Pacman Jones: More than a game is at stake

By Adam Best  |   Tuesday, March 27, 2007  |  Comments( 2 )

Tennessee Titans
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With star cornerback and special teams performer Adam "Pacman" Jones facing possible felony and misdemeanor charges for his involvement in the infamous Minxx Gentlemen's Club shootout in Las Vegas (not to mention an April 3 meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that could result in a suspension), it's time for Tennessee Titans head coach and vice president Jeff Fisher to get actively involved.

Fisher needs to get step in now in order to save his 2007 season. In recent years, we've seen professional sports teams allow problematic stars -- such as Terrell Owens, Ron Artest and Ricky Williams, just to name a few -- to become such distractions that they take their teams hostage and eventually wreck entire seasons. History could easily repeat itself with Jones and the Titans in '07.

But this situation is far more serious than football. Pacman's downward spiral more closely resembles rapper Tupac Shakur's last days than the recent struggles of T.O., Ron-Ron and Ricky. Just look at the recent Vegas incident. Jones got into this situation in the first place by mimicking rappers Nelly and Jermaine Dupri and "letting it rain" (cascading thousands of dollars into the air at a strip club). He's not a defensive back -- he's a gangsta rapper sans the platinum record. This is more than a matter of life or death for the Titans on the football field; it's a matter of life or death for Jones off of it.

That is why "Coach Fish," a player's coach if their ever was one, must step up and deal with Jones. Because both Jones' life and career depend on it.

For some time now, Jones has faced the abovementioned possibilities of prison time and a suspension from the NFL. Even now, with both the allegations and corresponding consequences more serious than ever, these possibilities have left him unfazed. Even being involved in two potentially lethal shootouts didn't bother Jones.

Why? Because with all that money, Jones can hire the best lawyers available -- such as Manny Arora, the guy who helped Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis beat murder charges years ago. Because members of his entourage -- such as cousin Lewis Kuffour, convicted drug dealer Darryl Moore and Marcus Bowens -- have been around to take the fall for him. Because the football people around him have been covering for Jones for years, enabling his "thug life" behavior. As a result of this, despite his constant run-ins with both danger and the law, Jones hasn't faced any severe consequences yet.

And a lack of consequences is an enormous problem when it comes to Jones, because he loves his lifestyle and has no intention of changing on his own. He doesn't take the potential prison stints and NFL suspensions seriously. He's dodged those bullets too often. As far as the bullets he's dodged off the field, that's nothing new for Jones either. Dangerous situations like these are what he grew up around and will only continue to build on the street cred he obviously covets.

Despite reports to the contrary, as of right now it doesn't look like the NFL will be able to suspend Jones, at least for too long anyway. It also doesn't appear likely that Jones will do any prison time. As for Fisher and the Titans, right now they are walking on eggshells, seemingly afraid of publicly taking a stand against Jones' behavior. Considering the Titans' stance, or lack thereof, Jones has to believe that he holds the cards in this situation. At this point, no other team will touch him and he feels that the Titans need him to such a degree that he can get away with nearly anything.

All of this means that both Adam Jones' life and career are in the hands of the Titans. At this point, Fisher and the Titans only choice is to do what Jones' high school football coach, Dallas Allen, did -- take away football, the game Pacman loves, by suspending him indefinitely.

Involuntary time away from the game has seemingly worked for troubled teammate and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who was suspended last season by the NFL five games for reenacting the curb-bite scene from "American History X" during a game. Lengthy suspensions even seem to have positively affected both T.O. and Ricky Williams. I truly believe that a similar suspension will wake up Jones, while also potentially saving his life.

Hopefully, for the sake of all parties involved, Fisher and I are on the same page, because if something isn't done soon, Pacman will blindly continue down his current path, eventually falling victim to the dangerous game he just can't quit playing.

Original NFL insight, courtesy of RealFootball365.com
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