RENTON, Wash. (AP) -Thomas and Julius Jones are sons of Virginia coal miners, emerging from Big Stone Gap to become NFL stars.
Thomas, the older brother by three years, has finally struck gold in his ninth season. He’s the AFC’s leading rusher in his second season with the New York Jets, his fourth NFL team, and was selected earlier this week to start in his first Pro Bowl.
As for Julius? He’s struggling in Seattle.
Their two careers intersect for the third time Sunday, when New York (9-5) tries to maintain its share of the AFC East lead at Seattle (3-11).
“Every time I get to play against him, it’s like a dream come true,” said Thomas, who starred in college at Virginia.
The Arizona Cardinals gave up on Thomas three seasons after he was their seventh overall draft choice. He started just three games in his only season with Tampa Bay in 2003. Then, Chicago drafted Cedric Benson and sent the 1,200-yard rusher to New York in a trade for a draft choice before last season – despite helping lead the Bears to the Super Bowl.
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Across the country, his forgotten younger brother smiled when he was asked about Thomas’ resurgence.
“I’m proud of him,” said Julius, who played for Notre Dame. “I can’t say enough about him. He’s been through a lot of (stuff) in his career, teams drafting guys (to replace him). … He’s finally in a position to prove he is the back we all thought he was.”
Thomas has set Jets season records for total touchdowns (15), TDs rushing (13) and consecutive games with a score (eight). He needs 113 yards rushing in his last two games to break his career high of 1,335 set in 2005 with the Bears.
Julius said the entire family will be in Honolulu with Thomas for his big week at the Pro Bowl in February.
“Obviously, it’s a big game for us,” Thomas said of the Jets’ task Sunday. “I love my brother more than I love football. I want him to be healthy and have a great game, but I want to win.”
Julius is healthy. Great games are another matter.
After Dallas dumped him in favor of Marion Barber last spring, Julius Jones was expected to be the more explosive answer to the Seahawks cutting former league MVP Shaun Alexander.
Instead, Jones has become expendable. Coach Mike Holmgren has favored Maurice Morris, Alexander’s longtime backup. And T.J. Duckett gets short-yardage plays.
s’ first 1,000-yard season since Emmitt Smith in 2001.
But he has practically disappeared for Seattle since carrying 10 times for just 21 yards and losing a fumble in the first half on Thanksgiving at Dallas, a game he had targeted for seven months. He didn’t play at all the following week in a close loss to New England. He had just four runs for 18 yards last week in a win over St. Louis.
“I think he’s had really good, strong moments,” Holmgren said. “And then he’s had some tough moments. And I think some of that is not his problem. It’s how he’s been used. I think he’s been a little frustrated.
“I think next season that will kind of sort itself out. They’re all potentially starters, I think, and just how we’ve juggled that in trying to be fair probably hurt Julius a little bit this year.”
Holmgren won’t be around to see how Jones fits. Sunday is his final home game after 10 seasons as Seattle’s coach. He’ll take his self-described sabbatical from football in 2009.
Jim Mora, the former Atlanta coach and current Seattle defensive backs coach, takes over next season. Jones isn’t sure what that will mean for him. Yet, he still believes he’s in the right place.
“Nah, no regrets, man. I don’t regret coming here at all,” he said, chalking up the awful season to Seattle’s injuries. “This was the right place for me. We’ve just had some unfortunate events happen to us, but that happens in this league.”
In their two previous meetings, Julius has outgained his older brother 214-86, and his teams won both games. Now with his career stalled, Julius is leaning on him.
“You can’t really keep a good back down,” Julius said Thomas has told him. “No matter what happens, you can’t hide talent.”
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AP Sports Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. in Florham Park, N.J., contributed to this report.
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