Well we all knew after Adam “Pacman” Jones’ October 8th incident that if Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wouldn’t suspend the troubled Cowboys cornerback then Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL would. Goodell suspended Adam Jones indefinitely without pay, for a minimum of four games, on Tuesday for violating the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.
Jones will miss the next four games at a minimum with only Goodell determining the final length of the suspension following the Cowboys’ Week 11 game against Washington on November 16th. Goodell will evaluate Jones’ return based on his strict compliance with his NFL and Dallas Cowboys treatment plans.
Goodell said in a letter spelling out Jones’ latest suspension, that the whole situation was a continuation of “a disturbing pattern of behavior and clearly inconsistent with the conditions I set for your continued participation in the NFL.” Jones had priorly been suspended for the entire 2007 season for multiple violations of the NFL Personal Conduct Policy. In reinstating Jones on Aug. 28, Goodell said that the player’s participation in the NFL depends on demonstrating that he can conduct himself in a socially responsible manner, avoiding any other conduct that brings disrespect to himself, his team, or the NFL (I guess getting in a fight after 12:00 AM with the men hired to protect you is the of violation the Commish is talking about).
Unfortunately I have to comment on this situation for about the 100 millionth time. Pacman Jones just does not get it!!! Playing in the NFL is a privilege and quite possibly Jones has gotten that privilege taken away for good. It is mind-boggling to me the Pacman insists on thinking that his tremendous playing skills (BTW: He was very rusty after over 12 months away from the game) will supercede violation after violation of the NFL’s Code of Conduct and their big unspoken code of don’t bring too many black-eyes to the greatest league on Earth. We all know the NFL will give second chances if a player performs on the field, but eventually the player has to wake up and give a damn – see Andre Rison, Koren Robinson, Tank Johnson, Christian Peter, Michael Irvin, etc – which we have yet to see Adam Jones.
I think Adam Jones will now feel the doors of the NFL close to him again for an extended period of time (i.e. see you in 2009, if you are lucky) as Goodell has had enough of the malcontent’s behavior. We all know the NFL is about ratings and fan interest, so habitual stories like Pacman’s only hurts the league and Goodell doesn’t want that at all especially when the NFL is going global. Of course Jerry Jones said that he supported Goodell’s decision, but I think he is still holding out hope of Pacman returning again especially with veteran cornerback Terrence Newman’s recent groin surgery. J. Jones said, “We move forward with a very clear knowledge as to what the process will be for a possible re-instatement, Adam is well aware of where he stands and what he has to do.”
Stay tuned for the next episode of “As the NFL Turns” as who knows what Pacman Jones will do next.
Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)
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