Updated: 10/1/2009 2:09:23 PM
By Jim Wyatt, The Tennessean
A month ago, veteran return man Mark Jones didn't look like much to the Titans. Otherwise they wouldn't have released him.
When Jones walked back on the practice field Wednesday to help repair their disastrous breakdown, he looked a lot closer to Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, the franchise's longtime return-game wizard.
He hardly had the look of a guy itching to say "I told you so,'' however.
"Not at all, not at all,'' Jones said with a smile. "I am very grateful for the opportunity to come back. Despite what happened before, that is behind me. I am moving forward and not thinking about that.''
The Titans would like to do the same.
The decision to release Jones eventually blew up in their face and is part of the reason they are 0-3 heading into Sunday's game at Jacksonville.
The Titans hope Jones will contribute to a turnaround, of course, but expectations have been lowered - at this point they will be happy if their return man simply holds onto the ball. They are ranked 27th in punt returns, 29th in kickoff returns.
On March 20, the Titans signed Jones to a two-year contract, but they released him Sept. 4 after he missed much of the preseason because of a hamstring injury.
That left them without an experienced return man, and it showed in each of the first three games. The dam broke Sunday when rookie Ryan Mouton fumbled a kickoff and muffed a punt, turnovers that led to 14 points for the Jets in their 24-17 victory.
Coach Jeff Fisher admitted he needed to get "somebody in there that can make those plays," and a few days later the Titans called Jones. He was re-hired.
"We're glad that we got him,'' Fisher said. "I think he'll solve the problem that we've had.''
The former University of Tennessee receiver has returned punts and kicks for five NFL seasons with the Giants, Buccaneers and Panthers. Mouton, a third-round pick, handled only kickoffs at Hawaii.
"I definitely feel better about having someone who has experience returning and handling the ball,'' linebacker Keith Bulluck said. "It's about time we got somebody.''
Jones got another two-year contract but not his old locker.
Now he's between a trash can and a recycling bin but doesn't seem to mind.
A few weeks back he thought he'd landed with the Panthers, but the injury that kept him out of three preseason games with the Titans caused him fail Carolina's physical. Jones said that was a bigger surprise than getting another call from the Titans.
Working out at D1 Sports Training in Franklin, he'd heard about their struggles and even got a few text messages from players saying, "We could've used you.''
His heart went out to Mouton - "He needs to keep his head held high because he is a good returner" - but said he's ready to do his part.
"I am a return man. ... It's what I have been doing for my whole career now and I plan to do it well,'' Jones said. "I just want to make smart decisions, catch the ball, and try and make things happen.''
While Jones' numbers aren't off the charts - an average of 9.4 yards on 156 punt returns and 24.2 yards on 58 kickoff returns - it's the experience the Titans like.
He looked good in the preseason finale against the Packers the day before he was released, yet he also fumbled a kickoff against the Browns a few days earlier.
"But he has done it for years in games, where Ryan had never done it in a college game before he did it here in the pro game,'' Titans special teams coach Alan Lowry said. "You have to feel more confident about it, and that's why you make the move.''
The Titans will find out soon just how much Jones helps.
Their feeling is at least he won't hurt them.
"I have seen rookies go out there and do a great job and I have seen veterans go out there and do a horrible job. So it is a mixed bag,'' center Kevin Mawae said.
"You just want whoever's back there to do their job. And that is all I care about. This a bottom-line game and the bottom line is you have to do your job.''
Mark Jones' Career Numbers
Punt returns
No. Fair catch Yards Avg. Long TD
156 59 1,460 9.4 55 0
Kickoff returns
No. Yards Avg. Long TD
58 1,405 24.2 59 0
