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It sounds like Rex Ryan has taken a liking to Georgia OLB Jarvis Jones, who had a total of 28 sacks over his last two years with the Bulldogs. You could make a strong argument that he’s the best pass rusher in the draft. However, there are medical concerns about his spinal stenosis, which ended his career at USC, and forced him to transfer to Georgia (where he was cleared to play). Here is a Q-and-A with the talented edge pass rusher . . .
Q)What can you tell us about your spinal stenosis issue?
Jones: I have a slight narrowing in my spine between the C4 and C5 (vertabaes). [A lot of people have] spinal stenosis and don’t know it. I have it. But most of the doctors checked me out and feel that I’m fine.
I don’t have any contusion or anything like that in it.
I only had one incident. A stinger at USC in ’09, my freshman year. I never had any symptoms after that.
I played two years of SEC football (at Georgia), red-shirted, practiced every day, never had any symptoms. So I feel that I’m healthy. The doctors felt that I was healthy today. So I’m excited.
Q)Are your concerned about playing with it?
Jones: Not at all. Anybody who steps on that field has a chance of getting hurt. If you think about it like that, nobody would ever play football.
For me, I’m just taking advantage of the opportunity. I love this game. I’m passionate about it.
I know that I’ve got to be careful about my technique and how I play this game. Therefore, I do the extra stuff to protect my neck, to protect my shoulders.
Q)What are the NFL doctors saying?
Jones: I saw a lot of doctors and they weren’t too concerned about what they saw. They thought I was fine.
I don’t know how people, how the coaches feel about taking me, but I think I’m fine. I heard a lot of good news.
Q)What do you remember about being diagnosed with spinal stenosis in 2009 at USC?
Jones: I really didn’t know what it was. I was a freshman. They were just telling me I can’t play football no more. Eight games out of high school it was devastating. It was kind of heartbreaking for me, being 2,000 miles from home. I went to USC to play football, and for them to tell me I couldn’t, I was a bit lost.
Q)How did you then end up playing at Georgia?
Jones: I got a couple of spine specialists to clear me. Went to UGA. Took a visit there; took some medical tests there; spent whole day with coach (Mark) Richt and the medical staff taking tests all day. Passed every one of my tests. They sent down my medical information to other spine specialists. They thought I was fine.
My whole red-shirt year, I did the rehab stuff to protect myself, building up my neck, building up my shoulders, building up my technique on the field. Keeping my head up when I hit. I did a great job of it.
Q)Are NFL teams afraid your condition will shorten your career?
Jones: I’m going to continue to do what I can to protect myself. I’ve got to be in the weight room more, to keep building up my neck, keep building up my shoulders. There are some great doctors out there. They know if I shouldn’t be playing this game. Because my MRIs, from the day it happened to today, it hasn’t gotten any worse. It still looks the same. So that’s good.
Q)What makes you such a good pass rusher?
Jones: I’m a student of the game. I prepare well. I know what’s going on. I recognize formations. I find tendencies.
I look at the small things that help me to play fast, play 100 percent the whole game and be relentless and just get after the ball, let the game come to me. Once you understand formations and recognize personnel, it allows you to play faster.
April 23, 2013
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