Running on empty

Sporting News, The, Sept 7, 1998 by Dan Pompei

"Does it feel like I'm back home? Home is a strange word for me," says Jones, perhaps the best offensive lineman never to have played in a Pro Bowl. "In the past few years rye gone from Cleveland to Baltimore to Denver, and from left tackle to right tackle and now back to left tackle. But it's starting to feel good."

RELATED ARTICLE: TSN's Power Poll

Rk.    Team            Comment
 1.    San Francisco   Now, more than ever, Rice is the San
                       Francisco treat.
 2.    Green Bay       The Pack will soar with
                       Favre and the newly-signed Levens.
 3.    Kansas City     The Chiefs leave no stone
                       unturned--including rockheads like Bam
                       and L.P.
 4.    Denver          Elway couldn't resist one last chance
                       to torment Schottenheimer.
 5.    Pittsburgh      Wanted: New go-to guy. See Kordell for
                       details.
 6.    Jacksonville    Paup, finally healthy, adds pop to an
                       already-talented defense.
 7.    Tampa Bay       All the pieces are there, but Differ
                       must solve the puzzle.
 8.    Minnesota       Carter, Reed, Moss. Be afraid. Be very
                       afraid.
 9.    New England     Like K.C., the Patriots will contend if
                       a feature back emerges.
10.    Washington      Missing the playoffs could lead to
                       Turner's impeachment.
11.    N.Y. Jets       Forget the QB flap; where's the pass rush?
12.    Seattle         A playoff sleeper, assuming Moon refuses
                       to act his age.
13.    N.Y. Giants     NFC East may be up for grabs, but Sehom
                       isn't around to grab it anymore.
14.    Detroit         Sanders and Moore, the best RB/WR combo
                       in the biz, deserve a better QB.
15.    Dallas          In Dallas, paper beats rock, rock beats
                       scissors, scissors beats McIver.
16.    Miami           If J.J. is so great, why did he wait three
                       years to start coaching his way?
17.    Tennessee       Thigpen makes a good offense downright
                       dangerous. Now about that D ...
18.    Carolina        Remember the good old days?
19.    Arizona         No Wadsworth, no offensive line, no chance.
20.    Oakland         The Odd Couple, starring Al Davis and Jon
                       Gruden. That's must-see TV.
21.    Cincinnati      O'Donnell's no Esiason. 'Nuff said.
22.    Baltimore       No team has more potential to rise in our
                       rankings than the Ravens.
23.    Atlanta         Any outlook that starts "If Chandler stays
                       healthy" is a sure sign of trouble.
24.    Buffalo         It's hell growing old. Just look at this
                       team.
25.    Philadelphia    Has anyone seen Ray Rhodes' reputation?
26.    Indianapolis    By Week 17, Manning will have spent more
                       time on his back than Michelangelo.
27.    New Orleans     Ditka promises not to swear at his #*&@&$!
                       quarterbacks.
28.    San Diego       Leaf is crooning a sad ballad: Where have
                       you gone, Tony Martin?
29.    St. Louis       It's time for Banks to put up or pack up.
                       And not cough it up.
30.    Chicago         This rudderless franchise enters lost year
                       No. 5.