Patriots claim controversial defensive back Don Jones off waivers

AP

Though teams needed to get down to a 53 man roster over the weekend, the roster shuffle continues. On Tuesday the Patriots organization claimed Don Jones off of waivers and waived offensive lineman Chris Barker.

Jones was waived by the Dolphins and played all 16 games in 2013 with Miami during his rookie year. Miami drafted the Arkansas State prospect last year with their seventh round pick. Jones's main contribution to the team was on special teams where he racked up 11 tackles. Jones's role on special teams was a gunner, a gunner is a player on kickoffs and punts who specializes in running down the sideline very quickly in an attempt to tackle the kick returner or the punt returner.

You may remember Jones from his inflammatory comments after Michael Sam was drafted and was shown on camera kissing his boyfriend. As reported by the Miami Herald:

Second-year defensive back Don Jones tweeted out "omg" immediately after video of the kiss aired. And when someone asked if he was referring to the embrace, he responded: "horrible."

The Dolphins were not happy with the comments and came down hard on Jones by fining him and suspending Jones until he completed educational training. Jones later apologized to Sam in a statement released by the Miami organization saying:

“I want to apologize to Michael Sam for the inappropriate comments that I made last night on social media,” Jones said in a statement released by the team. “I take full responsibility for them and I regret that these tweets took away from his draft moment. I remember last year when I was drafted in the seventh round and all of the emotions and happiness I felt when I received the call that gave me an opportunity to play for an NFL team and I wish him all the best in his NFL career.

The Patriots season opener will be against Jones's former team this upcoming Sunday.

How do you feel about Jones being on the team given his past remarks? Let us know in the comments section below.

Follow me on Twitter @PatriotsFan1057

Read more of my work here