Hard-working Bears running back closing in on history
By Larry Mayer
December 28, 2005



LAKE FOREST, Ill. - He may only make a brief appearance in Sunday's regular season finale in Minnesota, but Thomas Jones is on the cusp of making history.
The six-year veteran needs just 27 yards to become the only Bears running back to rush for at least 1,300 yards in a season other than Walter Payton, who did it nine times.


Since 2003, Bears running back Thomas Jones has rushed for over 100 yards in four of five games against the Packers.
"Anytime you can have your name mentioned with Walter Payton, it's definitely an honor," said Jones, the NFC's fifth leading rusher. "Just playing here for the Chicago Bears, this is the team he played for and he's somebody that I idolized growing up.

"It would be a great accomplish to get 1,300 yards, but I'm still going into this game with a mindset that we need to finish out strong and finish the season with a win. I'm not sure how much I'm going to play, but I'm definitely going to be playing as hard as I can."

In his second season with the Bears, Jones has established career highs with 302 carries, 1,273 yards and 9 touchdowns. Possessing a quiet intensity and unrivaled work ethic, the 5-10, 220-pounder was never threatened by the presence of first-round pick Cedric Benson.

"Thomas went to work," said coach Lovie Smith. "He was there the first day of training camp and he's worked the same way since then off the field and on the field.

"He became one of our leaders right away and this is how it is supposed to happen when you do things that he's done. You're supposed to have a great year like he's had."

Jones' 25-yard gain Sunday in Green Bay gave him 11 runs of 20 or more yards this season, topping Payton's 10 in 1984 for the most by a Bears running back in the past 22 years. Last season Jones had just two runs of 20 or more yards on 240 carries.

With the Bears having already clinched the NFC North title and a first-round bye in the playoffs, Jones may not play much Sunday against the Vikings. But it appears that he will be given every opportunity to reach the 1,300-yard plateau.

"We realize he is close to 1,300 yards," Smith said, "so of course we will keep that in mind."