Not many athletes in the country have Chandler Jones’ perspective. Syracuse’s redshirt freshman defensive end may be the only person out there with a UFC brother and a future NFL brother. While Jon ‘Bones’ Jones remains undefeated at 9-0 in mixed martial arts, Art is projected a high draft choice in the 2010 NFL draft.

Chandler recently talked to The Daily Orange about old skirmishes in the living room with his brothers, what he wants Art to buy him with that first pro contract, his favorite NFL team and more:

Q: Considering your brother Art is a defensive tackle on the team and your other brother, Jon, is a professional mixed martial arts fighter, were there many sibling rivalries when you were all kids?

A: Arthur was always our older brother and stronger than me and Jon both. I just remember me and Jon ganging up on Art. We’d always jump him and beat him up. If he got one of us in the corner, it was over for us. So we jumped him, we ganged up on him. We used to always fight in the living room. One day, my dad brought some wrestling mats home and rolled them out in the basement. So, whenever we were about to fight, my dad would say, ‘You’re going to mess up the furniture. Go downstairs and wrestle!’ So we always went downstairs and did a little round one, ‘ding, ding!’ and timed it for six minutes. We just took turns on Arthur because he had the most stamina. He was the biggest. Whenever Jon was down, I would hop in, and whenever I was down, Jon would hop in. It was never fair fighting against Arthur.

Q: Did either of you ever beat Art on your own?

A: No, never. Not when we were younger. But I know he used to take it easy on us. He was always the older brother. He was always bigger and stronger than us. But I don’t think Art could take Jon now. Jon is at a different level.

Q: Did you ever sense that Jon would be a future UFC fighter when you fought against him?

A: He always had a temper. When we were playing, Jon was the one that would get all serious and go crazy. We’d say, ‘Jon, we’re just playing!’ So he always had a temper. Happily, it went to a good cause. Now he’s making money for fighting. He’s getting a lot of money. As a matter of fact, he just bought a Mercedes-Benz. He came rolling up and I said, ‘Where did you get this?’ and he said, ‘Oh, it’s just something I got.’ He lets me drive it sometimes.

Q: Speaking of money, if Art is drafted high in next April’s NFL Draft, what’s the first thing you’ll tell him to buy you?

A: I want a car from him. I already told him. My mom always says she wants to get the first million. But I told him, ‘Hey, I don’t want a lot of things. The only thing I want is a car. Just get me a nice car to drive around South Campus in and I’ll be straight.’ He said he would, or that he’d give me the car he has right now, which is a kick-bucket. But I’ll probably just trade it in or something. He drives a stick and I don’t know how to drive stick anyways.

Q: Who is your favorite pro team?

A: My favorite NFL team is the Jacksonville Jaguars. I’ve always liked the Jacksonville Jaguars. I like coach Del Rio. Ever since I was little I liked their uniforms, the green and black.

Q: Who’s your favorite player in the NFL?

A: My favorite player is Reggie Bush. I’ve been watching him since he was at USC. And I like Devin Hester… Hopefully coach Marrone brings Reggie down here. No, just playing. I know he was his offensive coordinator when he was with the Saints. So I was just thinking, ‘I wonder if one day coach Marrone will bring Reggie down here someday so I can meet him.’ I don’t think he knows that. I wouldn’t ask him to do it. I’d probably faint or pass out or something.

Q: If you could have dinner with any five people, who would you pick?

A: First, Ernie Davis. Michael Jordan. Reggie Bush, of course. And my two brothers, Art and Jon.

Q: No Beyoncé or any females?

A: Oh, oh! Meagan Good and Jessica Alba. I was thinking about family, but when it comes to ladies, those are two.

Q: If you were president for one day, what’s one thing you’d do?

A: Unlimited McDonalds for everyone, just for one day. Everybody can eat everything they want at McDonalds. Everybody. Homeless, everyone.

Q: What are the top songs on your iPod these days?

A: I listen to a lot of acoustic songs. The acoustic song for ‘Blame It’ by Jamie Foxx. That’s one. ‘Futuristic Love’ by Yung L.A. And when it comes to my gameday list, I have ‘I Get It In’ by 50 Cent, ‘I Go Hard’ by Kanye West and ‘Amazing’ by Kanye West. ‘I Go Hard’ is my thing. My Facebook name is ‘Chan-I-Go-Hard-Jones.’ Ever since that song came out, I keep thinking that I have to go hard. On the field, off the field, every aspect. Whenever I walk around, people yell, ‘Hey Chandler, I Go Hard!’ That’s what most people on campus call me now.’

thdunne@syr.edu

Published on October 8, 2009 at 12:00 pm