| Authored by Brian Carlton - 2nd August, 2007 - 2:43 pm
 Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to bury a man’s career. It wasn’t earth shattering, nor did he show the skills to one day be considered for the Hall of Fame. But, like many others before him, he was drafted because of that dreaded word “potential”. Many spin doctors have tried to revive him in the past few months with little success and his team gave chance after chance. Now in the wake of the latest incident, it’s time to put the career of Adam “Pacman” Jones to rest.
Time’s up. After 1,745,561 chances, it’s time to wave the white flag or to use coach speak, “go in a different direction.” Back in June, Jones posted bail in his latest court case, the sixth since he was drafted by the Titans back in 2005, for those of you scoring at home. He stands accused of threatening to kill employees of the Las Vegas strip club Minxx and temporarily forgetting he wasn’t Mike Tyson, by biting a bouncer. Add that to another incident that happened recently, as Atlanta police want to talk with Jones about a shooting at a strip club in the area. How’s the saying go? Once is an accident, twice is coincidence, but anything after that is pure stupidity.
In Pacman’s defense, his attorney swears that, at least in the Atlanta case, he has provided police with solid evidence that Jones wasn’t at the club when the shooting started. Notice that no such defense is being offered for what happened in Vegas. After all, how exactly do you explain biting someone? Also he has never been convicted of a crime, but is that because he’s just “always in the wrong place at the wrong time” or because someone else takes the fall?
The Titans have tried everything possible to help Jones solve his problems. For the first few accusations, they stood by him and let him deal with the legal issues outside of the limelight, offering their public support. That was about 5 cases ago and now Jeff Fisher is tired of dealing with the same result over and over. With 11 separate police accusations involving Jones over the past two years, the team is moving on without the troubled cornerback. After all, it’s better to bury one career than see the whole team get dragged down throughout the season. But hey, don’t feel sorry for Jones, as he’s working on a deal that will have him getting paid to wear spandex for the next year or so. More on that later.
Other teams should take note. Regardless who the player is or how talented, there comes a time when you have to let them go. When Vince Young, only in his second season, comes out and says "We love him a whole lot, but we feel like he don't care about us right now," that’s pretty much a sign Jones needs to go. When talks are starting to become serious about cutting Michael Vick, why should there even be a debate about Jones? Granted, what Vick stands accused of doing is horrific and should he be convicted, the man will probably find himself under the jail, safe from the assassins PETA is probably hiring at this very moment. But Jones in his own way is actually worse. Think about it. At no time (that we know of), did Michael Vick brandish a gun, become linked to a murder or bite someone’s ear. Again, Jones BIT someone’s ear. Does a practicing cannibal really need a roster spot?
It’s not like he didn’t contribute though. During last season, the 5-10 ft. Jones played a solid corner, being credited with 50 solo tackles and 4 interceptions. By comparison, the man who will be replacing him in the lineup, Nick Harper, had 75 solo tackles and 3 interceptions last year with the Colts. The problem however, is when does the distractions outweigh his contributions?
So now the Titans head off to training camp with one less cornerback on the roster, as Jones eyes “greener” pastures, only made that way by the extra dollars involved. TNA Wrestling has made Jones an offer to come in and work their events in some undisclosed way, which is perfect if you think about it. An attention starved second tier wrestling promotion needs nothing more, in the wake of the Chris Benoit tragedy, than an undisciplined potential felon on their roster. He won’t be wrestling, probably because TNA realizes if Jones goes crazy in the ring, the other members of the roster wouldn’t hesitate to break him in half. And seeing as he’s still a member of the Tennessee Titans, he has to honor the clause in his contract forbidding any nonfootball activities that could cause him injury. So why does TNA want him again? If it’s for his speaking skills sorry, but I must have missed that “Top 10 PacMan Quotes” package on Sportscenter.
So with Jones entering the wrestling world and the Titans in camp, why not cut him loose for good and give his spot to another kid, fresh out of college? Someone like sixth round pick Ryan Smith, who had eight interceptions for the Florida Gators last year and shows no signs of Jones-like instability.
With the new discipline policy in effect, it may seem cruel but Jones needs to be the poster boy for what happens when you break the rules. Involved in 11 investigations, 6 arrests, drunk and disorderly conduct and now possibly tied to a shooting that left a man paralyzed, he’s had chance after chance to get it right. But the simple answer is he’s not learning from his mistakes, he’s just using the time to create new ones.
If he is found guilty of the felony charges against him, Jones will be going to jail for the next 12 years. However even if he’s not, Pac Man should have to resurrect his career as a free agent in some team’s training camp next season, not be promised a spot at the expense of someone else. If he was smart, Jones would ask his agent to get a release, with the promise of a fresh start somewhere else next year and little baggage. Then again, so far Jones has made a career out of missing the point.
You can contact Brian by emailing him at skillet31@yahoo.com |
