Callie Caplan, Correspondent
HOUSTON 鈥� When cornerback Cyrus Jones reflects on his rookie NFL year, he compares his experiences with the New England Patriots to that of his freshman season at Alabama in 2012.
He was caught in a whirlwind of adjustments for classes, practices and the demands of the Crimson Tide鈥檚 championship culture. This season with the Patriots has been just as overwhelming, Jones said.
Still, in Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, the product of Gilman School in Baltimore has the chance to finish his introduction to the professional ranks the same way his first year in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, concluded: With a title.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been an up and down year, but just learning from the mistakes,鈥� Jones told Capital 草莓传媒 Service. 鈥淛ust trying to grow as a player and as a person and just not taking anything for granted. Realizing I鈥檓 blessed to be in this position and trying to take advantage of it.鈥�
Jones arrived in New England as a second-round draft pick in 2016 with expectations for immediate contributions.
He had been a standout defender and special teams returner for the Crimson Tide, helping the team earn two national championships in his career. He was the Most Valuable Player in Alabama鈥檚 College Football Playoff semifinal win as a senior with an interception and punt return for a touchdown.
But in his first NFL season, he鈥檚 managed only seven tackles. He鈥檚 also had five fumbled punts, forcing coach Bill Belichick to cut his playing time.
Jones has drawn on his past success as reason to believe the skid won鈥檛 last.
He finished his career at Gilman, winning state championships in football, basketball and outdoor track and field as a senior, as perhaps the Baltimore area鈥檚 top recruit.
He played wide receiver in his first Alabama campaign, but Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban moved him to cornerback as a sophomore. He became one of the most dynamic players in his draft class.
Teammates see that potential, too.
Jones鈥� locker is next to cornerback Logan Ryan鈥檚. Ryan joked Jones is neat, so the two haven鈥檛 had much trouble getting along.
The fourth-year cornerback felt similar pressure when he entered the league as a third-round pick, so he鈥檚 told Jones not to dwell on his shortcomings.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 make it too big,鈥� Ryan said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 got to break things down individually and just try to be good at that and take it one day at a time. Eventually, it鈥檚 not too much.鈥�
Safety Patrick Chung has given similar advice. The eight-year veteran has witnessed Jones鈥� athleticism in his jumps, cuts and speed in practice and told him to be patient.
After all, Jones hasn鈥檛 had a physical break because his preparations for the combine and draft workouts after Alabama鈥檚 season blended into offseason practices and training camp with the Patriots.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the longest year of your NFL career,鈥� Chung told Jones of the rookie grind. 鈥淛ust keep pushing, stay confident.鈥�
Jones heeded the words and tried to embrace Belichick鈥檚 tough style. He鈥檚 no stranger to the rigors after serving as a leader in Saban鈥檚 dynasty-making program.
His production at the end of the regular season started to show an increased comfort as well.
Jones had four tackles in the last two games, and while he was inactive for both playoff outings, he鈥檚 appreciated the chance to work with his team for another week for a Super Bowl win that would add to his championship collection.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long season,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淚鈥檓 taking it all in. A lot of people don鈥檛 get the chance to get to a Super Bowl at all, and I鈥檓 here in my rookie year, so it don鈥檛 get much better than that.鈥�
This story is part of special coverage of the Super Bowl, a collaboration between Capital 草莓传媒 Service and the Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism at the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism.
