Jonesing for a pass
Jasmine Jones knew her life was going to change this year.
She thought it would be because she accepted an early retirement that started Jan. 2. That has certainly changed things for the now stay-at-home mother of three, but not quite to the level that being seen mouthing the words, "What the hell are you doing?" during a Cardinals-Eagles showdown has done.
The Nescopeck citizen has since gone viral after a Fox Sports camera locked in on her doing just that as the Eagles ran the ball on a second-and-20 play early in the fourth quarter during their Week 17 matchup.
"I would have thrown the ball (there) and used our receivers," Jones said. "I know I'm not on the field, but we have great receivers, some of the best in the league and everybody expects Jalen to run the ball."
Jones was speaking for the city of Philadelphia then, and now she is letting Eagles fans use her to speak for them.
Multiple clothing makers have quickly produced shirts showing the same expression she made after that play -- hands in the air, quoting her phrase -- while many outlets have reached out for interviews. Her home radio station has interviewed the York County native and TV stations have interviewed her at her home and over Zoom. The Philadelphia Inquirer has even written a story about Jones hiring a lawyer for all the instant success she gave businesses with the shirts.
Jones contacted a lawyer -- not to copyright anything, but to ensure that she and her family aren't negatively impacted or harmed. Jones mentions most of the negativity stemming from this has been online comments.
She isn't looking to cash in on people's fun and sales, including local realtor Janae Calarco using it for her ads. But Jones, who also graphic designs in her spare time, did come up with a shirt of her own that is selling exclusively at the Locker Room in Berwick.
"I drew it myself and used my own handwriting to write my catchphrase that made me viral," Jones said.
She is also making a profit from shirt sales by Savage Philly Sports Media.
The only thing that could have blown up faster than the profits from the viral moment is Jones' phone.
By the time she sat down in her second-row seat in Section 138 following an Eagles field goal on the drive, Jones said she had over 50 notifications between texts, Snapchat and Facebook. By the time she returned to her tailgate in Lot K, the alerts never slowed down. Neither did her day-to-day life.
"It got even crazier the next morning when I woke up with a high number of chat requests, Facebook tags and messages from reporters looking for me," Jones said. "... Even when I went to Venus (Day Spa) for my regular facial, I was stopped by two people and it was crazy to be recognized for the gesture in my daily routine."
Jones -- who was attending her second game of the season, and has been to over a dozen in her lifetime -- may have been speaking to the heart of Philadelphia fans far too well for the past month-plus. The team has lost five of its last six games to close the season. The Eagles went from the NFC's best team to now being the No. 5 seed in the upcoming playoffs. Despite the rough stretch, Jones remains optimistic about the team.
"I'm still hoping for another Super Bowl," she said. "... We have come back from lower points than this, and I'm confident we will make it there again."
Her confidence could get a much-needed boost if the play-calling improves, such as using the wide receivers on plays like in the second-and-20 situation where the cameras caught her.
Whether the Eagles can get a grasp on their season or not is to be seen. Jones, however, may never understand how her words encapsulated one fanbase so well.
"It doesn't make sense how popular and trendy this has become," Jones said. I'm just a mom from a small town who loves the Eagles. ... I was just saying the same thing every other fan around me was saying at that time. I'm still dumbfounded and in shock by all of it."
Link to story: https://www.pressenterpriseonl...
