ben jones.jpg

Houston Texans center Ben Jones runs onto the field during introductions before an NFL game in Houston.

(AP Photo)

When Ben Jones met the Tennessee Titans press corps last week, the news conference did have football-related questions. But the reporters also wanted to know about his idiosyncrasies, so there were questions about his ritual of walking barefoot on the field before games, his reputation for eating insects and the story of drinking his urine.

A 2007 All-State football player for Bibb County, Jones joined the Titans as a free agent from an AFC South rival, the Houston Texans. The center signed a four-year, $17.5 million contract with Tennessee last week.

Along with his take on the Titans' future, reporters wanted to know about the time that Jones ate a cockroach.

"It was just after a hot day in practice," Jones said. "One of the guys said something, threw a number out there. Knocked it out. That was it. Just a bug."

And the urine-drinking episode?

"It paid for a good weekend for me and my wife," Jones said. "We had a good time."

So is there anything that Jones wouldn't eat?

"It depends on what the money is," Jones said. "I've done a little bit of everything. You name it, probably been done. Growing up on a farm down in Alabama, I had some good times with my older brother. It started out just being a buck or two. The guys in this league have a little more money, I guess."

In a one-on-one video interview for the Titans' web site, Jones elaborated on his money-making intake.

"It's all for fun," Jones said. "When it comes down to it, I mean business when I step on the field. That's just kind of to break the ice and let them know, 'Hey, I'm a country guy who knows how to have fun off the field.' But when it's time to suit up and play, I'm all business."

Walking barefoot on the field before warmups, regardless of the temperature, is a superstitious habit that traces back to when he played for the Choctaws in high school.

Jones started 48 games at center for Georgia, but he's been a starter at both center and guard in the NFL. In 2014, he was the Texans' left guard. In 2015, he played center.

The Titans had problems last season at both spots. If Jones stays at center, he'd line up next to Chance Warmack, the former Alabama standout who plays right guard for Tennessee.

"I really watched a lot of tape of Chance coming through," Jones said. "He's a very physical player. I love how he comes off the ball and the passion that he has, so I'm excited."

Jones also mentioned Warmack during his one-on-one interview -- an Alabama native who played at Georgia talking about a Georgia native who played at Alabama.

"Chance is a good player," Jones said. "He's a physical guy, and I'm like, 'Man, this dude can come off the ball.' It's going to be great. I'm looking forward to it."

Physical is the description that Jones wants other teams to have for Tennessee in the 2016 NFL season. He said the clincher for him in wanting to play for the Titans came when Tennessee traded for 2014 NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray.

"We're building something that's going to be great," Jones said. "We've got one of the best in the league behind us at running back, we're going to have a physical offensive line and we're going to go out there and take care of business."

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Tennessee used the second selection in last year's NFL Draft on quarterback Marcus Mariota, and the Titans are building a line to protect him. Tennessee took Michigan tackle Taylor Lewan with the 11th pick in the 2014 draft and Warmack with the 10th pick in the 2013 draft. The Titans hold the first pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, with Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil a likely target.

Jones said the intent is to keep Mariota "up and clean" so he can make the plays that will spark a Tennessee turnaround.