AFL NOTES: After honing his talents in the NFL and CFL, Jermaine Jones moved indoors in 2003 and made an immediate impact on the Arena Football League. His ability to make plays and find the ball set a new standard for Dallas defensive backs. While getting a late start on the 2003 season after spending the first month on the Desperados exempt list, Jones put together a record-setting season that led to an All-Rookie Team selection. He returned in 2004 and picked up where he left off leading the team in tackles (74.5), passes defensed (14) and interceptions (four). He never missed a beat in 2005, once again leading the team in tackles (66.5), interceptions (six - fifth in the league) and pass breakups (17). Jones set the bar even higher for himself in 2006, leading the team and posting career-highs in tackles (99.5), interceptions (eight) and pass breakups (23). Jones has become one of the league's top defensive backs and will once again be counted on to lead the Dallas secondary.

AFL 2007 (Dallas): Jones finished with a team-best 87.5 tackles and a team-best seven interceptions with two interceptions returned for touchdowns to garner AFL All-Arena Second Team honors. He recorded the first interception of the year for the Desperados in the season opener at New York (3/4), marking his 20th career interception and also added five tackles and two passes defensed. Against Tampa Bay (3/10) he led all Desperados defenders with nine tackles and two passes defensed. Jones led the team at Kansas City (3/16) with six tackles along with four passes defensed and made two interceptions to notch his fourth career game with two interceptions. He had a team-high 6.5 tackles and one pass defensed against Austin (3/31). Jones led the team with three pass breakups against Columbus (4/5) while also tallying 4.5 tackles. He tied his season-best with four passes defensed against Philadelphia (4/16) while also posting two tackles and one interception. Jones earned Defensive Player of the Game honors against Nashville (4/27) after producing 5.5 tackles, two passes defensed and one interception that led to a late fourth quarter score that sealed the victory for Dallas. He led the team for the fifth time this season with 8.5 tackles at Utah (5/4). Against Chicago (5/14) Jones tied a career-high with 10.0 tackles while also contributing one pass defensed. He garnered his second Defensive Player of the Game honor against New York (6/16) as he set single-game team records in interceptions returned for touchdowns (two) and interception return yards (55) while also adding three tackles to help hold the Dragons to the second-lowest point total in team history (13) and allowed the fewest yards in team history (138). Jones made his 400th career tackle at Colorado (6/25) as part of a two-tackle, one-pass defensed performance. He was the second-leading tackler on the Desperados defense with 5.5 tackles and also added one pass defensed against Columbus (7/7) in the Divisional Playoff Game.

AFL 2006 (Dallas): Jones led the team in tackles for the fourth consecutive season, posting a career-high and team record 99.5 stops. He also finished fourth in the AFL in tackles. Jones recorded eight interceptions on the year, returning one for a touchdown, establishing a club record for interceptions in a season. In the season opener against Kansas City (1/29), Jones finished second on the team with six stops and broke up two passes. At Utah (2/4) he earned Defensive Player of the Game for his 10-tackle performance and one pass breakup. He again led the team in tackles with seven stops at Columbus (2/11) and one pass defensed then added another five tackles and pass breakup against Austin (2/17) before being forced to leave the game early with a concussion. Against Las Vegas (2/25) he again earned Defensive Player of the Game honors after becoming just the second player in team history to record two interceptions in a game. He also led the team with eight tackles and three pass breakups. At Chicago (3/5) he finished second on the team with nine stops and added a pass breakup before posting another six stops and a pass breakup at Tampa Bay (3/12). At Orlando (3/19) he led the team with eight tackles and broke up one pass. Against Philadelphia (3/25) he was again the team leader with nine stops, before tying for the team lead with seven tackles and one pass defensed against Columbus (4/1). At New York (4/9) he returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown, posted two pass breakups and two tackles to earn Defensive Player of the Game honors. At Georgia (4/22) he recovered a blocked field goal attempt and returned it 11 yards for a score while also posting five tackles. Against Arizona (4/28) he was named Defensive Player of the Game for the fourth time this season with three tackles, two pass breakups and his fourth interception of the season. At Philadelphia (5/6) he picked off two passes for the second time this season and led the team in tackles with seven. Jones was named Defensive Player of the Game against New York (5/12) with another two-interception game - his third of the year - and two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and two tackles. In the Divisional Playoff Game against Georgia (5/27) he led the team with 9.5 stops. Jones again led the team with 5.5 stops and one pass breakup against Orlando (6/4) in the Conference Championship Game.

