Giants free agent center Brett Jones is leaning the difference between the CFL and NFL on the fly. Photo by Al Thompson.

It’s tough enough to come from the rustic community of Weyburn, Saskatchewan (pop. 10,484), Canada and start the final chapter of your football career, an opportunity to play in the NFL.

But to make that start in the biggest stage in America, the New York City area, it must be overwhelming, right?

Apparently not for Giants free agent center Brett Jones, who signed with Big Blue this Spring after working out for several teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jones appears to be taking everything in stride, including the challenge of a much shorter space between the lines, over two feet shorter, and he must make this adjustment on the fly, right away, not to mention some tough competition to land a roster spot.

Jones, a fire plug, listed at 6-foot-2, 318 pounds, played the last two seasons for the Calgary Stampeders. In 2013, he won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie Award. Jones also won the Jackie Parker Trophy, which is awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Rookie in the West Division.

Last year, he won the league’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award.
Jones admits that the no-yard space adjustment will be the biggest. He also must get used to a quarterback under center much more often than up North.

“Definitely the no-yard, that’s going to be a big difference,” Jones said at rookie camp a few weeks ago. “And the speed of the players laterally, just with that no-yard how quick it is you can engage. In the CFL most of the plays are ‘gun’ (shotgun) so all the other center snaps are a new thing for me. I’m excited, today was all like brand new, I’m just excited to get better at it.”

Jones could not wait to practice with real defenders in front of him, even if it was rookie camp.

“The under center snap and just that no-yard, that’s definitely going to be a big difference for me,” Jones said with a distinctive Canadian accent. “It was great to be out at rookie camp today. To see the difference. Now I can start to visualize and understand the footwork needed and where I need to get better. There are a lot areas for me to improve.”

Was Jones a diamond in the rough for the Stampeders? Jones played four seasons for the University of Regina and was one of the most decorated college players in Canada.

Brett Jones (69) takes part in blocking drills at Giants rookie camp. Photo by Al Thompson.

How does a player of his caliber in Canada drift to the second round of the CFL draft but still drew interest from the NFL to the point where Jones was offered a free agent contract by the Giants.

Jones had aspirations of becoming a physician and all the CFL teams knew about it.

The idea of using a first round pick on a player who may opt for a career in medicine was enough to make all the teams leery of pulling the trigger on Jones in the first round.

“I had actually applied to go to the University of Saskatchewan for Medical School,” Jones said. “I did the interview, but I didn’t find out until after the CFL draft that (I was not accepted). I had said to the teams, to be fair if I got accepted into medical school, I would go to medical school and not play football anymore. I never got in and that’s why I fell to the second round.”

Jones talked about his youth and how his parents raised him.

Medicine ran in the family. His mother is a chiropractor, his father a pharmacist.

“I was raised in a house where school mattered,” Jones said. “My whole time in high school I was always a 90-plus student. I did well. I was only recruited by the University (Regina) that I went to.

“I’ve been given opportunities and I’ve made the best of them,” Jones continued. “If I had to go back I wouldn’t change how I did it. I’ve always been an honest person. I told the truth and it worked out the best for me. The CFL was a great thing for me, we were able to win a Grey Cup which is the highlight of my career so far. Now to come here is even a bigger bonus.”

Fast forward to the Giants OTA’s this week. Jones worked against veteran defenders and admitted it a big adjustment, but feels he can and will step up his game as he learns the NFL.

“Just being able to get out there and do it more than once helps,” Jones said at his locker Wednesday. “Each time you get out there it gets easier and easier but I know that once the more complicated defenses come in you’ve got to really be able to know your stuff. On days like today where just kind of have their base defense, you’re better able to execute.”

The no-yard?

“I’m definitely starting to fell more comfortable,” Jones said. “The more I get to do it, the better it’s getting.”

What does Jones think drew him to the Giants?

“I don’t know,” he said with a laugh. “They looked at the film I guess and liked the vertical movement I got on guys in the CFL. Whether that translates we’ll see. I’m just excited to keep working on it and I have a lot to improve.”

In Canada there are no doubt many NFL fans. But watching from a distance is not the same as experiencing the passion of division rivalries such as the NFC East. Jones is now in one of the most intense.

“I definitely know about the big rivalries,” Jones said. “I’ve followed the NFL for most of my life. The rivalries between the Cowboys, Eagles and Redskins…I know most about it but I’m looking forward to seeing what it is between the fan interactions and such. That will definitely be cool.”

Email Al Thompson at the.magazine2@footballstories.com