In the NFL, creative end zone antics have subsided for the most part since the departure of the Batman and Robin duo of Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco Johnson.
Sure, the “salsa” from Victor Cruz or “Gronk-spike” by Rob Gronkowski are fun but they lack creativity. In cases of Owens and Johnson, they left fans wondering what they would do the next time they found pay dirt.
Now that Batman and Robin are “getting their popcorn ready” from their couches on Sunday, many (at least in Baltimore) are looking to Ravens kick returner Jacoby Jones to take the lead in creative touchdown dances.
Even though Jones’ antics are fun, don’t expect him to bask in the attention he receives from his dances, which are the icing on the cake of his impressive three return touchdowns within a five-game span.
“I honestly don’t even like attention, I just do it for the fun,” Jones said. “I’m goofy and like to have fun and joke around with my teammates.”
Jones’ dances have reached another level with his teammates. He’s publically said he solicits their opinions on which dance he should do and now it’s gotten to the point where his teammates dare him to do specific dances.
His creativity has paid off as he has received plenty of national attention for his moves. He’s appeared on NFL Network’s NFL AM morning show to discuss them and even has multiple nominations (and victories) for their popular “Dancing with the Starters” segment. On ESPN, his returns have been featured on Monday Night Countdown and most of their other mainstream football shows.
While the attention should be flattering, it’s not going to his Jones’ head.
“I’m not really an attention guy, it’s just my personality and I like to have fun,” Jones reiterated.
Despite being awarded the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award in each of the two previous weeks he’s returned a kick for a touchdown, Jones wasn’t selected this week. Buffalo Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin won the honor after a 79-yard return against the Miami Dolphins.
A case could be made for Jones to win the award for the third time this season but he doesn’t feel like he was snubbed.
“I thought he was going to win anyway because his return was longer than mine. so I had a feeling he was going to win,” Jones said. “Hey, it’s all good, we got the W (win) though.”
Throughout their respective careers, many accused Owens and Johnson of putting their own individual agendas ahead of those of their teams, It’s refreshing to see a showboating football player doing just the opposite, as Jones does.
