Dolphins sign former Cowboys cornerback Nathan Jones

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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-0314dolphins,0,1982171.story

Dolphins sign former Cowboys cornerback Nathan Jones

By Omar Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

6:14 PM EDT, March 14, 2008

The Dolphins have added another former Cowboy, signing cornerback Nathan Jones to a two-year deal on Friday.

Jones, who had 78 tackles and two sacks in four seasons with Dallas, was also being pursued by Minnesota, but opted to reunite with his former Cowboys defensive coaches, Paul Pasqualoni, the Dolphins newly hired defensive coordinator, and Todd Bowles, the assistant head coach, who also works with the secondary.

Jones, 25, has experience playing both cornerback and safety in the NFL and contributed 23 tackles (19 solo), one sack, and one forced fumble in 2007.

He was primarily used as a blitzer in the nickel package last season, and in that role Jones contributed five quarterback hurries.

But the former seventh-round pick's biggest asset throughout his NFL career has been his special-teams play. Jones has contributed 26 special-teams tackles over his four seasons. He returned six kickoffs last season, averaging 20.3 yards per return.

The former Rutgers standout ranked sixth in the nation with 26 kickoff returns for 736 yards (28.3 avg.) in 2002. He'll likely be paired with Ted Ginn Jr. as the Dolphins kickoff returners, and also serve as a flyer on the punt coverage unit.

Jones would add depth to a Dolphins secondary that previously featured Will Allen, Michael Lehan, Andre' Goodman, Jereme Perry and Joey Thomas as the team's lone cornerbacks. Travis Daniels will likely be moved to safety.

Jones is the 17th new player added to the Dolphins roster since the offseason began, and the eighth player with ties to the Cowboys, which up until last season was coached by Bill Parcells, the Dolphins new vice president of football operations.

Jones joins defensive tackle Jason Ferguson, whom the Dolphins traded with the Cowboys to acquire earlier this month, safety Keith Davis, who was signed earlier this week, tight end Sean Ryan, cornerback Joey Thomas, center Trey Darilek, linebacker Junior Glymph and quarterback Matt Baker.