Chandler Jones already beloved by coaches, teammates in Arizona

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FOXBORO -- Looking at the wide range of contracts the Patriots will have to address in the near future, it made sense when they opted to trade Chandler Jones this offseason before losing him to free agency after this season and receiving only a compensatory pick in return.

Judging by the way the Cardinals spoke about their new edge rusher, acquired in a trade that sent guard Jonathan Cooper and a second-round pick to New England, the Patriots loss has been their gain.

"A true professional," Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said of Jones on Wednesday. "Comes to work every day. He’s a coach-pleaser. He’s extremely talented, obviously, but I’ve been very impressed with the way he’s fit in with our group and our culture right away."

Arians added: "He sets an edge presence for us. Playing outside linebacker, defensive end, he’s obviously very versatile where you can put him. But, he’s adapted well to playing outside linebacker for us and also in our nickel and dime packages being an edge rusher. It’s something that we were looking for. He has the length and the skillset to rush the passer."

Because the Patriots and Cardinals compete against each other so seldomly, quarterback Carson Palmer wasn't quite sure what his team was getting when it dealt for Jones. His length makes him look a bit like a pass-rush specialist, and his sack numbers were impressive. Maybe they had a situational game-changer on their hands, Palmer thought. 

Turns out, as evidenced by how the Patriots used him for the last four years, he's more than that.

"Love him. I love him," Palmer said. "Just watching some Patriots defense from last year, he was just such a dominant player in the run game and the pass game and I think that's the first thing that jumps out. I thought he was just a pass-rusher just seeing his numbers statistically. But he wreaks havoc in the run game. He's so long, and has such a good bull rush, and is so powerful but still has that speed and quickness and really good with his hands, he's been absolutely a pleasant surprise just watching him work because he's more than I expected.

"I was expecting a third-down specialist maybe or really just a pass-rusher, but he's so disruptive in the run game, and he played a bunch inside last year so he was against guards and centers and held his own so been very, very surprised and happy with him."

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