I am sure that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is tempted to suspend Pacman Jones for the entire 2007 season and make an example out of him. Pacman has always thought of himself as the next Deion Sanders, however, devoid of any good sense.
Forget about his Las Vegas escapade when he tossed money at strippers and then the shooting that followed after his bagful of money was taken. There are enough transgressions in the Pacman file – including two police incidents in Georgia last off-season, including one in which he is accused of biting a policeman – to warrant a four-game suspension. He failed to report either incident to the Tennessee Titans, one in which his friends took responsibility for a marijuana possession charge. Since he was selected in the first round of the 2005 draft, Jones has 10 police-related incidents on his resume.
The league has discussed the idea of fining member teams for failing to keep players from embarrassing the NFL and it would seem that the Titans are guilty of something despite Coach Jeff Fisher’s one-game suspension last season and his recent ban of Pacman from off-season workouts that begin on March 19. Fisher wants Pacman to get his legal issues in order before working with his teammates in Nashville.
Most veteran NFL players want strong discipline of continual offenders. Pacman Jones falls into this category.
If Goodell doesn’t sit him for a year, suspend him for eight games and see how Pacman reacts. If Pacman decides to fight the suspension, the NFL should be willing to defend, no matter the legal fees and costs. It is good public relations to put Pacman on the bench.
Pats prepared for a run
One of the most-guarded contracts is that of New England head coach Bill Belichick. Belichick never gives anyone a hint of how long he’s signed for, but based on how owner Robert Kraft has allowed Belichick to spend in this current free-agent marketplace it gives the appearance that Belichick may be heading into his final contract season. New England looks like it’s determined to make another run at the Indianapolis Colts and putting another Lombardi Trophy in Kraft’s victory cabinet.
The linebackers are getting a little old in New England and that’s why the signing of Adalius Thomas from Baltimore was so important. His versatility will allow Belichick to scheme a little more with his 3-4 front while giving New England another athletic pass rusher.
On offense, Belichick stocked his depleted receiving corps, thus giving Tom Brady a fighting chance with such deep receivers as Donte’ Stallworth and Kelley Washington and a solid underneath receiver in Miami’s Wes Welker. With the impressive production of Jabar Gaffey in the playoffs, New England fans can now quit moaning about losing Deion Branch. Brady has enough options, especially if someone like Chad Jackson returns from knee surgery.
About the only worry in New England is finding a reasonable contract solution for cornerback Asante Samuel, who had the franchise tag slapped on him. With the exception of Denver’s Champ Bailey, there might not have been a better cornerback in the league down the stretch than Samuel, who started his season at right cornerback only to excel with switched to the left side.
Porter’s guarantee
Joey Porter is a great talker in the locker room and one nasty player on the field, but Miami over-spent in giving the ex-Steeler outside linebacker $20 million in guaranteed money. Porter finished eighth on the Steelers in tackles last season, plus Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel had twice as many quarterback pressures/hits as Porter did. There were too many games in which Porter, who finished with seven sacks, simply disappeared. Porter has reached 10 or more sacks only twice in an eight-year career.
Waiting on Moss
The Raiders are in a bad way with Randy Moss, considering they owe him $9.75 million in salary this season. It seems very unlikely that Raiders owner Al Davis would simply release Moss in order to salvage $8 million in salary-cap space but little else. No one really knows how Moss will react to new head coach Lane Kiffin once mini-camps begin. Most believe Moss won’t even show.
The reports of Green Bay possibly offering injured, first-round bust Aaron Rodgers for Moss were laughable. Rodgers is a dink-and-dunk quarterback. The Raiders may listen if the Packers offer a second-round choice. But why would Green Bay GM Ted Thompson do that? There seems to be no other team really competing with the Packers for Moss as the moment, so why not wait out Davis and see what he and the Raiders decide?
Interesting free-agent signings
Dominic Rhodes did as much as Peyton Manning did to help the Colts beat Chicago in the Super Bowl, but his DUI arrest a week after the championship game made him expendable even though he rushed for 113 yards against the Bears. I thought Rhodes and his running sidekick, Joseph Addai, should have split the Super Bowl MVP award, but the voters selected Manning because it’s generally a quarterback vote.
