FOXBORO, Mass. — Newly signed Patriots defensive back Nate Jones only knows one way to get himself prepared for Sunday's game against the Colts after a chaotic week.
"Be a professional," Jones said Friday. "Be the first one in the building and the last one out. At this point, that's all there is to do. I've been in the league for eight years, so I know what it takes. Learn as much as you can. If I don't understand something, ask questions. You're going to take your bumps in the learning process, but the faster I can learn, the better I can help this team."
So, what time did he show up for work Friday morning?
"The sun wasn't up yet," he said with a grin.
Jones, a Rutgers product who has spent time with the Cowboys, Dolphins and Broncos, was signed Thursday as a replacement for cornerback Phillip Adams, who was released earlier in the week. Jones has a lot more special teams experience than Adams, registering 59 special teams stops in his career, and he prides himself on his versatility in the secondary. Jones said he's played at every position in the defensive backfield in his career.
There's still no telling if Jones will receive any playing time Sunday, as it will probably be determined by the health of cornerback Devin McCourty and safety Patrick Chung. But in the event Jones is called upon, there's no doubting how diligently he has worked to get himself prepared to contribute.
"Things happen quick, and there's no time to lose," Jones said. "We're getting right to it, and I'm just getting acclimated. Guys are helping me, coaches are helping me and we're moving right along."
