NFL Combine 2013: Affable Barrett Jones charms media

With teammates like offensive tackle DJ Fluker, running back Eddie Lacy, cornerback Dee Milliner, guard Chance Warmack and defensive tackle Jesse Williams among other Tide players in the draft, he may be the fifth to come off the board.

But one place Jones assuredly has them beat is in the media interview process (which is very important). Jones’ good-natured session with the media at the NFL Combine showed why teammates selected him Alabama’s captain.

Sporting Alabama swoosh bangs, Jones was jokingly annoyed that one reporter didn’t consider him a first rounder. He playfully admonished another that used the word “notoriety,” saying it has a negative connotation. He called another out for saying” talk about” instead of just asking a direct question.

Reporter: “Talk about the accolades your team received.”

Jones: “That’s a pretty general question.”

He even seemed a little let down that it took reporters several minutes to ask about the shoving incident with quarterback A.J. McCarron in the national title game. “I call it shove-gate,” he said.

Jones’ value to NFL teams is his football smarts and versatility. He started at left tackle, right guard and center during his storied college career.

“When you play a lot of different positions, it really allows you to learn the offense from different perspective,” Jones said. “You stop memorizing the offense and start understanding it.”

Sporting a boot on his left foot, Jones said he’s a couple months away from football activities following Lisfranc surgery. That was as serious as he got on Thursday. And like any good team captain, Jones made sure to credit his teammates.

“Playing next to Chance (Warmack) was a huge advantage,” he said. “He really made me look good. A lot of my highlight film plays are combo blocks with Chance. I’ve played on a lot of good offensive lines, but nothing as good as I played on this past year.”

That offensive line was the tone setter for an Alabama team that won three national titles while Jones as in Tuscaloosa. Few players had as storied of a college career as Jones. Twice an All-American, he took home the Outland Trophy and Rimington Award. But he knows the value of those accolades now.

“My college career means nothing here.”

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