Rhodes should help the Raiders as a receiver out of the backfield, but also as a decent reserve for Lamont Jordan. Rhodes isn’t the fastest runner, but he’s smart, tough and versatile. He was a bargain at $3 million a season.
The Rams’ acquisition of receiver Drew Bennett ($7.5 million signing bonus) is the perfect balance to speed receivers Torry Holt and Ike Bruce. Bennett, a former college quarterback, should blossom in Scott Linehan’s offense where he most likely will be overlooked by defenders. Bennett is a solid route runner with great hands and very physical. Ex-Miami tight end Randy McMichael is a solid player, too. The Rams have a chance to be very good on offense this season.
Re: the Pacman thing. Until he is found guilty of any wrong doing in a court of law he cannot be suspended in my opinion. Innocent until proven guilty. When you become a sports person in the public eye, you do not have to be a role model and it should not be expected. This is a young man with more money in his pocket than he could ever have dreamed... As long as he not breaking the law then it's ok.
I agree with the innocent until proven guilty, but I think at the least, the Titans should reserve the right to suspend any player for "conduct detrimental to the team". Look at Ron Artest in the NBA, the Kings gave him a leave of absence to get his affairs in order. You cant tell me a person with 10 "run ins with law enforcement" isnt a problem. That is a pattern. Even if you want to stretch so far as to say, he was innocent in all of those incidents. Tho I doubt anyone in that situation is innocent. He obviously isnt that bright, and thinks that making the NFL allows him to do whatever he wants, when ever he wants. Until he can manage himself in a profesional manner, he shouldnt be on the field
Tom1860 your an ####. Pacman is an out of contol child that needs to be disciplined. Just like a child whos actions will get worse and worse until something really bad happens, Pacman will keep going until he shoots someone or gets shot! Discipline him. Make him see his actions are not tolerated and things will get better.
To an extent, I agree with the "innocent until proven guilty" statement, however this isn't the U.S. Justice System, it's the NFL. This guy is giving the league a black eye.
I'm sure the last thing the league and owners want, not to mention the fans, is for the NFL to be viewed much the same way the NBA is.
suspending pacman will only give him more time to break the law than he would have if he was involved in football...no matter if he is released or not, anything he does will be associated with the nfl from here on out...and if he is released be sure that a team like the raiders will swipe him up at a bargain price...they could care less about his legal issues...
as for the Rams...i'm a huge rams fan, and i have to ask...honestly...why are the rams spending so much money on offense? 4.5 mil a year for a 3rd string WR? they could have gotten kevin curtis back for that kind of money...and great hands on drew bennett? he only had 46 receptions last year for the titans, and he had a lot of dropped passes...something that you really don't look for in a 3rd string wideout who is supposed to be "clutch" in long third down situations...i like the Randy McMichael signing...the rams have been looking for a tight end like McMichael for a long time, one that can block but who is best when utilized in the passing game in the red zone and on the later downs...but i still have to feel that that money that they are dishing out would be better spent on improving the defense...a guy like Adalius Thomas would really help out the run defense, and also help get pressure on the QB...unfortunately the management in St. Louis seems to have forgotten that when they won the super bowl they were 4th in total defense and first on offense...not 31st in total defense and 1st on offense...and that looks like where we're headed...if you can't hold a lead, it doesn't really matter how big a lead you get no
Pacman Jones broke his contract to the Titans by not disclosing his legal issues in Atlanta. Those are NOT the actions of an innocent man. The Titans can get out of his large contract this way, and following a lengthy suspension (it should happen), if he keeps in football shape and out of jail (unlikely), they can pick him back up if they want to for cheaper.
Regardless if he is guilty or innocent, he is on tape punching a stripper in the face. I live in Las Vegas, and the rest of the world seems to love to come here, and go to strip clubs and do whatever they want to, because these women are "only strippers." Well, stripper or not, that was a person, getting punched in the face is assault, and he should be fined, and suspended. Period.
What you and a lot of other people fail to understand is that a professional athelete is not only representing themselves but also the team and league that they are playing for on a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week basis. It is the price of fame and fortune. If you dont believe me or understand then wait for the next headline in the newspaper to come out. It never says "(players name) committed, suspected or found guilty of" It says "NFL, MLB, NBA, or Team name and then the players name committed, suspected or found guilty of. Professional atheletes need to understand that their actions effect more than just their own personal reputation. They are representing something much larger than themsleves and it is time that they all start getting it.
