But Jones clearly is relishing the opportunity to return to Texas Stadium on Thursday for Seattle's Thanksgiving Day game against Dallas, if for no other reason than to perhaps get closure on the way things ended.

A big game and an upset victory would be nice, too, but at 2-9 and in the midst of a four-game losing streak, that may be asking a bit much.

"This is a huge game for the team, but definitely for me," Jones said. "I've been playing down there for four years. It's going to be an exciting time. I can't wait."

At the very least, Jones will start the game rather than be relegated to the sideline as he was Sunday against Washington when he had just two carries.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren has been finicky about the way he has handled the duties of Jones and Maurice Morris this season.

But Holmgren on Tuesday said that Jones, despite Morris' 103 yards against the Redskins - the first time a Seattle back has reached 100 yards since Week 3 - will start against his former team.

"It absolutely figured in on whether he started or not," Holmgren said. "Heck, we've made many trades and gotten players from other teams, and when they get a chance to go in and play against their friends that they made on other teams, it's a special game for those guys - every play. Julius is no different. I just think it's the fair thing to do."

What Holmgren did not say is that Jones has additional incentive because of the way his career in Dallas ended - with deceit and humiliation.

Jones was drafted by the Cowboys out of Notre Dame and eventually became the heir apparent to Emmitt Smith. Jones was injured the first half of his rookie season, but came back to rush for 819 yards and seven touchdowns in the final eight games. He was supposed to be next in a long line of successful franchise backs.

But in Jones' second season, the Cowboys drafted Marion Barber, and they slowly fell in love with him and his powerful running style, known for vicious stiff-arms - the league implemented what's known as the Marion Barber rule this year to protect defensive backs - and punishing bull rushes.

First, Barber began getting carries on the goal line, boosting his touchdown totals. Then he started splitting carries with Jones. Then he started getting more carries than Jones, who by last season got the sense he was being phased out of the offense.

For his part, Jones dances around the topic without precisely placing the blame. He is not exactly pointing a finger, but he is not quite vindicating the Cowboys, either.

"My first year there in Dallas, things were a lot different for me," Jones said. "I had more opportunities and I made the best out of it. I put up numbers and you saw it. After that, opportunities started to decrease and here we are today. Come to your own conclusion."

It's difficult, really, to argue with Dallas' reasoning. After all, as the Cowboys' primary back, Barber is ninth in the league with 838 yards rushing and six touchdowns. With five games left, he should easily eclipse his career high of 975 yards.

What Jones takes issue with is that the Cowboys never told him his role was being diminished. What makes him more angry is that they told him he would participate in the Cowboys' playoff game against New York last season, then got three carries for 8 yards.

"Obviously, I wanted to play in the playoff game; that was the most important game we've had done there in a long time and I didn't even play," Jones said. "Of course I was a little salty about that."

After the game, Jones said he approached Barber, knowing his career in Dallas was over.

"I already knew what kind of back Marion was," Jones said. "After the playoff game, I went up to him and said, 'This is your team now. You know what to do.' That's it, man. He's a good back. It's his squad."

Jones left for Seattle to play in a stadium where he had repeated success with the Cowboys. Yet, he finds himself in a very similar situation, splitting carries with Morris, uncertain if and when he will play.

Though Jones leads the team in rushing with 637 yards, he again is not entirely happy about his role - though he can only hope that the transition from Mike Holmgren to Jim Mora will prove to be beneficial to his career.

"This year has been a fresh start for me," Jones said. "We're going to have a new coach next year, but we'll talk about that when it gets here."

Vallos for Spencer?

It appears as if Steve Vallos is going to start at center in place of Chris Spencer, who missed Tuesday's practice with a sore back. Vallos filled in at center during the exhibition season when Spencer's back prevented him from playing.

"It helped a ton," Vallos said. "Just having experience being out there is different. It's different working with Matt (Hasselbeck) than working with the scout team. It's a whole different world, just making the calls and seeing the defense.

"But I think just playing in the preseason is really going to help me out."

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