be, was unimpressed with the excuse-making Jones made when asked about his past.

MDS and I were chatting about this story, remembering the days Pacman was the most exciting young cornerback in the league. He's convinced Pacman isn't ever getting back in the NFL.

If the Bengals won't give Pacman a shot, who will?

Sounds like they're describing Roy Williams.
 

Duane

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The Bengals are going to have to install a jail cell in the locker room to make their collection of thugs feel at home.
 
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