 PACMAN PUNKED
Today, Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones was suspended by the National Football League for a minimum of four games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
What this translates to is an off-field alcohol incident involving him and his bodyguard, who was hired by the Dallas organization. Apparently he and his protector arrived at the team’s hotel late one night after a few cocktails and got into a bathroom scuffle, which prompted Jones to punch his bodyguard in the face.
The police were called by hotel officials but no arrests were made nor charges pressed. And recent reports have backed off anything regarding a “fight” and said the two had merely gotten into a heated yelling match and a piece of glassware in the bathroom was broken.
So my question to Commissioner Roger Goodell would be why in the hell does this involve you!?
I understand that Mr. Jones hasn’t been the epitome of a model citizen since entering the league in 2005, but this guy can’t catch a break and is being targeted. I am completely aware that Pacman has inserted himself into a zero tolerance situation but is a passionate exchange of words worthly of being the last straw?
In my humble opinion, this seemed to be an internal incident that should have been handled accordingly by Jerry Jones and the Cowboys’ hierarchy. Granted, it didn't seem like they were going to bestow any type of punishment (he started against the Cardinals) but Goodell could have strongly insisted that they should, and then the team could have slapped him with a fine or a one game suspension.
Let's put together a hypothetical scenario and say the New England Patriots hired a personal trainer to expedite the recovery time of Tom Brady. Maybe one day after a plethora of exercising and feeling good about their progress the two decide to grab a couple brews at the local pub. Perhaps they begin talking about politics and discover each has differing viewpoints. The conversation gets out of hand and results in a pushing match. And now the million dollar question, will Tom Brady be suspended by the NFL for an alcohol-related incident.
Of course not. And you can plug in Jones' name and let's say the Defensive Backs coach or even another Cowboy player into that equation and come up with the same result.
And obviously Brady doesn’t have the rap sheet that Jones does but this would prove that the league is inconsistent with their punishments doled out.
What about Jaguars receiver Matt Jones? He gets caught snorting lines of blow off a CD case in a parking lot and receives zero game suspensions and zero repercussion by the long arm of Roger Goodell? Doesn’t make sense at all.
Larry Johnson has been charged with simple assault of a woman, for the third time in his troubled history. Will anything come of this? At least Pacman loves to watch women dance on a pole and doesn’t abuse them.
Look, I am not defending the past actions of Adam Jones because as we all know, you can take a player out of the ghetto but you can’t take the ghetto out of a player. But this latest incident is ticky tacky and doesn’t deserve a suspension. Especially a four-game suspension when the ‘Boys just lost their quarterback, punter and a running back.
I know there are some people out there that want Pacman out of the league forever. Why? So he can go sell your children drugs? Because that is exactly what he'll be doing if he gets kicked out of the NFL. And that option is looking more and more possible every passing day. Jerry Jones did not sound positive about Pacman being reinstated in the near future when questioned after the news broke.
This kid is a talented ballplayer and if he wants to pick a fight with a guy probably twice his size that is hired to protect him, who cares! As I said before this was an isolated episode that should have been handled internally.
Perhaps Mr. Pacman needs to find a Ms. Pacman to tame him? Isn’t that what happens to most of us wild stallions anway? |
