OWINGS MILLS, Md. – When it came down to it, Jacoby Jones decided he just wanted to stay with the Baltimore Ravens.
The 29-year old wide receiver signed a four-year contract with the Ravens Thursday after agreeing to terms on the contract Wednesday.
“I wasn’t even thinking about the money,” Jones said. “It’s the fact that this is probably the only place that will let me be myself.”
He later joked, “The city, the state, the organization, the coaches, they know I kind of don’t have it all together up here, up top — some loose ends — and they all accept that.”
The former “Dancing with the Stars” participant was in the midst of a meeting with the New York Giants Wednesday when he made the decision that he wanted to return to the Ravens.
After meeting with the Giants, Jones got in a car to head downtown and meet New York executives for dinner. During that car ride, Jones said he told the driver to head to the airport, that he wanted to come back to Baltimore.
Jones agreed to terms with the Ravens later in the day.
“Couldn’t be more excited,” coach John Harbaugh said. “Once again, we keep adding our guys on our offense. Our offense is getting better by maintaining the guys that we have here right now.”
Jones is the third offensive player to re-sign with Baltimore since Feb. 28, joining tight end Dennis Pitta and left tackle Eugene Monroe.
Jones signed with the Ravens in 2012 after spending the first five seasons of his career with the Houston Texans.
With Baltimore, he has been a weapon on special teams. He has five returns for touchdowns the last two years, including a 108-yard return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLVII. But he also started nine games at wide receiver in 2013, and Harbaugh envisions him continuing to play a role on offense going forward.
The Ravens hired Gary Kubiak in January to be their offensive coordinator.
Kubiak was Jones’ coach in Houston during his time there.
“It’s just a great opportunity for us,” Harbaugh said. “Jacoby is a playmaker, but he’s not just a playmaker. I think everybody understands what he brings to the table in terms of ability to break open a game at any time, but he’s also a quality receiver.
“He’s a special teams player, but he’s also a guy that can do the things that you need to do to move the chains when you need to move them. . And without question, we believe that his best football is in front of him.”
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AP NFL website www.pro32.ap.org
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