E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was the Giants' beat writer
for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995.
He is the author of 26 books and he is one of
only four sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls.
Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.

GIANTS WILL TRANSPORT JONES TO NEW YORK FOR FURTHER TREATMENT BY TEAM DOCTORS

By Dave Klein
--- The almost certain loss of safety Chad Jones after his horrific automobile accident and resultant mangled foot brings to mind a couple of other players who left the Giants way too soon.

One, at least, managed to play for three years and certify his claim to eventual superstardom, defensive tackle/nose tackle Troy Archer, the team's first round draft pick in 1976 (the same year the Giants came up with linebacker Harry Carson). ... Archer played for three seasons, emerged as a force and then, one spring morning, was killed in a single-car accident in north Jersey.

The other, a linebacker named Tom Fisher, was drafted in 1966 as a "future," a practice the NFL approved at that time allowing for a player to be drafted prior to his senior season (now they just declare themselves eligible for the draft). ... Fisher was a 6-3, 235-pound All-America choice after his junior year but never played - he, too, was killed in a traffic accident the following spring.

Now it's Jones, who fortunately made it through surgery without a leg amputation, which the doctors had warned was an option moments prior to the operation. He suffered leg and foot injuries and his athletic future is in doubt. But in the last day or two his father, acting as his spokesman, has expressed optimism that his son will make it back to the field. He just hasn’t said which field - Jones is also an accomplished pitcher and a few weeks after the Giants picked him in the third round out of LSU, the Milwaukee Brewers selected him as well.

His agent, Rocky Arcenaux, has said that his client may well stage a return to football in 2011. "I am optimistic," he has been quoted. "I would like to hope so. He's such a great athlete I think if anybody could pull it off and come back, it would be Chad."

There are still questions to be answered as to the "validity" of his contract if he cannot play football again, since the car accident in New Orleans was clearly a non-football injury.

The Giants, proving that all NFL teams aren't heartless, are transferring Jones to New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Medical Center. He will be transported through MedJet Assist of Birmingham, Ala., accompanied by his girlfriend, Jade Newman. His parents, Patti and Al Jones, will be accompanied on another flight - all arranged by the Giants - with Charles Way, the team's Director of Player Development.

"Chad has received excellent medical care from the doctors and nurses in New Orleans since the accident," said Giants' vice president of medical services Ronnie Barnes. "[But] after consulting with our doctors, Chad's doctors at LSU [Public Hospital, New Orleans] and his family felt like this move to New York was the next logical step in his care and recovery."

The eight-hour surgical procedure Jones underwent late last week was primarily to repair the mangled left leg and ankle and to improve the blood flow.

In addition, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called Chad and his family in the hospital Sunday night and offered to provide hotel accommodations while Chad is being observed and treated in New York.

--- You might remember that the Giants were awarded wide receiver-kick returner Chris Davis the other day off waivers from the Cincinnati Bengals. ... Well, he might have had one of the shortest career in franchise history - he was waived Monday after failing his physical. Davis was a fourth round pick in 2007 by Tennessee (from Florida State) and in two years returned 33 punts for 327 yards. But he suffered a hamstring injury, was subsequently released. He signed with Cincinnati on March 12 but was waived, setting in motion the claim by the Giants and the failed physical (the hamstring).

This still leaves the Giants up in the air as to the identity of their new punt return specialist with the season-long loss of Domenik Hixon, who tore up his knee the first time he set foot on the new field at New Meadowlands Stadium.

--- The Giants also waived free agent rookie quarterback Riley Skinner (Wake Forest) ... It seemed to be a move to generate a roster spot for Davis, since rosters are now locked at 80 and each addition requires a release.

--- Finally, a personal note of sadness and loss. E-GIANTS and your correspondent have lost a great friend, longtime subscriber Dr. Jan Fugal, an orthopedic surgeon from Connecticut, who may not be identified as "Mystery Doc," the guy who analyzed so many of the team's injuries over the years. His large family and countless retinue of friends will all miss him and his succinct, to-the-point comments, especially on the Giants and the New York Yankees.

Rest in peace, old timer.

Check out Dave's website at E-GIANTS where you can subscribe to his newsletters which run much more frequently than what is available here.
- Team Giants

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