Tenth time's a charm, as the old saying goes. After countless run-ins with legal authorities and the NFL, "Adam" Pacman Jones "is taking a serious approach in his return to the Cowboys." It's a heartwarming story, really.
Jones is fresh off a 30-day stint at a Boston rehab facility, and was suspended for the entire 2007 season for various off-field transgressions. He'll return punts and play in the Cowboys' nickel packages this Sunday against the Steelers, assuming, of course, he can maintain that new-found work ethic.
"I think that's positive," [Cowboys secondary coach Dave] Campo said. "I talked to him two or three times before the last incident went down, and [now] I've kind of given him some space a little bit. I told him if you want to visit about anything don't hesitate. That's kind of the approach I'm taking."
The Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins writes that before Mr. Pacman's six-game suspension, he had struggled returning punts, averaging just five yards per runback. Opinions differ on Jones' worth as a defensive back, but given the team's inconsistencies in the secondary, at the very least, he offers depth.
Apparently, not everybody is excited about Jones' return. According to a nameless PFW.com source, "a faction of the players that feels that Pacman Jones' presence could throw off the chemistry and positive swagger that the Cowboys have worked hard to regain."
If true, it's certainly understandable, especially since positive swagger is hard to recapture once you lose it. That said, teammates Greg Ellis and Terence Newman welcomed Pacman back to the team, although with the understanding that he now has virtually no margin for error.
"He can't let us down in the aspect of off-the-field issues," [Ellis said]. "If he gives up a play here, that happens in football. But when you're doing things that take you away from your teammates because you're not keeping it together off the field, those are the kinds of things you can control most of the times."
Well, here's to hoping that this is the time Jones finally gets it.
Pacman Jones to Return Punts, Play Nickel Back Against Steelers Sunday originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
