Dallas Cowboys' No. 21 happy to be back
By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
chill@star-telegram.com
IRVING — Cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones is a talented football player.
With two interceptions for would-be touchdowns in his first two days of practice with the Dallas Cowboys, there was never any doubt.
His athletic skills were the primary reason Cowboys owner Jerry Jones traded two draft picks to the Tennessee Titans to acquire Pacman in April. But if Pacman, who has gone from suspended from the league to partially reinstated, is going to officially become an active player again, he will have to add contrition and humility to the talented equation.
Jones said he has learned a lot over the past year — while being suspended by the NFL for repeated violations of the league’s personal conduct policy — and he is ready to take the final step.
“Oh, yeah, it’s a lot of relief, man,” Jones said Wednesday. “I’ve been waiting on this day for a whole year, so I’m just happy to be a part of this team and I’m happy to be back on the field.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he will decide on full reinstatement for Jones by Sept. 1, six days before the Cowboys’ season opener against the Cleveland Browns.
“I know what it takes for me to do what I need to do, and that’s what I’m going to do,” Jones said. “I have no doubts. It’s all up to the commissioner. Like I said before, I’m going to do my part.”
According to Jones, his part includes “picking and choosing his friends” wisely and knowing “what to and what not to do and when to do it.”
He didn’t want to get into details about his past — namely six arrests since being drafted by the Titans in 2005, capped by his involvement in a triple shooting at a Las Vegas strip club during the 2007 NBA All-Star Game that led to his suspension.
He also didn’t want to talk about the plan the Cowboys and the NFL have outlined for him so will he stay out of trouble, including a 24-7 security team that will make sure he doesn’t “make it rain” at any area topless clubs.
“Out of everything I’ve been through, that’s the past; I’m going to talk about the future,” Jones said. “But I’ve learned a great deal.”
Coach Wade Phillips has seen enough from Jones to be convinced he is headed in the right direction — so much so that he is already counting on him for next season. The Cowboys had Jones returning kicks and starting in the nickel defense.
“When a guy says I’ve made mistakes and when he admits he’s made mistakes, and he’s a smart guy, the smart guys learn from their mistakes,” Phillips said. “All of us have. He says he’s going to do what it takes to play for us. And I do believe that.”
Jones is being helped in the process by former Cowboys cornerback Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, who is serving as a sort of mentor/surrogate father/trainer.
“I don’t even call him Pacman,” Sanders said. “Pacman is gone. I call him ‘New’ man now. He is a new man.”
And Jones, who purposely chose to wear Sanders’ No. 21 jersey with the Cowboys, said he is the “Prime Time” of this generation.
“He tells me that all the time,” said Sanders, who is considered the best cover cornerback in NFL history. “He says, ‘No, there is never going to be another you, but I am going to be the closest thing to you.’ And he is willing to put in the work. He is definitely a big play waiting to happen.”
chill@star-telegram.com
IRVING — Cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones is a talented football player.
With two interceptions for would-be touchdowns in his first two days of practice with the Dallas Cowboys, there was never any doubt.
His athletic skills were the primary reason Cowboys owner Jerry Jones traded two draft picks to the Tennessee Titans to acquire Pacman in April. But if Pacman, who has gone from suspended from the league to partially reinstated, is going to officially become an active player again, he will have to add contrition and humility to the talented equation.
Jones said he has learned a lot over the past year — while being suspended by the NFL for repeated violations of the league’s personal conduct policy — and he is ready to take the final step.
“Oh, yeah, it’s a lot of relief, man,” Jones said Wednesday. “I’ve been waiting on this day for a whole year, so I’m just happy to be a part of this team and I’m happy to be back on the field.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he will decide on full reinstatement for Jones by Sept. 1, six days before the Cowboys’ season opener against the Cleveland Browns.
“I know what it takes for me to do what I need to do, and that’s what I’m going to do,” Jones said. “I have no doubts. It’s all up to the commissioner. Like I said before, I’m going to do my part.”
According to Jones, his part includes “picking and choosing his friends” wisely and knowing “what to and what not to do and when to do it.”
He didn’t want to get into details about his past — namely six arrests since being drafted by the Titans in 2005, capped by his involvement in a triple shooting at a Las Vegas strip club during the 2007 NBA All-Star Game that led to his suspension.
He also didn’t want to talk about the plan the Cowboys and the NFL have outlined for him so will he stay out of trouble, including a 24-7 security team that will make sure he doesn’t “make it rain” at any area topless clubs.
“Out of everything I’ve been through, that’s the past; I’m going to talk about the future,” Jones said. “But I’ve learned a great deal.”
Coach Wade Phillips has seen enough from Jones to be convinced he is headed in the right direction — so much so that he is already counting on him for next season. The Cowboys had Jones returning kicks and starting in the nickel defense.
“When a guy says I’ve made mistakes and when he admits he’s made mistakes, and he’s a smart guy, the smart guys learn from their mistakes,” Phillips said. “All of us have. He says he’s going to do what it takes to play for us. And I do believe that.”
Jones is being helped in the process by former Cowboys cornerback Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, who is serving as a sort of mentor/surrogate father/trainer.
“I don’t even call him Pacman,” Sanders said. “Pacman is gone. I call him ‘New’ man now. He is a new man.”
And Jones, who purposely chose to wear Sanders’ No. 21 jersey with the Cowboys, said he is the “Prime Time” of this generation.
“He tells me that all the time,” said Sanders, who is considered the best cover cornerback in NFL history. “He says, ‘No, there is never going to be another you, but I am going to be the closest thing to you.’ And he is willing to put in the work. He is definitely a big play waiting to happen.”
posted by The Gryphon at 7:59 AM
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