The New York Giants have parted ways with S Chad Jones after the former 3rd round draft pick failed a physical.
After being selected by the Giants in 2010, Jones found himself involved in a serious auto wreck while visiting New Orleans (his hometown).
The incident mutilated the young player's leg and quite possibly ended his professional football career before it ever truly started. Jones had been intensely rehabbing with the intention of returning as early as the 2012 campaign, but he will not accomplish that goal with the Giants.
Despite 14 surgical procedures in the last two years, the Giants Front Office publicly stated that the LSU alum still has a "long way to go" on his road to recovery.
Things began to look bleak for Jones last week when it was announced that he would not be medically cleared to participate in their rookie mini-camp. If healthy, Jones would have been eligible to take the field with the true rookies because he himself had yet to record any time on an active final roster.
With the news coming Monday that he has been officially waived, he is currently no longer a member of the Giants organization and is no longer eligible for the club's injured reserve list.
That said, the Giants may not have completely written off the player that they had once hoped would become a formidable presence in their defensive backfield; "We consider Chad to be part of the Giants family" said team GM Jerry Reese. "We'll continue to work with him in his rehab. As we've said since his accident, we're thankful he is alive and able to lead a normal life."
While the sentiment is likely genuine, a "return" to the NFL seems far from probable.
Dr. Scott Rodeo publicly announced that "(Jones) has residual sensory loss, muscle weakness, and tenuous soft tissue coverage in the involved lower leg. The resultant functional impairment precludes his ability to perform physically at the level required for professional football."
The need for a young, dynamic safety in the 2010 draft resulted in part due to a surprising and chronic knee injury suffered by 2008 1st round pick Kenny Phillips. Phillips, who was slated to be New York's future at the position, missed all but the opening two games of the 2009 season.
Phillips returned in 2010 and regained his starting role. Tyler Sash was drafted in 2011 to add youth to the safety ranks. Sash, and free agent acquisition Chris Horton would have been Jones's direct competition had he been able to participate in training camp.
With the room created by Jones's departure, the Giants signed safety Will Hill who played college football at Florida.