After five season of being mostly the backup running back for the Dallas Cowboys, it’s safe to assume that they’re not too pleased with what they’ve seen from him so far. Still, considering his injury problems from the previous year are gone and their need for someone to backup DeMarco Murray, Jones might still remain with the team when it’s all said and done.

Jones played in 16 games last year, carrying the ball only 111 times and averaging a poor 3.6 yards per rush. He did have a few moments that reminded the Cowboys of his ability as a rookie, but being hobbled by pains in both knees, Jones wasn’t really in shape to give the kind of production you expect from a player on a contract year.

But there are some pluses to keeping Jones, who becomes a free agent in less than a month. While he’s not going to be a consistent explosive running back, a healthy Jones is more than a suitable backup for the very fragile DeMarco Murray, with the ability and experience to step in for the 2-year veteran who spends half the time healing from various injuries.

There’s also the fact that Jones is a pretty solid blocker who knows how to pick up the blitz very well. With the Cowboys unlikely to choose a running back in the draft (unless they surprise many with a late-round pick) or through free agency due to their cap situation, re-signing Jones on a one-year contract might be a good idea. Most would agree he provided a better option than Lance Dunbar and Phillip Tanner, who haven’t really impressed in the few opportunities they’ve had.

With not much of a chance for Jones to get a starters-deal with any other team and a new running backs coach (Gary Brown) that might help Jones put his career back together, staying with the Dallas Cowboys for at least one more year doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.

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