Terry Bradshaw gets set to go live during the Fox Broadcast.” width=”1000″ height=”667″ />
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.
For a long time, the holiday has meant a lot of college and professional games. The Detroit Lions are one of the teams that plays.
Families say they are thankful to be together and are amazed at what has happened in 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.
People still remember him for taking out the quarterback of one of Cleveland’s biggest rivals in a “must-have” game.
We’d like to take a moment to remember Turkey Jones’s career and his most important moment as a professional.
College and the Birth of a Nickname
Joseph Willie Jones was born on January 7, 1948 in Dallas, Texas.
And even though he grew up in football country, he went to Tennessee State University to play college football.
Jones had a good college career and was picked by the Browns with the 36th pick in the second round of the 1970 NFL draft.
It is rumored that Jones’ memorable nickname came about as a Cleveland rookie.
Former teammates say the name was given to Jones when he was the target of a joke by Browns veterans.
The story goes that some of these smart vets were able to convince Jones that there were farms outside of the Cleveland area that were giving away 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.
On the other hand, some Jones’s former college teammates say they gave him that nickname while he was at Tennessee State.
His Tiger friends say Jones 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.
Even though he was an important part of the team, Cleveland sent Turkey to the Eagles before the 1974 season.
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.
Turkey Jones’ Greatest Sack
FAQ
Who spiked Terry Bradshaw?
Who did Terry Bradshaw throw to?
What nationality is Terry Bradshaw?
Why did Terry Bradshaw retire?
Did Turkey Jones Slam Terry Bradshaw?
The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers rivalry seems to be renewed, which dates back to when Turkey Jones slammed Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw. One of the scariest moments in the history of the Cleveland Browns -Steelers rivalry came when Joe “Turkey” Jones sacked future Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw in Week 5 of the 1976 season.
What happened to Terry Bradshaw in the game?
Terry Bradshaw was hurt when he was upended by Joe Jones with just under 11 minutes remaining in the game. Bradshaw was carted off on a stretcher but returned to Pittsburgh with the team after X-rays taken at the Stadium were negative. Joe Jones had his best day as a Brown during this event.
Who slams Terry Bradshaw?
Jones lined up for a play, beat the offensive lineman (Larry Brown) and wrapped his arms around quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Whistles blew, but Jones ignored them and lifted Bradshaw up high, and slammed the Pittsburgh QB on his head. As Bradshaw laid there motionless on the ground, the officials marched off a 15-yard penalty for roughing.
Who flipped Terry Bradshaw?
Joe “Turkey” Jones is known for flipping Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw onto the Cleveland Stadium turf during the Browns-Steelers football game on Oct. 10, 1976. Bradshaw was carted off the field and later returned after X-rays.
Why is Browns defensive end Turkey Jones called Turkey Jones?
It did not come on Thanksgiving weekend, but it did involve 250 pounds of turkey, in the form of Browns defensive end Turkey Jones. He received that nickname because he is the only player in Browns history to fall for the fake turkey gag two years in a row.
Did Joe Jones injure Bradshaw?
Joe Jones had his best day as a Brown when he upended Terry Bradshaw, who was hurt on the play. The call for unnecessary roughness against Jones seemed questionable. (The Plain Dealer sports page reported on the Browns’ 1976 win in Cleveland over the Pittsburgh Steelers the day after the game.)