Chandler Jones Comments on New Role with Cardinals, Playing vs. Patriots

Chandler Jones can't wait to play against his former team in Week 1.

When the Arizona Cardinals' new pass-rusher found out he was playing the New England Patriots this season, he made sure to highlight Sept. 11 on his calendar.  

“When I first found out they were going to be on our schedule, I said that I was going to circle that game in red marker. It’s Week 1, so that’s even better," Jones said on SiriusXM NFL Radio last week (via ESPN.com's Mike Reiss). "The NFL already contacted me and told me I’d probably be miked up for that game. So that will be a fun game to listen to.”

Jones also talked about his transition to the Cardinals: "It’s going great. ... The biggest challenge is I’m playing outside linebacker now, a true outside backer, so I’m trying to get down the whole drops [into coverage] and everything. ... I’m excited for the challenges and new role."

The Patriots traded Jones, their first-round pick in 2012, to the Cardinals on March 15 in exchange for guard Jonathan Cooper and a second-round 2016 draft pick. Jones recorded a career-high 12.5 sacks last year and made his first Pro Bowl. He was on New England's Super Bowl team in 2014.

Jones said he doesn't care who is playing quarterback for the Patriots, whether it be Jimmy Garoppolo or Tom Brady. The four-time Super Bowl champion quarterback is currently suspended for the first four games of the season because of the ongoing Deflategate saga, but he is fighting to get it reversed once again.

"Whoever is back there, I’m getting after him, for sure,” Jones said, via Reiss.

The Patriots shipped Jones to Arizona after the best season of his career. It sounds like he's fully motivated to show New England what it's missing come opening night.

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.