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Matt Jones | Wide Receiver

Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Age / DOB:  (30) / 4/22/1983
Ht / Wt:  6'6' / 222
College: Arkansas
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Recent News

Mike Mayock retold the story of former first-round flop Matt Jones' Senior Bowl week in 2005 during this week's NFL Network coverage in Mobile, insisting Jones' practice habits "screamed buyer beware."
During a relatively slow week for NFL news, we found this story relevant as the Senior Bowl winds down. "I gotta be honest with ya," Mayock said. "I was on the field that year and I followed him from drill to drill the entire week, because there was such a buzz about him. He was last in every line. He didn't seem like he cared a whole lot. ... To me, it was like buyer beware. It screamed buyer beware. And unfortunately for the Jags, they bought it." Jones retired from football after failing to make the Bengals in 2010. Jan 24 - 2:12 PM

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Player News

Date:
Matt Jones - WR - Bengals

Free agent WR Matt Jones declined an invitation to try out for the Redskins Tuesday, telling the team that he intends to retire instead.

Jones was one of many free agent wideouts invited to work out Tuesday, and the 'Skins ended up signing Taurus Johnson to their practice squad. Jones' skills have eroded and his fabled freakish speed has declined over the past couple of seasons. He had garnered little known interest since the Bengals cut him in early September. The 21st overall pick in the 2005 draft will end his career with 166 receptions and 2,153 yards.
Related: Redskins
Source: Jason LaCanfora on Twitter
Tue, Nov 2, 2010 05:32:00 PM
Matt Jones - WR - Bengals

Bengals released WR Matt Jones.

Jones caught three balls for 42 yards in the preseason Hall of Fame, but was silent for the rest of the exhibition season. With rookie Dezmon Briscoe also gone, former second-round pick Jerome Simpson is expected to be the Bengals' sixth receiver for a third straight year. Jones won't get much interest in free agency with limited skills and major character concerns.
Source: Joe Reedy on Twitter
Sat, Sep 4, 2010 11:17:00 AM
Matt Jones - WR - Bengals

Bengals WR Matt Jones caught three passes for 42 yards in Sunday night's Hall of Fame game preseason opener.

Jones led the Bengals in receiving, though only because he played more than anyone and Jordan Palmer preferred throwing to Jones over Jerome Simpson (who signaled first down after catching a six-yard pass on third-and-15) and Maurice Purify. Jones just isn't a natural receiver. He's too long in the legs, lacks explosion in and out of his breaks, and still doesn't know how to get two feet down along the sideline. He's not going to make the team.
Sun, Aug 8, 2010 11:24:00 PM
Matt Jones - WR - Bengals

Bengals WR Matt Jones (foot bruise) returned to practice Thursday.

Jones healed quickly, but remains an extreme long shot for a roster spot. All the reports about his practice performances have been dangerously negative.
Source: Bengals on Twitter
Thu, Aug 5, 2010 03:42:00 PM
Matt Jones - WR - Bengals

Matt Jones has been sidelined by a bruised foot in Bengals camp.

Jones will try to run on the foot Wednesday night in hopes of returning to practice Thursday. He's already up against strong odds, so he can't afford to miss much time.
Source: bengals.com
Wed, Aug 4, 2010 03:32:00 PM
Matt Jones - WR - Bengals

Beat writer Joe Reedy wrote on his Twitter account Saturday that Matt Jones looks "slow and not good" at Bengals camp.

The Dayton Daily News said Jones looked like "just another guy" in June minicamp, so he's doing nothing to impressive observers. Considering the Bengals' new-found depth at the position, Jones is on the outside looking in for a roster spot.
Source: Joe Reedy on Twitter
Sat, Jul 31, 2010 08:10:00 PM
Matt Jones - WR - Bengals

Bengals WR Matt Jones reportedly looked like "just another guy" at the team's recent mandatory minicamp.

Jones, battling Jerome Simpson for one roster spot, was reportedly outplayed by Simpson on the practice field. According to the Dayton Daily News, Jones showed "little burst off the line," caught too many passes with his body rather than his hands, and didn't fight for balls in traffic.
Source: Dayton Daily News
Sun, Jun 20, 2010 09:37:00 PM
Matt Jones - WR - Bengals

Matt Jones is believed to be battling Jerome Simpson for one roster spot at receiver for the Bengals.

