Experienced Legs … Wednesday Cup O’Chiefs

It is one of the most proven truisms of pro football: running backs hit the wall when they reach 30 years of age.

The accumulation of carries, hits and knockout shots take the tread off the tires of running backs much faster than any other position in the game. Quarterbacks are coming into their prime when they reach 30. Receivers keep getting older and older, productive beyond the 30th birthday. Pass rushers, run stoppers and pass defenders don’t physically deteriorate like running backs.

That’s why more than one coach has decided that when it comes to running backs, they are either going to use two for a running back-by-committee, or they are going to get themselves a young stud and use up all his carries.

All of this became part of the picture of the 2010 Chiefs when they signed soon to be 32-year old running back Thomas Jones to a two-year contract worth $5 million total, with another half-million available on incentives

Jones became the first outside free agent to sign up with Pioli/Haley in this second season.

“He fits what we’re looking for,” head coach Todd Haley told USA Today. “He’s a good player, loves the game and is an excellent preparation guy and a good teammate. He’s been a part of other teams turning it in the right direction and he’s excited to be a part of this.”

How many miles remain on Jones’ tires? The Chiefs are obviously counting on a year or two as part of a combination with Jamaal Charles. He won’t be asked to carry the load like he was with the Jets, averaging 310 carries in the past three seasons. He brings an element of power running to the Kansas City offense at 5-10, 212 pounds. A workout warrior, there’s no worry about Jones showing up in top physical condition.

Obviously the end for Jones as an effective running back is a lot closer than his start. But he’s already proven that he’s not a normal running back. Last season, he ran for a career-high 1,402 yards on 331 carries, also a career high. He did that as a 31-year old; it was the fourth best rushing season by a back in professional football that had reached his 31st birthday or older:

BEST RUSHING SEASONS BY RUNNING BACKs 31 YEARS OR OLDER

That’s a pretty remarkable group that Jones is part of right there. No back ran for more than 1,400 yards after the age of 31. Payton is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Martin and Barber will get serious consideration for that honor before their career is done.

So might Jones, especially if he can contribute to the Kansas City offense and a turnaround from the Chiefs fortunes of the past three seasons. He may be able to push himself up the all-time rushing charts. Here’s where he sits right now:

CAREER RUSHING LEADERS

Over the last 14 years, starting with his freshman year at the University of Virginia in 1996 and continuing through last season with the Jets, Jones has had the ball in his hands 3,449 times as a runner and receiver.

That’s 246 times each year where he’s had the ball and a target on his back. That’s a lot of hits, ones that found him and hits he delivered. Jones is one of the more physical backs in the game, a guy who can give a stiff-arm and break down a potential tackler.

Yet, he’s been able to stay on the field. He’s played in 71 straight games, easily the longest such streak for a running back in the league; No. 2 is Green Bay RB Ryan Grant with 47 starts. Over the first 10 years of his career, he missed only 12 games and has not missed one since the 2005 season with the Bears.

That kind of toughness is something Haley seeks for his roster.

“He’s an impressive guy; we can’t have enough guys like Thomas,” Haley said. “It’s one thing to be a leader and another to have the ability to back it up. Thomas does that and is excited to continue to show that. He had his best year last year and I’m excited he wants to be here.”

So if he has anything left, why would the Jets jettison him? The age thing was a factor. The presence of Shonn Greene, who had a nice rookie season in ‘09 with 540 yards on 108 carries. But the biggest factor was the $3 million roster bonus that was due to him this week. That along with a $2.8 million base salary in ‘10 made him an expensive piece of the Jets payroll. Jones made $900,000 for the ‘09 season.

His departure has left many of his Jets teammates quite unhappy.

“Some players bring things to the table that you can’t put a price on,” said Damien Woody. “T.J. is one of those guys.”

Jones will be 32 on August 19th, about midway through the pre-season. It would not be a surprise if his work load is limited in the training camp and the pre-season. Certainly, he’ll need to get in synch with the Chiefs offensive line and they with him. Jones brings a different style to the running game than Charles and that will force the offensive line to be flexible on their adjustments.

Jones will arrive in Kansas City with a chip on his shoulder. That will certainly provide motivation for the ‘10 season.

But everyone will have to keep an eye on his production and play, because generally the over 30-year old running back hits the wall quickly. They’ll limp through a year or two at diminished numbers before finally ending their career.

By their signing of Thomas Jones the Chiefs indicate they do not think he’s close to that tipping point. For the sake of their offense and the health of Jamaal Charles they had better be right.

TURNOVER CONTINUES IN THE CHIEFS FRONT OFFICE

The Chiefs lost another good one on Tuesday when former general counsel and director of the salary cap Woodie Dixon left the franchise. Dixon was announced as the new general counsel and vice-president of business affairs for the PAC-10 Conference.

Dixon spent six seasons with the Chiefs, hired by Carl Peterson and Denny Thum away from the NFL Management Council in New York. A graduate of the Harvard Law School, Dixon started and largely an in-house lawyer but eventually added responsibilities for the salary cap, planning and strategy, as well as negotiating contracts. Those duties were taken away from him in ‘09 by new GM Scott Pioli, who wanted to bring in his own man to handle those duties. The Chiefs added Trip McCracken about three weeks ago

He joins what is becoming a completely revamped Pac-10 office in Walnut Creek, California. The new conference commissioner Larry Scott has added nearly a half-dozen executives, including former Big 12 Conference Commissioner Kevin Weiberg.