Barrett Jones, shown before the BCS National Championship Game in the blue cast that he wore before the game, is currently sidelined with the same ailment. (Copyright photo by Mark Edwards)
But he admits his participation is hard to miss.
“I don’t know what you guys are talking about. You can’t prove it because you can’t see my face,” Jones said. “The scooter really sold me out.”
The scooter, given to him after his surgery to correct a medical issue in his left foot, is now pushing him from obvious identification to obscurity, forcing the Outland and Rimington Trophy winner to only do bench press on Alabama’s Pro Day.
Jones was still willing to joke about the 27 reps he put up in the exercise.
“I think I got 29 and they counted two off or something,” Jones said. I wanted to get 30 but I was close. I was pleased with that. I’ve been working out hard and I think that was a good number.”
Jones did the exercise still wearing a protective boot on the foot, which he walked in while his former teammates were performing for NFL scouts. Jones joked the boot took away, “five or six reps right there.”
What is not a laughing matter is what position Jones will play when he finally enters the NFL. Jones won a national championship as a start at each of the three positions (guard in 2009, tackle in 2011, center in 2012).
“I’ll play whatever position I’m asked to play,” Jones said. “If you made me choose I’d probably choose center right now because No. 1 I played there last year and No. 2 I’m kind of a control freak. I like to be in control. If we’re watching TV together I like to hold the remote. That’s the kind of guy I am. I like making the calls. I like the preparation aspect of it.
“But that being said, wherever they think the best fit for their team and can help them win, that’s where I want to play.”
Jones also said he is not focused on where he ends up playing, but on what he can do to make sure he gets a chance. Jones’ injury is supposed to hold him out until May, forcing him to go about impressing teams in another way.
“I’m just focusing on controlling the things I can control, that’s interviewing well,” Jones said. “I have 50 games of tape out there so hopefully they watch those and try to present myself in a good way so a team will pick me and kind of convey what I can bring to a team which is kind of hard because you really have to talk about yourself a lot and I’d rather talk to you guys (media) about other people.
“They ask you what are your strengths and weaknesses, so it’s tough but you have to practice it and get ready and tell them what kind of person you are.”
I like Barrett Jones. Smart, smart player who’ll play a dozen years in @nfl if he stays healthy. Scouts weren’t high on Jeff Saturday either
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) March 13, 2013
I wrote about Barrett Jones and other prospects like him. You can find it here: on.nfl.com/WbY0ov
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) March 13, 2013