If you have 10 run ins with law in 2 years then you have put yourself in a position to be made an example ofand that is exactly what the NFL and the Titans should do with Pac-Man. Guilty, not guilty, no contest it doesnt matter. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck then it probably is a duck!!
PacMan has virtually sealed his fate and the league should toss him out on his head. These players that feel they have the world by the balls are sadly mistaken. They need to realize that they have been given a truly special gift. One that enables them to play in a professional sport that thousands of people can only dream about. A lot of children look up to these guys and some are idolized. Sure they don't ask for it but it is a fact they have to accept. If you are going to play the game at it's highest level then you need to represent yourself and your team at a professional level. All professional leagues need to adopt a "No Tolerance" stance. You step out of line, you're gone. There are plenty of other athlete's waiting for their opportunity.
Pacman needs a reality check ASAP! He plays professional football and represents his team and the league at all times. Whether he wants to be a role model or not he has kids that watch him and see him ruining his career. He took on the role when he went pro, what the heck is he thinking. The Titans and NFL are entitled to suspend him and fine him for the poor judgements he has made 10 times and possibly more. He cant even be honest to his team that he represents. The sooner they get this young professional under control the better chance he can be straightened out. It is sad to see such talent thrown away.
I think your comment on Aaron Rodgers is way, way too harsh. The kid hasn't really played at all these past two years, not because he performed horribly, but because Favre wouldn't retire. The kid played hurt with a broken bone last year and that is very admirable in my view. I don't know why Packers would get rid of Rodgers when Brett Favre only has maybe one more year left in him, and why Raiders is getting Rodgers if they have their eyes set on Russel.
I agree that your comment on Rodgers was too harsh and possibly even out of line. The kid was drafted by the Packers with every intention of him backing up Farve until he retires. To call him a bust seems EXTREMELY premature. Anyway, the Niners will draft Ginn Jr. and win it all this year. The Pats broke their mold and spent money for nothng. Go Niners!!!!
P.S. Pacman is a thug and so is Stevens from Seattle. Kick them both out of the league.
Last edited by kdfhksfhksfh on March 14th at 11:55 AM.
the saddest part about Adam Jones (I will not recognize that stupid nickname)....if the Titans release him....won't another team just grab him up...like Dallas with TO ?
I wish the young...rich...thug had to sit out one season and watch the NFL on TV.
But it doesn't seem to matter anyway...cause it appears the Titans keep trading or getting rid of the players with class & maturity anyway !
Suspend Pacman until all his legal problems are taken care of. And make it clear to him that any problems in the future will result in termination from the team. These guys come out of college and are given to much money and to much freedom.
1. What is the league waiting to suspend Pacman Jones? come on. all this guy has done since coming to the nfl in 05 is be involve in criminal situations. Yes I know the titans need help in their secondary and that he is a key element to their secondary but sooner or later they got to put the brakes on him. Not only is he ruining his reputation but he is also ruining the reputation of the Titans organization and the NFL.
2. Aaron Rodgers is not a bust just yet Ok. the guy has been backing up number 4 the last two years and hopefully he's been learning from the best. We'll call him a bust after brett favre retires and he can't deliver during the season.
Last edited by twister536 on March 14th at 3:17 PM.
I strongly agree that Jones is out of control and
needs to be knocked to his senses such as being
suspended for a year. He has to learn sometime his
behaving antics will not be tolerated by the public
and this being innocent untill proven guilty is a
big crock. Come on now, 10 incidents. Get real
The NFL resides in the United States where an individual is innocent until proven guilty. Since he has not been even been charged with a crime this is a mute point. Ralph you are an #### and a hater. Unless you can predict the future and I know you can’t because you ignorance is proven in your post. You don’t know what Pacman will do in the future nor do I. I bet you have a confederate flag on the back window of your pick up right next to your gun rack. Your sheet is showing.
This Pacman Kid is just a "THUG" with money. The commissioner should fine him $100,000 and suspend him for the entire 2007 season. He's been given more than enough chances to clean up his act and he's balked on every one of those chances. It's time for the league to step up and do something about it that would send a message to anyone else who wants to use his riches to avoid complying with the rules of the league and the laws of the land. The Titans should cut all ties with him, and the league should also fine any team that enters any negotiations with him during his suspension. If the league can uphold a silly rule about celebrations after scoring touchdowns, then this should be an easy decision for them to make. Get rid of the "bum" and anyone who defends his antics. Bar any agents that represent players that have his type of mentality from representing players like him. Clean it up Roger, or resign your post.
