Former Eagles star Jones happy he was drafted by Raiders

As far as his experience with the NFL Draft was concerned, Taiwan Jones liked the where much better than the when.

The former Eastern Washington University All-American running back, who passed up his senior season in hopes of slipping into the first or second round of the draft, didn’t even bother to get out of bed to watch Saturday’s fourth round, in which he was selected by the Oakland Raider.

“I was so disappointed about the day before (Friday’s second and third rounds), that I decided to sleep in,” said Jones, who plans to return to Cheney this week to pick up the NCAA Division I Football Championship ring he earned with the Eagles last fall. “And I almost missed the Raiders’ call, because it woke me up, and when I saw the local number I thought it was some friend calling, or something.”

Jones was at his mother’s home in Antioch, Calif., less than a 45-minute drive to the Oakland Coliseum, when he got the call.

“It’s really right in my back yard, which is great,” Jones said. “I’ve got friends and family scattered all over the Bay Area.”

Jones planned to meet with his agent on Monday to discuss the NFL lockout and decide where he should keep training. There is a chance, Jones said, he could return to Cheney.

Steve Bergum