Julio Jones: Falcons star means everything to city of Atlanta
By Adnan Ikic
Dec 1, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
From 7 to 11
Vick ended up rejuvenating his career with the Philadelphia Eagles after serving his prison sentence. He won the 2010 Comeback Player of the Year award, and finished top-5 in MVP voting that season. It was painful for some Falcons fans to watch, despite the fact that Matt Ryan led Atlanta to a 13-3 year and top seed in the NFC.
Today, Atlanta’s craving for a superstar is met by Julio Jones. Drafted by the Falcons in the 2011 NFL Draft, following a massive trade up which cost Thomas Dimitroff five draft picks, Jones has been everything the city of Atlanta needs and more.
The fifth-year man from Alabama is the best receiver in the NFL, and one of the game’s most exciting players. Through three weeks this season, he is on pace to completely obliterate the NFL single season record for catches and for receiving yards. He is also on target to catch 21 touchdown passes, which would be just two less than Randy Moss’ single season record.
Jones doesn’t even have to exactly maintain this torrid pace to break those records. With how the much the Falcons use him, he will have a legitimate chance to break the single season catches record, the single season receiving yards record, and maybe even the single season receiving touchdowns record.
Jones also might have the best shot in NFL history to become the first wide receiver ever to win the MVP award. Through three weeks, it’s Jones, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady who are on the shortlist. I probably shouldn’t be talking about the MVP award because the season is still far too young, but if Jones stays healthy, he will certainly be a candidate throughout the season.
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