The Enquirer - Jones on backup offensive tackle
Levi Jones said Tuesday he'd rather have not signed with the Bengals than play a limited role.
The offensive tackle, who had his first extensive playing time of the season Sunday at Seattle, described that entrance as an "emergency situation" that covered for injured guard Stacy Andrews. Andrews left the game because of a slight shoulder injury, coach Marvin Lewis said.
When asked if he thinks the only way he'll play is if someone else is hurt, Jones responded: "Pretty much, yeah."
Jones, the 10th overall NFL Draft pick in 2002, signed a $40 million-plus six-year contract extension in July 2006 that reputedly made him the league's fourth highest-paid offensive lineman. But for three games this season, he has been playing behind second-year player Andrew Whitworth.
"I was obviously signed here to do a job and I'm ... you know what I'm saying, what I'm doing now is not what I was signed to be here for ..." Jones said. "I would rather have not signed than to do this, you know what I'm saying. So obviously I'm disappointed that that's not the case."