Giants Pick Chad Jones, Recovering From Car Crash, Wows With 40 In 4.84
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- Chad Jones, the Giants' 2010 draft choice whose career was placed in jeopardy by a car wreck nearly 1 ½ years ago, was timed at 4.84 seconds in a public 40-yard dash at a suburban New Orleans school on Wednesday night.
"Today was a great day," said Jones, who also was celebrating his 23rd birthday. "I am pretty glad about my time even though I got about six more months of rehab. Things look good right now."
Jones, a safety, was taken by the Giants in the third round. He seriously injured his left leg June 24, 2010, when his car crashed into a street car stanchion in his hometown of New Orleans.
He only began running again 3 ½ months ago.
"I won't say I'm satisfied," said Jones. "The short-term goal, today, yeah, I'm very satisfied. But my long-term goal is to be on the field to be a New York Giant in full uniform. I'm still hungry and still trying to fight to the final goal which is being a New York Giant full-time football player."
The result left Jones optimistic he'll be able to attempt a comeback as soon as next season.
"In the 2012 season, Chad Jones is going to be back with the New York Giants," Jones said. "I kind of see that happening."
Jones won national championships in both football (2007) and baseball (2009) at LSU. He was a left-handed relief pitcher with a fastball exceeding 90 mph for the Tigers' national title team and was known affectionately as "Dreadlocks of Doom" by teammates and LSU fans.
He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers weeks after the Giants selected him in the NFL draft.
For now, though, Jones said he remains focused on football, saying that the possibility of a pro baseball career is "still on the backburner."
Do you expect Jones on the Giants next season? Sound off on the gritty safety in the comments below...
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