OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Jacoby Jones, a major contributor during the Baltimore Ravens’ Super Bowl-winning season in 2012, was cut Tuesday by the team.
The 30-year-old wide receiver and kicker returner played three seasons with Baltimore after a five-year run with the Houston Texans.
Jones’ most memorable plays with the Ravens both occurred in the 2012 postseason. He caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to force overtime against the Denver Broncos and a returned a kickoff 108 yards to spark a Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
He returned a kickoff 108 yards last season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he had only nine catches after making 37 in 2013.
“We don’t win [the] Super Bowl without Jacoby,” general manager Ozzie Newsome said. “Jacoby was an outstanding Raven and a good teammate on and off the field.”
The move makes some salary-cap room for the Ravens and gives Jones a few months to latch on with someone else.
“We think he can still play in the NFL,” Newsome said, “and releasing him now allows him a better opportunity to land with another team.”
Jones was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 2012 season. In 44 games with Baltimore, he returned six kickoffs for touchdowns and owned a franchise-record 30.1-yard career kickoff return average.
He also caught 76 passes for 992 yards and three touchdowns in regular-season play.
“He was invaluable to our success,” coach John Harbaugh said. “Opponents, especially on special teams, schemed to stop him. What a compliment to him.”
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