Pacman has 10 or more "INCIDENTS" of suspected criminal activity. Money and fame does not constitute a right to commit or be involved with any criminal behavior. The sad thing is these football players who are commiting these acts of criminal behavior and activity, are the same players who are role models for my son and many other children. NO, it is not ok just because he has a fat contract and he is worth millions. His performance off the field should be better than his performance on the field as a role model. Suspend him, put my high priced ticket money to use and send a message to the rest of the league...Cincinnatti are you listening? Seattle tight ends you too?
Dear BruceLeroy, since you feel free to be critical about my opinion and in the same breath create a whole confederate life for me ( A little hypocritical) let me assure you that Im not a confederate. Just a realist. You sound like one of those mothers whose son goes on a killing spree and when they interview her she says: "Hes such a good boy" Dude open your eyes! Unless your like Pacmans brother or cousin or MOTHER you cannot be OK with the way this man( And I use that term loosly) is acting! Your probobly one of those parents who lets their children smoke weed and beat up women and tell them their such good kids!!
If the NFL doesn't make an example out of Pacman Jones, then I see big numbers in the future for Chris Henry (and future Chris Henrys) as he goes for the record.
And by the way BruceLeroy how does discipling someone make me a confederate with my sheet showing? I guess Hilter was an Ok guy in your eyes, killing about 6 million people. Well that is until he got caught by the Allies court of justice. Or maybe Jeffery Dahmer was doing nothing wrong when he was eating people, that is until he was convicted. What a ####! I would hate to see you with a thousand dollars in your pocket. You would own the town. Smacking around stippers, throwing bottles at the police, firing a gun into a crowd of people, but it would be Ok because you would jump a fence sneak down an alley and get away from a court of justice. Please wave your neo-####, skinhead, blackpanther flag in someone's face that has a small mind and only cares about themself. Not me.
Innocent until proven guilty? If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck--it is a duck. It is high time professional athletes and role models began acting like adults. Fire him. Remove him permanently from the game and set a standard that will finally straighten out the industry. The professional athletes that taint the reputation and ethics of the sport should be banned from participation for life. How many would continue their errant ways if they could no longer play when they are caught. There is a precedent in the form of Pete Rose and like it or not, he no longer impacts the sport he loved.
This is a bad person. Ask the people with destroyed lives that he left in his wake in Las Vegas. Every professional athlete has a personal, legal and fiduciary obligation and responsibility to their fans, teams, the general public and the league. This pathetic excuse for a human has disgraced each of those. Kick him out of the league for life and let him play in Canada or leave altogether. The game will be better off without him. If the Czar won't take the steps to clean up the sport then the Czar needs to be replaced.
Your comments on Rodgers are foolish. First of all, "dink and dunk" is based on what? The dude hasn't played enough to establish that. But for arguments sake, let's assume you are correct.
Well, there have been a lot of QB's who have had success with the short to mid-range game. Tom Brady and Joe Montana could both be accused of relying on the short game.
Finally, there is this irony brewing: "Favre's first pass in a NFL regular season game resulted in an interception returned for a touchdown. He only attempted five passes in his career at Atlanta, completing none of them."
Hey, Ralph did that guy light a fire newr you? It's no big deal man we all have our own opions and we all thing ours is the right one. All I have to say this time is I would rather have the stripper as my kid rather than "pacman".
You are absolutely correct in that this is the United States and citizens are considered innocent until proven guilty, however you are missing the bigger issue.
We aren't talking about the Federal Justice System here, we are talking about a private employer. The NFL, while located within the United States, is a private employer. Just as your employer may terminate you for unbecoming conduct or actions or indiscretions against company policy, so may the NFL.
Unless the NFL somehow violates the CBA in regards to discipline in this situation, the laws of the United States Federal Justice system do not apply.
This is just another bad mark against professional sports and where its heading is down the road to destruction. Pretty soon we will be watching the " The Longest Yard" in real life. Players show no accountability for their actions or feelings for the fans, owners, league. Its too bad. They have the best job in the world and they flush it down the toilet.
