When veteran nose tackle Earl Mitchell was a young, up-and-coming nose tackle, he made a vow to himself that he would conduct himself better than the example he saw in front of his eyes.
D.J. Jones benefited from Mitchell’s professionalism during his first two NFL seasons, including late this season when Jones supplanted Mitchell in the 49ers’ starting lineup.
“It’s a business, and I understand that,” Mitchell told NBC Sports Bay Area. “I’ve been in D.J.’s position where I was a young guy and older guys didn’t treat me as well as I’d hoped when I got my opportunity.