RB Tony Jones Jr. on Playing For Sean Payton: 'He's a Smart Guy'

With Javonte Williams' recovery still up in the air, the Denver Broncos signed two running backs this offseason. It started with Samaje Perine — who is expected to be the No. 2 behind Williams — and was followed by Tony Jones, Jr. 

Jones spent time with Broncos head coach Sean Payton when both were with the New Orleans Saints. Going undrafted out of Notre Dame in 2020, Jones spent two of his first three seasons under now-Broncos coach Sean Payton in New Orleans.

Payton knows a thing or two about Jones and vice versa. In a conversation with The Denver Gazette's Chris Tomasson, Jones laid out why Payton wanted him to follow to the Mile High City. 

“I’m a hard worker,’’ Jones said via Tomasson. “Coach knows that I’ll do anything for the team to win. I’ll play guard, center. I’m smart. I’m a hard runner. Sean saw something.”

The 5-foot-11, 224-pound Jones has the frame of Clinton Portis (and he'll wear the same No. 26 jersey number in Denver), but unlike the former Broncos Pro Bowler, he's more of a physical downhill runner. Since battling his way into the league as an undrafted free agent, Jones has started five NFL games, totaling 163 rushing yards on 59 carries. He's yet to score a touchdown in 14 regular-season appearances. 

While Jones would surely like to spend at least a little time in the end zone, at some point, he's the type of lunch-pail guy NFL coaches value. If a job needs to be done, look no further than Jones for the man to do it. 

“Sean had me lead blocking, pass pro,’’ Jones said via Tomasson. “Sean had me on the back on kickoff returns. Like a whole bunch of stuff. Teams see that I’m very versatile, so that’s good.”

No doubt, Payton will follow suit by leaning on Jones to help out on special teams. For now, though, he's Denver's projected RB3, though Jones will face competition from the likes of undrafted rookie Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie. The Broncos have also been linked to free agent Dalvin Cook in the NFL rumor mill. 

Jones is set to earn a $940,000 salary on a one-year deal, none of which is guaranteed. He'll have to sing for his supper, but as a guy who never heard his name called on draft day, that's nothing new. 

Due to his history in New Orleans, when Jones arrived in Denver, it didn't take long for players to approach him with insights into Payton and what to expect. He laid it out for his new Broncos teammates. 

“Guys asked, ‘Is Sean kind of like a rah-hah coach? Was he going to work guys harder?’’’ Jones said via Tomasson. “I would tell them, ‘Sean’s going to work you but Sean’s also going to give you the time and tools to recover. Sean’s a smart guy, and he’s going to put us in the right spot to win.”’

From Jones' lips to God's ears. Let it be so.