AFL 2005 (Dallas): IIn his third season in Dallas, Jones again proved his ability as he led the team in tackles for the third consecutive season (66.5) while also leading the team and finishing fifth in the league with six interceptions. His 126 interception return yards led the league while his three returns for a score tied for the league lead and were a single-season personal best. Jones opened the season against Chicago (1/30) second on the team with five tackles before leading the squad in tackles the next two games - 4.5 at New York (2/6) and 3.5 against Columbus (2/13). In the matchup against the Destroyers, Jones tipped a fourth quarter Chad Salisbury pass that Will Pettis intercepted, leading to the game-winning score. Jones was second on the team with five tackles, while breaking up three passes against Orlando (2/17) before earning ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors with a team-high 3.5 tackles and a pick at Philadelphia (2/27). Jones once again earned Defensive Player of the Game honors at Austin (3/13) with a team-high 8.5 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception. At Los Angeles (3/18) he was named ADT Defensive Player of the Game for the second-consecutive week after finishing third on the team with 3.5 tackles and his third interception of the year, one he returned 44 yards for a touchdown. He managed one tackle with a team-high two passes defensed at Colorado (3/25) before taking home Defensive Player of the Game honors, finishing second on the team with 4.5 tackles and adding a forced fumble and an interception against Nashville (4/8). He posted one stop before leaving the contest early in the second half at San Jose (4/15) with a right shoulder injury. Jones missed his only game of the season due to the injured shoulder at Columbus (4/22), but returned to the field to lead all defenders with four tackles against New York (4/29). At Las Vegas (5/7) he posted three tackles, including his 200th career stop, before leading the team with eight tackles and returning his fifth interception of the season 22 yards for his second return for a score at Georgia (5/14). In the season finale against Philadelphia (5/22), Jones was second on the team with 6.5 tackles while forcing a fumble and breaking up two passes. He recorded his sixth theft of the season, returning it 45 yards for a touchdown - his third of the season - with under 1:00 remaining to give Dallas a 14-point lead.

AFL 2004 (Dallas): Jones picked up where he finished his rookie season leading or tying for the team lead in tackles nine times while finishing with a club record 74.5 tackles. He also batted away 14 passes (tied for fifth in the league) and intercepted four (tied for eighth in the league). In the season opener against Carolina (2/8) he tallied three tackles and a game-high two pass deflections. Against Philadelphia (2/15) he added three more tackles and two passes defensed before earning ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors with two tackles and an interception at New York (2/22). At Columbus (2/29) Jones notched a team-high 6.5 tackles and an interception. Against Grand Rapids (3/6) he tied for the team lead with four tackles and recovered a fourth quarter fumble that allowed Dallas to score and take a 15-point lead. At Carolina (3/13) he once again led the team with six tackles while deflecting a pass in the end zone. He posted a game-high tying eight tackles with a pass deflection and a fumble recovery against San Jose (4/10). Jones added a game-high 5.5 tackles and an onside kick recovery at Orlando (4/25). Against New York (5/1) he once again led the team with nine tackles while picking off a fourth-quarter Aaron Garcia pass. He led the team with 7.5 stops with two passes defensed at Austin (5/9) before picking up 2.5 tackles and tying his single-game career-high with four pass deflections at Chicago (5/16). Against Columbus (5/22) he led the team with four tackles while intercepting a third quarter pass. He closed out the season with a team-high six stops against Tampa Bay (5/30), allowing him to finish the season with a club-record 74.5 tackles.

