SI wrote:Cowboys RB Julius Jones, who averaged 4.9 yards per carry in the preseason, appears poised to become a superstar in 2005.
the lead for the article reads:
SI wrote:How 'bout them Cowboys? This isn't the team of the early '90s, but SI.com's Arash Markazi says all of the pieces are in place for Dallas to make a serious Super Bowl run this season.
i have a few things to say about julius jones. the most important is this:
12/26/2004 vs. washington (only game he's played against us)
22 carries
57 yards
2.6 average
0 TDs
1 Fumble
that pretty much says all we need to know. but i feel inclined to mention the fact that there are no less than 20 RBs in the NFL right now that are better than jones. in no particular order:
1. clinton portis (washington)
2. ladanian tomlinson (san diego)
3. priest holmes (kansas city)
4. tiki barber (new york "giants")
5. curtis martin (new york jets)
6. warrick dunn (atlanta)
7. kevin jones (detroit)
8. jamal lewis (baltimore)
9. steven jackson (st. louis)
10. marshall faulk (st. louis)
11. brian westbrook (philadelphia)
12. sean alexander (seattle)
13. edgerrin james (indianapolis)
14. deuce mcallister (new orleans)
15. jerome bettis/duce staley (whichever is healthy at the time--pittsburgh)
16. whoever is playing at the time for denver
17. ahman green (green bay)
18. stephen davis (carolina)
19. corey dillon (new england)
20. rudi johnson (cincinatti)
there are also 3 promising highly drafted rookies who will probably outshine jones this year (benson, brown, williams).
it's just outrageous and inexcusable to be hyping up the 20somethingth-best RB in the league.

***let's not forget that JULIUS JONES IS OLDER THAN CLINTON PORTIS!!! (portis born 9/1/1981, jones born 8/14/1981). in two less weeks of life, portis has amassed 4414 yards and 34 TDs, about 5 times more in both categories than jones's 819 yards and 7 TDs.
i was going to say that i see jones as being about on par with ladell betts-- a very good running back who will probably never be a "star". but i realized the comparison would be insulting to betts.