NFL Journeyman Jones Hoping for Super Bowl Ring

INDIANAPOLIS – For eight-year NFL veteran Nate Jones, Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVI match up against the Giants will be the highlight of his journeyman career to this point.

Jones, 29, signed with New England in November as a cornerback after trips to Dallas (2004-07), Miami (2008-09, 11) and Denver (2010).

The Scotch Plains, N.J. native was already against odds when he was selected in the seventh round (205th overall) in the 2004 NFL Draft out of Rutgers, but the 5-foot-10 defensive back has managed to play in more than 100 professional games and stick around for nearly a decade.

Jones has played in post-season games with Dallas and Miami and is one of four players from Rutgers on the Patriots roster, including Devin McCourty, Tiquan Underwood and Alex Silvestro, who is on the practice squad.

“I think all four players are very team-oriented, and they come from a great program,” said Patriots coach Bill Belichick. “I think that program has, under Coach [Greg] Schiano, prepared their players well for the NFL. Those four players have done a good job for us. In terms of the program, you can see those types of players on a lot of teams. When they get to the NFL, most of those players end up making it, at least for a while.”

At Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, Jones was a First Team All-State selection his senior season when he rushed for 2,474 yards and 36 touchdowns.

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