Chandler Jones Starts For Patriots, Misses No Time After Incident
By Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
FOXBORO (CBS) -- The New England Patriots defense walked onto the field for the first time nearly five minutes into Saturday afternoon's playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Chandler Jones was right there with them.
Jones started for the Patriots, who were hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.
Jones was hospitalized on Sunday after he walked to the Foxboro police station while experiencing a bad reaction to a substance that was reported to be synthetic marijuana. According to Foxboro police, Jones showed up to the station shirtless but remained polite and cooperative throughout his dealings with the officers. Jones was then sent to Norwood Hospital for medical attention.
The Pro Bowl defensive end did not miss any practices during the week that followed, and he was reportedly at Gillette Stadium at 6:30 a.m. on Monday to work out.
Jones recorded 12.5 sacks this season, setting a career high and leading all Patriots. He also recorded his first career interception and forced four fumbles, which was tied for third-best in the NFL.
As Jones' situation played out during the week, the punishment of Wes Welker in the 2010 postseason immediately came to mind. Bill Belichick kept Welker on the sideline for the Patriots' first offensive series after the receiver made a number of subtle jokes mocking Rex Ryan in a press conference during the week leading up to the game. Welker was used, however, to fair catch a punt in the first quarter, but he then headed to the sideline, where he stood for the Patriots' entire first possession, which ended in an interception.