Cardinals’ Chandler Jones not worried about being underrated

Oct 21, 2019, 2:01 PM | Updated: Oct 22, 2019, 10:25 am

Chandler Jones #55 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates his sack of Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants during the first half at MetLife Stadium on October 20, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)

(Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)

BY MATT LAYMAN

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones had as many sacks in his team’s win over the Giants on Sunday as he had in all of his junior season at Syracuse in 2010.

“You know, funny thing is, the most sacks I had in a season in college was four,” Jones told Bickley & Marotta on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station Monday. “So four in a game is pretty intense. My career stats in college was 10 sacks.”

Technically, Jones had 4.5 sacks his junior year, according to Sports Reference. But the point remains the same.

The 29-year-old nearly doubled his sack total in the 2019 season on Sunday as the Cardinals beat the Giants, 27-21, and sacked New York quarterback Daniel Jones eight times in the process. Chandler Jones now has 8.5 sacks this season through just seven games, good for third in the NFL behind Shaquil Barrett and Myles Garrett, who have nine each.

His career high is 17 sacks in 16 games in 2017, but now he’s on pace for more than 19 sacks.

So how do those outside of the state of Arizona view Jones? He’s a two-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro selection, but has been neither the past two seasons despite getting 13 sacks last year. He also was omitted from the NFL Network’s top-100 players list that came out this past offseason, voted on by players.

When asked how long it takes to shrug that sort of thing off, Jones replied: “Immediately. Honestly, immediately.

“Ultimately though, it’s out of my control,” Jones said. “I think I’ve got to grasp with that more than anything. I can’t control who talks about me or how often they talk about me. Ultimately, all I have to do is do my job. If it gets spoken about, then so be it. If you attack it with that approach, then oh well.”

Good news for the Cardinals: Jones not being recognized with league accolades doesn’t preclude him from continuing to be the elite player he is.

Jones got a game ball on Sunday for the effort.

“You know, I gave that game ball to my dad,” Jones said. “He was at the game and he brought a lot of his friends there. I had 30 tickets to the game. Thirty tickets. And they’re $100 a piece.”

Maybe Jones will have to have his dad out at the games more often — even if that will cost him.

Array

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Arizona Cardinals' Chase Edmonds (29) runs the ball for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones reacts after sliding during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Arizona Cardinals' Chandler Jones, bottom, brings down New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

New York Giants' Saquon Barkley, right, scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, center bottom is tackled by the Arizona Cardinals defense during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Arizona Cardinals' Patrick Peterson knocks the ball loose from New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Arizona Cardinals' Haason Reddick recovers a fumble forced by teammate Patrick Peterson during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Arizona Cardinals' Patrick Peterson, right, celebrates forcing a fumble with Chandler Jones (55) during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants' Saquon Barkley, center, is brought down by Arizona Cardinals defense during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Arizona Cardinals' Chandler Jones (55) sacks New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones leaves the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Arizona Cardinals' Terrell Suggs, front left, knocks the ball out of New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones' hands during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, center, tries to evade the Arizona Cardinals defense during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, center, greets New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, left, after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Arizona Cardinals' Chase Edmonds celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Arizona Cardinals' Jordan Hicks runs the ball after an interception during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones looks to throw during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Arizona Cardinals' Chase Edmonds runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Arizona Cardinals' Chase Edmonds reacts after scoring during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants' Saquon Barkley, center, runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Arizona Cardinals' Chase Edmonds (29), center, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Arizona Cardinals' Jordan Hicks (58), second from right, and Budda Baker, right, celebrate a sack during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, right, is sacked by Arizona Cardinals' Jordan Hicks, left, and Chandler Jones (55) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Arizona Cardinals' Chase Edmonds runs the ball for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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