Jarvis Jones did not have the best of days Thursday.
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The Georgia linebacker didn't work out at the NFL Scouting Combine last month despite doctors clearing him of spinal stenosis stemming from a 2009 neck injury. It is why NFL masses eagerly awaited his March 21 pro day.
Jones didn't help his NFL draft stock, though, after running a muddy 4.92-second 40-yard dash in chilly conditions, The Associated Press reported Thursday. Among the linebackers who ran at the combine, only Virginia Tech's Bruce Taylor was slower. Jones' 20 bench-press reps would have tied for 16th.
Those aren't the numbers you expect from a possible top-10 pick who recently called himself the best player in the draft.
"I'm a football player," Jones said after the workout. "It's about football, right? I'm a football player. That's what I do. At the end of the day, you get those drills -- I'm not saying they ain't worth nothing -- but you get those drills, running the 40 and all that stuff. You could get someone off the street who can run a 4.3, but they can't play football. That's easy."
NFL coaches Mike Smith (Atlanta Falcons), Rex Ryan (New York Jets) and Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers) were in attendance. Defensive coordinators Jack Del Rio (Denver Broncos), Rob Ryan (New Orleans Saints) and Ken Whisenhunt (San Diego Chargers) also were present.
Jones was an All-American for the Bulldogs, so one workout won't erase everything he put on tape. We'll have to wait to see what, if any, impact it has on his draft position.
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.
