As training camp sweats along, there are myriad players who will speak in the language of offseason tropes, one of the most prevalent being they’re in the best shape of their lives.
As Denver Broncos veteran D.J. Jones will tell you, as your career moves along, you have to adjust, you have to prepare differently, because it’s not as easy as just saying you’re in great shape.
So, if anyone tells you differently, they’re not telling you the truth -- or they might be off to the side with a ball and a net.
“Oh yeah,” Jones, 29, told reporters Wednesday when asked if he prepares his body differently than when he was younger, “and if anybody tells you, 'No,' they're lying -- or they're a kicker. You got to hone in on the details as far as your body goes. If you've had any surgeries or anything, you got to take care of things before you come out here."
In fairness, kickers and punter alike are known to have thorough stretching regimes that likely get more thorough as the years pile up.
However, Jones realizes full-well that the physical tax paid by NFL players’ bodies only gets higher as the career gets longer.
The defensive tackle is entering his eighth season and his third with the Broncos following five with the San Francisco 49ers. It would seem he knows what he’s talking about, as he’s started at least 14 games for four seasons straight.
Last year, Jones produced 46 tackles, a pair of sacks, two fumble recoveries, 14 hurries and 18 total pressures, per PFF -- though he had just a 56.2 overall grade.
What’s got him perhaps most excited about 2024 -- and certainly more thrilled than monitoring the wear and tear of his veteran body -- is he’ll be able to concentrate on “attacking” in Year 2 with defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
"I feel like it's the new norm,” Jones said. “If you're not attacking, your D-line is waiting, and your linebackers have 180 tackles. I mean, attacking is the way, I think."
New schemes and new preparation are prevalent this time of year and Jones recognizes that. Another aspect of training camp is plenty of extension talk.
Jones joined the Broncos on a three-year, $30 million pact in the spring of 2022, an under-the-radar talent who had gained some buzz. Approaching the final season of his deal, Jones has taken notes from his past experiences, just with every other avenue, and he’s putting his focus on football rather than financials.
"I'm in Year 8, man -- I'm just playing football at this point,” he said. “I want to dominate every day, get better every day, so I'm not even thinking about that. I've done that before and it's backfired on me, so I learned my lesson. I won't be thinking about contracts."