AFL 2003 (Dallas): DDespite missing the first quarter of the season, Jones put together a record-setting performance in his first indoor campaign, earning All-Rookie honors after finishing the regular season with team records for tackles (73.5) and passes defensed (18). His 73.5 tackles ranked ninth in the league, while his 18 pass deflections was tied for 12th. Jones was placed on the Desperados Reserve/Exempt list Dec. 11 after signing with the Dallas Cowboys. He was activated from Reserve/Exempt Feb. 28 and made his Arena Football League debut two days later at Arizona (3/2), posting a team-high five tackles and breaking up a pass. The next week against Colorado (3/7) he again led the team with five stops, while picking off his first indoor pass and returning the theft 45 yards for a touchdown. He also added a tackle for a loss against the Crush. He tied for the team lead with four tackles and broke up two passes against Grand Rapids (3/16) then totaled 4.5 stops and three passes defensed at Carolina (3/21). Against San Jose (4/6) Jones registered a career-high 10 tackles while deflecting a pass. He led the team with 8.5 tackles at Indiana (4/13) before tallying a game-high 9.5 stops at Chicago (4/20). He also broke up a Rush pass and forced a fumble in overtime to set up Dallas's winning touchdown drive. He recorded a team-high five stops and two pass deflections against Los Angeles (4/27) while helping the Dallas defense hold the Avengers out of the end zone on five-of-13 offensive possessions. Jones totaled three tackles and a pass defensed against Tampa Bay (5/4) then tallied four stops and a pass defensed at Georgia (5/10). In the regular season finale at Grand Rapids (5/18), Jones registered a team-high nine tackles and a career-high four passes defensed in helping the Desperados defeat the Rampage and clinch the Central Division title. In his first postseason action, he posted 6.5 tackles and a pass defensed against Georgia (5/24).

OTHER PRO EXPERIENCE: 2003 - Jones went to training camp with the Cleveland Browns, but was released prior to the start of the season. 2002 - Jones returned to training camp with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League but was released at the end of camp. He signed with the Desperados on Dec. 9 before signing with the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 11. He saw action on special teams against Philadelphia (12/21) but recorded no stats. 2001 - Jones signed with the Cowboys on Jan. 31, and posted 12 tackles, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery during preseason action. He was released at the end of training camp and signed with the Eskimos on Sept. 14. He saw action in eight regular-season games for Edmonton, recording 22 tackles, five passes defensed, two fumble recoveries - including a 79-yarder for a score - and an interception. He posted another four tackles in Edmonton's only playoff game. 2000 - He was released by the Chicago Bears in July and signed with the N.Y. Giants July 25. He was released by the Giants four days later (July 29) and spent the NFL season out of football. 1999 - Jones was drafted in the fifth round (162nd overall) of the NFL Draft by the N.Y. Jets. He was released Sept. 14, then signed onto the Chicago Bears practice squad Sept. 21. He was signed to the Bears active roster on Dec. 1, but did not play in Chicago's final four games.

COLLEGE: Jones earned All-Southland Conference honors and was the league's defensive player of the year as a senior at Northwestern State. He was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in NCAA division 1-AA ranks, registering 52 tackles, 21 passes defensed and a school record six interceptions for 232 yards and two touchdowns. He contributed 18 kickoff returns for 406 yards (22.6 avg.). As a junior, he was an All-Southland Conference first-team selection after finishing the season with 37 tackles, two sacks, 16 passes defensed, five interceptions and a fumble recovery. Jones was selected All-Southland Conference second-team as a sophomore after winning the starting job at cornerback. He amassed 40 tackles, eight passes defensed and two interceptions. As a redshirt freshman, Jones played in every game as a reserve receiver and caught five passes for 114 yards. He was redshirted as a true freshman, but was a walk-on with the basketball team.

PERSONAL: Jones was an all-state and district offensive MVP as a senior at Central Catholic High School in Morgan City, La. He was also a two-time all-district pick during his four-year basketball career. During the offseason, Jones runs a training clinic in Louisiana and works with high school and college athletes to improve their strength, endurance and speed. Jones annually visits with youth participating in afterschool programs at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas as part of the Desperados Impact Player Program. Jones served as a celebrity coach at the Dallas Cowboys Let Us Play! Sports Camp for Girls - a three-day camp for inner-city girls and along with his wife, Shanda, made pizzas in the Papa John's Mobile Kitchen for the people displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Jones has a daughter, Amber (11/12/04).