Free-agent receiver Matt Jones, a first-round pick in the 2005 draft, successfully has completed a “drug court” program, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
As a result, felony cocaine charges filed against him last year have been dismissed.
But the road wasn’t smooth. Jones spent a week in jail earlier this year after testing positive for alcohol, in violations of the terms of the drug court program.
Jones will remain in the NFL’s substance abuse program until 2010, even though he currently doesn’t have a team. The Jaguars cut him after he was released from jail, even though he generated in 2008 the highest reception and yardage totals of his career.
In twelve games, Jones caught 65 passes for 761 yards.
The numbers would have been even higher if he hadn’t been suspended three games as a result of his entry into the drug court program.
It remains to be seen whether any other team takes a chance on Jones, who has turned out to be one of many first-round picks in 2005 who have failed to live up to their NFL potential.
