Sunday began with sadness.
Yesterday morning the news came out that Jacoby Jones died.
Within minutes, those of us who'd ever crossed paths with him started trading texts about the awful news.
The former wide receiver was drafted by the Texans in 2007, and his five Houston seasons were adventurous. Jones caught 11 touchdowns in that span, and returned punts for scores three times here. He added in a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a 2009 Week 9 romp over the Raiders.
Usually, if those touchdowns came at NRG Stadium, he jumped into the stands and hugged his mother, who was sitting in the front row.
He almost always had an intricate celebration dance as well.
But most remembrances yesterday focused on his bigger than life personality. His good friend, and former teammate Andre Johnson posted on Instagram that Jones was "the life of the party".
When I began work with the Texans in 2009, Jones was in the middle of his run here. There was always laughter around his locker, smiles in his presence, and good times with his teammates, coaches and the people who covered him in the media.
I had some fun interviews with him, like the one below.
But I was also fortunate enough to see how he lit up a room when he was visiting with the less fortunate. Right after that season ended, he was on a Texans trip outside of Houston helping a family rebuild their house. I'm not sure if they knew who he was before he arrived that day, but by the time he left they had a new favorite Texan and were lifelong fans of Jacoby Jones.
It was like that when he visited sick patients in children's hospitals. He brightened the place and lifted spirits that were dark before his entrance.
Whenever I've been asked about Jones, I've always said: "He could walk into a party I'm throwing, a party you're throwing, a party your enemy who lives in a cave is throwing, and he'd instantly be the life of that party and make everyone a fan."
His death yesterday brought back a raft of memories, many of them far too colorful to tell here.
I was happy to see him have success with the Baltimore Ravens, and if I had a vote, Jones would've been the MVP of that 2012 team's Super Bowl win.
God Bless Jacoby Jones, and may he rest in peace.