Aaron Rodgers a bust?!?! c'mon the kid hasn't even played a full regular season game yet, lets give him a chance to prove himself first. I mean, is he expected to start his NFL career by coming in late in a game for an injured starter and lead a 4th quarter come back ala Brett Favre? Or win a Super Bowl as a rookie ala Tom Brady? Is that what it takes to not be a first round bust at QB? Calling Rodgers a bust already is like calling "Pacman" the next Deion. As for "Pacman", he needs a serious reality check. It seems he thinks life is a game and he can play it any way he wants now that he's got all this $$$. Start by suspending him for a season, if that doesn't work, hopefully he'll find himself in prison before he seriously hurts someone.
Pacman is very talented, but he is needs to be corrected. However, I find it funny how harsh some people's suggestions can be, for there are white collar crimes that happen everyday and no one says anything, for they too are "thugs", but not treated accordingly. And to say that they do not hurt anyone, unlike Jones, is a fallacy.
He should be given the maximum punishment, thus allowing him learn how to act in harmony with the mores of society and to flourish as a talented CB.
This is the most appropriate page to make my very important comment.It has been said---"If the Pac man Jones matter goes to court and a Judge rules against Commissioner Goodell.It will open up a huge can of worms".NOT if teams clamp the lid on the said can.How? Teams will see what great harm it will do to the League and especially the GAME by signing and drafting trouble makers and social misfits and simply will not draft or sign them but more over---CUT their sorry #### and let them join the Mafia since they love crime so much rather than the unique opportunity to play professional sports.It's that simple.Don't sign---don't draft and when one slips through the net---CUT him.ALL teams have the right to cut ANY player ANYTIME they want.This is tragic---not a single month goes by anymore--in season or off season that an NFL Player is not in trouble with the law.It's FAR past time this was stopped even by FORCE of CUTTING.The NFL does not need this nor do the fans that support it.Lastly--as a Black Man----Black Men that are on this board---DON'T start that daamm shtttt about "IF" they were White the punishment would not be so "severe".This has got to STOP---NOW.If you are still going to start that shttt as some have in the past---Think of the many Black AND White CLEAN CUT young men that will NEVER have the chance to play Pro Football in the first place then these BSTRDS trample such a golden opportunity under their filthy feet.
rwemersonrw: Just two little problems.Problem one--White collar criminals DON'T play proffessional sports of ANY kind and are NOT famous THUGS that have no gratitude what so ever for such a great and unique opportunity.problem Two---white collar criminals go to JAIL just like street criminals anymore.These people are given once in a life time opportunities and advantages and are MORE interested in misconduct and frequenting places that are only TROUBLE.I already KNOW how the league is going to deal with such people from here on.NOT draft or sign them and CUT them when one slips through the cracks.As for "Other" Black Man on this board defending what he know is wrong---Equal rights and opportunity also calls for equal RESPONSIBLITY.I don't care What White OR Black people do as long as "I" do what is RIGHT.CONFEDERATE Flag? when the Hell does emblems of any kind remove what's INSIDE of a person? Get the message? When someone wants to HATE---emblems and symbols wont stop or start it.Jones DESERVES every miligram of what "HE" asked for.DON'T do this shttt and you WONT have to be crying the Black and White of it.Case rested.For YOUR information---42 years ago two "WHITE" NFL Players were suspended and entire YEAR for simply gambling and not on Football.Their names---Paul Hornung and Alex Karras.Two NFL greats.Suspended for gambling NOT illegal fire arms and drug possession---Wife or GF beating--resisting arrest---DUI and on it goes.This is the NFL not professional Wrestling or any other three ring circus.The teams themselves can and will take care of this problem post haste.
John Czarnecki, a former sportswriter with over 20 years experience covering the NFL, has been the editorial consultant for the Emmy Award-winning FOX NFL Sunday since its 1994 inception. Prior, he provided exclusive information to CBS Sports' The NFL Today program from 1991 to 1993, holding a similar position.
Prior to joining CBS Sports, Czarnecki was a pro football writer for The National Sports Daily (1989-91), The Dallas Morning News (1989), and The Los Angeles Herald-Examin er. An archive of work can be found here.
