Punters may be people, but that doesn't make them football players.
Or at least that's what one NFL player thinks, and he's got more credibility than most people because he happens to be a punter himself.
Houston Texans punter Donnie Jones injured his leg Monday night as he tackled New England Patriots returner Wes Welker. As it turns out the leg is swollen and stiff, but it won't prevent Jones from playing Sunday.
Jones' injury did prompt him to make some humorous remarks about the place of punters in the NFL.
"Yeah, I mean I'm not an actual NFL 'football' player," Jones said on Thursday. "I mean, come on. We know our roles. I had the same type thing in 2008. I had to push DeSean Jackson out of bounds. Somehow I chased him down, don't know how I did it, and I fell and my knee blew up. Every now and then you get one. We're punters and kickers. We're a different breed."
Jones' remarks come in the middle of a growing "Punters Are People Too" movement started by Rich Eisen. The NFL Network broadcaster has been handing out his shirts to players across the league, and many punters have embraced it.
Understandably, Eisen was not happy to hear what Jones said
Hey, Donnie Jones. No shirt for you!!!
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) December 13, 2012
Jones took some good-natured ribbing from his teammates following his injury on Monday, and he doesn't seem too concerned with what people think of him.
"I told those guys, I said, 'Look, you guys are NFL football players, I'm not,'" Jones said. "So when I get a little bruise or something, it is what it is. I know my role. But it's all in good fun."
(H/T to Sports Grid)