The Bengals are expected to keep six receivers, with Chad Ochocinco, Antonio Bryant, Andre Caldwell and Jordan Shipley manning four spots. The Jones/Simpson winner should get the fifth spot, and punt-return candidate Quan Cosby is the favorite for the final spot that goes to a special teamer. Sixth-rounder Dezmon Briscoe will have to exceed expectations to avoid the practice squad.
Related: Jerome Simpson, Quan Cosby, Dezmon Briscoe, Jordan Shipley
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
Tue, May 18, 2010 05:40:00 PM
Matt Jones - WR - Bengals

Matt Jones insists he's now in the best shape of his career at this point in the offseason.

We'd caution that many receivers look great in non-contract drills, but Jones is already exciting his coaches and teammates. "I've been impressed with him," Marvin Lewis said. "It's going to be fun to watch. He's feeling good about himself. He's got the quarterbacks feeling good about his abilities."
Source: bengals.com
Thu, May 13, 2010 12:46:00 PM
Matt Jones - WR - Bengals

Matt Jones was the "early surprise" of Tuesday's first practice session of the season, according to Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson.

Jones beat cornerback Leon Hall twice, a feat many starting receivers had trouble accomplishing last season. Carson Palmer noted that Jones is "always a mismatch" due to his size and speed while another offensive player stated simply, "Matt Jones is a beast." Jones has always had the talent. If the light is flipped on, he can't be ruled out of the third receiver competition.
Source: bengals.com
Tue, May 11, 2010 05:28:00 PM
Matt Jones - WR - Bengals

Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson disputes a report that the Bengals are planning to use Matt Jones as a tight end.

The Dayton Daily News characterized "in-house NFL guru" Carlos "Big C" Holmes' opinion as fact, when it was merely guesswork. The Bengals realize Jones doesn't have the bulk or the blocking ability to pull off the switch. If reports about his workout are true, Jones has a lot of work to do this offseason just to make the final roster.
Source: bengals.com
Thu, Feb 18, 2010 10:14:00 PM
Matt Jones - WR - Bengals

According to the Dayton Daily News, the Bengals plan to use Matt Jones as a tight end, not a wide receiver.

Interesting. We had already pointed out that Jones was being used as a big-bodied slant receiver as opposed to a down-field threat in 2008 with the Jags. Jones isn't nearly good enough as a blocker to be more than situational player as a tight end, but he could help out on third downs and in the red zone.
Source: Dayton Daily News
Thu, Feb 18, 2010 11:10:00 AM
Matt Jones - WR - Bengals

Two Bengals team sources tell Yahoo's Jason Cole that the team signed Matt Jones despite an awful workout.

"It was one of the worst workouts I have ever seen," one of the sources said. "I don't care how fast his 40 time is or was, he's a slow-twitch athlete." The other source complemented Jones' size, but said he no longer has the speed to be a deep threat. This was our analysis as well. Jones' best route is the slant, where he can use his size, but he's no longer the down-field playmaker that the Bengals need. He's no lock to make the final roster in September.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Tue, Feb 16, 2010 04:41:00 PM
Matt Jones - WR - Bengals

Bengals signed WR Matt Jones to a one-year contract.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the deal is worth roughly $700K. Jones, 27 in April, is a good upside signing with minimal risk at this price. While he isn't even a lock to make the team, the Bengals may have plucked their 2010 starting flanker off the February waiver wire. Laveranues Coles becomes a serious candidate for release. Andre Caldwell will likely remain in the slot, while Jones and Jerome Simpson battle for snaps outside. The move won't preclude Cincinnati from using another pick on a wideout, though.
Related: Laveranues Coles, Andre Caldwell, Jerome Simpson
Fri, Feb 12, 2010 12:29:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Andy Dalton
2John Skelton
3Josh Johnson
4Zac Robinson
RB1BenJarvus Green-Ellis
2Giovani Bernard
3Rex Burkhead
4Cedric Peerman
5Bernard Scott
GLB1BenJarvus Green-Ellis
2Giovani Bernard
3RB1Giovani Bernard
2Rex Burkhead
FB1Chris Pressley
2John Conner
WR11A.J. Green
2Andrew Hawkins
3Ryan Whalen
4Dane Sanzenbacher
5Tyrone Goard
WR21Mohamed Sanu
2Marvin Jones
3Brandon Tate
4Cobi Hamilton
5Taveon Rogers
WR31Andrew Hawkins
TE1Jermaine Gresham
2Tyler Eifert
3Orson Charles
4Alex Smith
5Richard Quinn
K1Mike Nugent