Patriots' Jones 'felt cursed' during frustrating rookie season

Cyrus Jones' rookie year didn't exactly go as planned.

The former Alabama standout was unable to live up to expectations after joining the New England Patriots as second-round pick last spring, finding himself relegated almost exclusively to a reserve role.

While the season ended with New England once again on top of the football world, raising its fifth Lombardi Trophy of the Brady-Belichick era, Jones doesn't appear able to enjoy it.

"I'll never take credit for something I don't feel I contributed to," Jones said this week, according to Childs Walker of The Baltimore Sun. "I was part of the team, but I didn't feel a part of it."

Along with his upside as a defensive back, Jones was expected to provide value on special teams upon landing with the Patriots. He'd fumbled five punts by mid-December, though, and didn't so much as suit up for a game after Week 16.

"I honestly felt cursed," he said. "I reached a point where I didn't even want to play. I just didn't have it."

Jones added that he was happy for his teammates after staging the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, but says it was difficult to not make an impact and feel like he let the organization down.

"But honestly, it was hell for me," he said. "That's the only way I can describe it. I didn't feel I deserved to be part of anything that was happening with the team. I felt embarrassed that these people probably thought they wasted a pick on me."

With a fresh start in OTAs and training camp, the 23-year-old will presumably have every opportunity to earn a role on both defense and special teams heading into the fall.

Jones made the jump to the NFL after a stellar senior season at Alabama where he tallied two interceptions and led the nation with four punt-return touchdowns.