Tebucky Jones brings back memories of the old-school Patriots. He was more than just a fun name to say; he was an electrifying, game-changing defensive player, before there was Asante Samuel, before there was Ellis Hobbs.
But his career was derailed by a 2006 preseason knee injury — and now, according to the Boston Herald, Jones is blaming Patriots physician Thomas J. Gill for misdiagnosing him and ruining his career.
He claims that Gill and fellow physician Bertram Zarins did not inform him about a severe tear to his knee during a preseason matchup against the Redskins.
The Herald reports that Jones, 34, filed a suit in Suffolk Superior Court on Wednesday, claiming that the misdiagnosis led to his release by the Patriots and, therefore, a loss of income.
Jones told the Herald that Gill and Zarins only told him he had a hamstring injury when an MRI showed that he tore his ACL in addition to damaging his hamstring. Gill and Zarins recommended ice and strengthening exercises as treatment, but after showing little improvement one year later, Jones visited the team doctors again. They sent him for another MRI which showed a chronic ACL tear. Later, a third MRI showed no ACL tear.
According to the Herald, Jones claims the Patriots doctors should have informed him of the apparent damage to his ACL — which would have allowed him to have surgery and continue playing — and he claims he should have been paid a base salary of $720,000 before being released by the team in February of 2007.
Jones spent five years with New England before moving on to New Orleans and Miami. He played in 72 games in his eight-year career, registering six interceptions, five forced fumbles and 297 tackles.
