KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES

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INDIANAPOLIS

Arthur Jones maintains it’s he and not one of his two brothers who is king of the castle during any family get-together.

The mammoth Indianapolis Colts’ defensive end does so with a straight face.

Consider the competition.

Thirteen months younger than Jones is the brood’s middle child, Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones, who at 203 pounds is more than 100 pounds lighter than big brother.

The baby of the family, Chandler Jones, stands 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, and will be out to make life miserable for Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game as a defensive end for the New England Patriots.

The brothers shared a bedroom, dreams and a competitive fire growing up in Endicott, New York, a city of 13,000 located 180 miles northwest of New York City.

“Very competitive. If it’s the last cookie or piece of chicken, we were wrestling or fighting for it. The video game controller. Whether the light switch was going to be on or off. All three of us shared the same bedroom growing up. We just competed for everything,” Jones said, smiling.

“We put a lot of holes in the wall growing up, and we’re paying our parents back now.”

Arthur and Camille Jones will attend Sunday’s game at Gillette Stadium — a welcoming or potentially hostile environment depending on the couple’s choice of jerseys.

“Hopefully they’ll have some Colts jerseys on. I asked them which side they were going on. They wouldn’t tell me. When I was with the Ravens they had half-Ravens, half-New England jerseys. I don’t know if my mom ordered one this year or not,” Jones said.

He then added Jon Jones, often referred to as the greatest UFC fighter of all time, likely will be seated with them.

“I’m sure they’re in good hands,” Arthur Jones said.

An ankle injury sustained in a Week 2 loss to Philadelphia sidelined Arthur Jones for eight games during the regular season, the last a 42-20 beatdown loss to New England at Lucas Oil Stadium.

After his return, Indianapolis won five of its final six regular-season games along with playoff victories against Cincinnati and Denver.

Signed in March to a five-year deal after four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Jones looks forward to trying to help the Colts’ defense muzzle a Patriots offense that accumulated 503 yards in the team’s first meeting.

“It’s made a huge impact. It was too bad that we lost him early for that span. Right now he’s feeling really good, and he’s very disruptive. He does a great job along with those other guys of forcing double-teams. He commands a double-team. He’s sideline-to-sideline,” Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano said.

“He’s a great effort, great energy guy, can give you some push in the middle of the pocket in the pass game. Certainly, it’s good to have Art playing at the level that he’s playing at.”

Jones won a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Ravens two seasons ago and would like another.

Even if it means breaking his little brother’s heart.

“He’s talking a lot of junk, but I’m focusing on this game. It’s bigger than me and him. It’s the Colts and New England, and the best team that day is going to win,” Jones said.

“I’ve got tunnel vision. Focusing on my assignment and getting ready to play. I’m healthy now, and I’m going to put my best foot forward. I’m just going to keep my mouth shut and keep working hard.”

Talking trash is what brothers are known to do.

However, regardless of which team wins Sunday night, Arthur and Chandler Jones will locate one another and hug, each speaking heartfelt words to the other before going their separate ways — one to Super Bowl XLIX in sunny Glendale, Arizona; the other straight to his own version of offseason.

“I know the first time I played against him it was really stressful. I was more focused on playing against him. Now I won’t even notice he’s out there until after the game,” Arthur Jones said.

“They’re a different team now, and we’re a different team now. The biggest challenge is not beating ourselves. Everyone doing their job. Everyone controlling the controllable. We have a great game plan. I’m pretty sure they will, too. We’re in a great position.”

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THE JONES FILE

Name: Arthur Jones

Age: 28

Born: Rochester, New York

High school: Union-Endicott (2005)

College: Syracuse University (2010)

Major: Communication

Draft status: Selected by Baltimore in fifth round of 2010 NFL Draft

Did you know? Two-time All-Big East Conference selection in 2009 and 2010 … younger brother, Chandler, now a defensive end for the New England Patriots, played alongside Arthur Jones at Syracuse University.

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