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Nathan "Nate" Jones (born June 15, 1982 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American football cornerback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Rutgers.

Jones played running back and defensive back at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, where he was a first-team all-state selection as a senior, rushing for 2,474 yards and 36 touchdowns[1] and was named the Offensive Player of the Year in Union County, he also recorded six interceptions. In a North Jersey 2 Group III quarterfinal playoff game, Jones rushed for 362 yards and six touchdowns.

Jones was a four-year letterman at Rutgers. His first collegiate interception came against Boston College as a sophomore in 2001 when he intercepted a pass and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown. He also lettered in track team as a sprinter, in 2001. Was named the Big East Conference co-Special Teams Player of the Year as a junior in 2002 when he had a pair of 100-yard kickoff returns, including one at Syracuse and another at Tennessee. Against Syracuse, he also blocked a field goal attempt that was returned 90 yards for a touchdown. Was sixth in the nation in 2002 with a 28.3-yard average on 26 kickoff returns, while also blocking two kicks. In addition, he recorded a career-high 84 tacklesthat year. He finished his career with 219 tackles, five interceptions, 18 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Also returned 82 kickoffs for a 23.2, yard average with three touchdowns and blocked three kicks. He graduated with a degree in finance.

Jones was selected in the seventh round (205th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

As a rookie in 2004, Jones played in all 16 games with one start. He recorded 31 tackles and a sack. On special teams, he had a pair of tackles while also returning two kickoffs averaging 21.5-yard average. He had four tackles in games against the Cleveland Browns, the Detroit Lions, the Chicago Bears and at the Seattle Seahawks. Against the Lions, Jones recorded the first sack of his NFL career when he sacked Joey Harrington for a 10-yard loss. The first start of his professional career came against the Philadelphia Eagles when the Cowboys opened in nickel package.

In 2005, Jones played in all 16 games in as a backup. He recorded two tackles on defense and 12 on special teams, ranking second on the team. He had a season-high three special teams tackles at the Eagles. He also had two tackles at the Carolina Panthers.

In 2006, Jones appeared in four regular season games, all as a backup. He was inactive for each of the first 12 games of the season. He recorded eight tackles on defense and three more on special teams. He recorded four tackles on defense and one on special teams in the regular season finale against the Lions. He also had one kickoff return for 13 yards in the game. He appeared in the Cowboys' wildcard game in Seattle (famous for Tony Romo's botched snap on a field goal attempt) and was credited with one special teams tackle.

In 2007, Jones played in 15 regular season games as a backup, and was inactive for one game. On defense, he recorded 17 tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles. On special teams, he recorded nine tackles and six kickoff returns averageing 20.3 yards. He recorded two special teams tackles in each of the first two games; against the eventual Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants and on the road against his future team the Miami Dolphins. He was released by the Cowboys on September 18, 2007. He was re-signed one day later after the team placed Tank Johnson on the reserved/suspended list. Jones had his best game of the season against the undefeated New England Patriots. On defense, he recorded seven tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles. He also recorded two tackles on special teams. He also had a two-yard sack of Tom Brady, which was the second of his career and the first since his rookie season. He also appeared in Divisional Playoff game against the Giants when he had one kickoff return for 21 yards and a tackle on special teams.

After the 2007 season, Jones became a free agent and on March 14, 2008, signed a two-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. The move reunited him with various coaches and front office personnel from the Cowboys, including Bill Parcells who drafted Jones as the Cowboys' head coach in 2004.