Travis Jones had his sights on being a cleanup hitter in the big leagues.
It was his mother, Joycelyn Ward, who literally pushed him to play football for the first time in high school in New Haven, Conn.
With his mom at his side Thursday afternoon, Jones inked a life-changing three-year contract extension worth a reported $40.5 million with $25 million guaranteed. Now his first order of business is to repay the debt.
He says he wants to buy his mom a new house and make sure she doesn't have to work ever again.
"I just want to take care of my mom, sisters, nephew, and niece. Now I'm in a stable situation to do that for them," Jones said with a broad smile, just like his shoulders.
A third-round pick out of Connecticut, Jones has developed into one of the top defensive linemen in the

NFL Baltimore Ravens

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