HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — The sweat dripped off Thomas Jones’ face and his greenNo. 20 jersey was drenched. It’s a sight the running back’s new Jets teammatesare getting used to.

“As you guys can see, he’s a physical specimen,” quarterback ChadPennington said with a laugh after the team’s voluntary workouts Thursday.

Jones, acquired from the NFC champion Chicago Bears in March to jump-startNew York’s running game, has made quite an impression in the weight room thisoffseason. He spends five or six hours exercising and working out — and that’sall before noon.

“He works extremely hard,” Pennington said. “He’s never the first guyout. He’s always staying in there, doing a little extra. He’s a trueprofessional.”

And he’s got the biceps to prove it. Jones’ jersey sleeves were rolled up tohis shoulders, probably because the fabric would be no match to contain hissinewy arms. And it’s hard not to notice them, covered in tattoos and looking asif they should be on a professional bodybuilder.

For a team needing someone to shoulder the load with its running game, theJets certainly picked the right guy.

“Every time I go down to the weight room, he’s there,” coach Eric Manginisaid. “You can tell there’s real progress in terms of his muscle mass. His workethic on the field has been equally impressive.”

The physical attributes aside, Jones brings impressive credentials to NewYork. He has rushed for more than 1,200 yards in each of his last two seasonsand provides the Jets with a legitimate successor to Curtis Martin as their No.1 back.

“Right now, I’m just focused on what I need to do to make this team dobetter, and that’s what I’ve been focused on this whole offseason,” Jones said.”Those are the main things I try to concern myself with.”

Last season, Martin never played for the Jets because of a knee injury thathas likely ended his career. In his absence, Derrick Blaylock, Kevan Barlow,Leon Washington and Cedric Houston all took turns carrying the load for NewYork, which finished 20th in the NFL in rushing.

Blaylock and Barlow have since been released, while Jones is almost fourmonths removed from leading the Bears to the Super Bowl against Indianapolis.Jones, who’ll be 29 when the season starts, rushed for 1,210 yards and sixtouchdowns last season.

“The Super Bowl is a long time ago for me,” Jones said. “It was inFebruary, but moving here to New York and getting settled in and getting used tothe offense, that’s all I’ve been really focused on. I really haven’t thoughtabout the Super Bowl.”

Maybe not, but the Jets sure have. And they know having a back like Jonesmakes them more of a threat in the AFC. That’s not as much a knock on Washingtonand Houston, the lone holdovers from last season at the position, than anacknowledgment of Jones’ talent.

Jones has rushed for 5,348 yards and six touchdowns in his career, but hasalso been a big threat out of the backfield in the passing game with 215 catchesfor 1,376 yards.

“I consider myself a pretty good receiver,” Jones said. “I take a lot ofpride in catching the ball and in pass protection, and I take a lot of pride intrying to be a complete back, so if they throw it to me, I have a lot ofconfidence I can catch it.”

Jones is hoping to be even more of an all-around impact player than he waswith the Bears.

“The offense, there’s definitely a lot of opportunity for me to get theball in the open field and do some things out there,” Jones said. “Chicago’soffense was a little more — I don’t want to say we didn’t have a lot ofopportunities to get the ball, but we were pretty predictable as far as ourrunning game. Here, we have so many great players on offense, we have a lot ofguys who can make plays, and I’m just one of those guys.”

Not quite. He’s a little more than just an extra piece in the Jets’ gameplan, and his presence in the offense thrills Pennington.

“I think everyone knows what type of running back he is and the really goodthings he’s done throughout his career,” Pennington said. “We’re excited tohave him here. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure we put him in asuccessful position to help us win.”