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This holiday season, as with every holiday season, people across the country gather together to celebrate another year.
Along with good company and good food, families will sit in front of their televisions to watch football.
The Detroit Lions are among the teams playing on the holiday, which has long heralded a plethora of collegiate and professional games.
Families express their gratitude for being together and express amazement at the events of the past year. It’s also a time for sports fans to remember holiday gridiron battles of the past.
One recollection that is conjured this time of year with Browns fans centers on a turkey.
But he will always be remembered for stopping the rival quarterback of one of Cleveland’s fiercest rivals in a “must-have” game.
We use this opportunity to reflect on Turkey Jones’s career with fondness and to highlight his greatest professional achievement.
As the holiday season approaches families gather to celebrate and reminisce. Football games become a staple of this time with Thanksgiving serving as a backdrop for epic gridiron battles. For Browns fans, one particular memory stands out: the day “Turkey” Jones tackled Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
Structure:
- Briefly introduce Turkey Jones and his memorable tackle on Terry Bradshaw.
- Early Life and Nickname: Explore Jones’ college career and the origin of his nickname, “Turkey.”
- Pro Career and the 1976 Season: Discuss Jones’ NFL journey, leading up to the pivotal 1976 season and the Browns’ rivalry with the Steelers.
- The Infamous Tackle: Describe the controversial play in detail, including the events leading up to it, the tackle itself, and the aftermath.
- Reactions and Controversy: Highlight the reactions from both teams, media, and fans, including the debate surrounding the unnecessary roughness penalty.
- Impact and Legacy: Discuss the impact of the tackle on both Jones and the Browns, and how it cemented his place in Cleveland Browns history.
- Summarize the significance of the Turkey Jones-Terry Bradshaw incident, emphasizing its role in Browns lore and its enduring legacy as a symbol of Cleveland’s competitive spirit.
Content:
Joe “Turkey” Jones a name synonymous with Cleveland Browns history etched his name in the annals of the NFL with a single, unforgettable play. It wasn’t a touchdown, a game-winning interception, or a record-breaking performance. It was a tackle, a controversial one at that, but a tackle that would forever be etched in the memories of Browns fans.
Early Life and Nickname:
Born in 1948, Jones grew up in Dallas, Texas, and eventually made his way to Tennessee State University for his college football career. It was there that he earned his memorable nickname, “Turkey.” The exact origin of the nickname remains a mystery, with some claiming it stemmed from a rookie prank involving a turkey hunt, while others attribute it to his running style, which resembled a turkey’s gait.
Pro Career and the 1976 Season:
Drafted by the Browns in 1970, Jones quickly established himself as a valuable member of the team’s defensive line. However, injuries and trades saw him bouncing between the Browns and the Eagles before returning to Cleveland in 1976. The 1976 season was a pivotal one for both Jones and the Browns. The team, under new head coach Forrest Gregg, was desperate to turn around their fortunes after a dismal 1975 season. Their hopes rested on a Week 5 matchup against their arch-rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were also struggling after their Super Bowl victory the previous year.
The Infamous Tackle:
The game was a tense affair, with both teams desperate for a win. In the third quarter, with the Browns clinging to a narrow lead, Jones found himself in the middle of a play that would change the course of the game. As Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw dropped back to pass, Jones broke through the offensive line and wrapped up the quarterback in a bear hug. The whistle blew, signaling the end of the play, but Jones, either not hearing or ignoring it, picked up Bradshaw and slammed him to the ground. Bradshaw remained on the field, eventually being carted off with a neck injury.
Reactions and Controversy:
The play sparked immediate controversy. Steelers fans were outraged, accusing Jones of intentionally injuring their beloved quarterback. However, many media members and even some Steelers players defended Jones, arguing that the tackle was not malicious and that Bradshaw’s injury was unfortunate. The officials flagged Jones for unnecessary roughness, a call that further fueled the debate.
Impact and Legacy:
Despite the controversy, the Browns held on to win the game, a victory that proved to be a turning point in their season. Jones continued to play for the Browns for two more seasons before finishing his career with the Washington Redskins. While his stats may not place him among the all-time greats, his tackle on Bradshaw cemented his place in Browns history. It became a symbol of Cleveland’s toughness and determination, a reminder of the team’s ability to overcome adversity and emerge victorious.
The Turkey Jones-Terry Bradshaw incident remains one of the most talked-about plays in Browns history. It was a moment that captured the intensity of the Browns-Steelers rivalry and showcased the passion and grit that define Cleveland football. While the play itself may be controversial, its impact on the team and its legacy as a symbol of the Browns’ fighting spirit are undeniable. For Browns fans, Turkey Jones’ name will forever be associated with that one unforgettable play, a moment that etched itself into the fabric of Cleveland football history.
College and the Birth of a Nickname
Joseph Willie Jones was born on January 7, 1948 in Dallas, Texas.
Raised in the heart of football country, he eventually transferred to Tennessee State University to pursue a career in the sport.
Following a solid collegiate career, the Browns selected Jones with the 36th overall pick in the 1970 NFL draft’s second round.
It is rumored that Jones’ memorable nickname came about as a Cleveland rookie.
The nickname, according to former teammates, was given to Jones after he was the target of a joke pulled by Browns veterans.
According to the legend, a few of these cunning veterans persuaded Jones that there were several farms outside of the Cleveland region that were offering free turkeys for the holidays.
Jones was dispatched to track down said turkeys and return them forthwith to the Browns facility.
Eager to show his new teammates that he could secure the gratis birds, Jones scoured the countryside.
He finally gave up searching after many hours, long after the other Browns rookies gave up their search.
Not realizing he was being duped, Jones fell for the same prank the following year.
Nevertheless, several former college teammates assert that they were the ones who gave Jones the nickname while he was a student at Tennessee State.
Jones’s Tiger friends said he got the name because, when he ran, he bobbed his head like a turkey.
Hence, Jones looked like a turkey.
Playing at the defensive end position, Jones played well enough in his rookie year to start five games.
He started eight games in 1971, but was sidelined by a knee injury for the entire 1972 season.
In 1973, Jones started all 14 games and was a consistent member of the Browns defense.
Before the 1974 season, Cleveland traded Turkey to the Eagles, despite the fact that he was a valued team member.
He did well for the Eagles, starting 13 games in ‘74 and five to begin the 1975 season.
However, the Eagles chose to cut Jones during the season and he was quickly reunited with the Browns.