This week’s Bottom Line Player of the Week is an easy choice for me. It’s a guy that I wasn’t overly impressed with based on what was available of YouTube highlights. A guy I put on my big board somewhat reluctantly. And a guy that suddenly became the fastest riser just a week before the draft.

Yes, I’m talking about Chandler Jones. Even after the Pats selected him, and pundits like Mike Lombardi and Mike Mayock were saying he could end up being the best player in the draft, we all still thought it would take some time for Jones to find his way. He needed to get stronger. He wasn’t explosive.

Well what a different a few months make. Jones seized his opportunity when Rob Ninkovich missed a couple training camp practices and he’s barely left the field since. We’ve known all along that a true elephant defensive end in the mold of Willie McGinest is the kind of player the Patriots truly needed to do all the things they want to be able to do.

Andre Carter was a great addition last year, but we knew he wasn’t the ideal right end because he wasn’t really suited to play in space. But now Jones has left us all saying “Andre who?” just one game into the 2012 season.

Jones has shown up in every aspect of the game. From getting pressure, to playing stout and aggressive at the point of attack. He is going to be a cornerstone in this defense for a long, long time, so this should be his first of many Bottom Line Player of the Weeks.