Adam “Pacman” Jones was one of the top cornerback prospects going into the 2005 NFL draft. He was fast, physical, and productive. But there were glaring off-the-field concerns about his conduct. Despite their reservations, the Tennessee Titans made Jones the sixth pick in the draft.
Jones’s off-the-field issues followed him to the NFL, and commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him for the entire 2007 season. Jones was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2008, and he vowed to clean up his act, first by dropping the “Pacman” moniker.
“There’s really just a lot of negativity behind it,” Jones said. “It’s just time for a change, man. I’m doing everything to make sure that I’m all right as a person, mentally and emotionally.”
Unfortunately for Jones, “Pacman” is back.
Pacman’s rap sheet is as equal parts long as it is appalling:
July 2005: Jones was charged with assault and vandalism after an altercation at a nightclub.
February 2006: Jones was charged with marijuana possession and obstructing police after throwing a punch at a cop.
August 2006: Jones was arrested for disorderly conduct and public intoxication after allegedly spitting on a woman at a bar.
October 2006: Jones was charged with a misdemeanor assault after allegedly spitting in a woman’s face at a nightclub.
December 2007: Jones pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct which had stemmed from an incident at a Las Vegas nightclub in February of that year. Jones was “making it rain” (showering exotic dancers with money), but then wanted his cash back. A fight ensued and one man was shot (and paralyzed), allegedly at the behest of Jones. He was suspended for the entire 2007 season.
October 2008: Jones allegedly got into a fight with one of his bodyguards at a hotel. He was suspended for six games.
July 2011: Jones was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
July 2013: Jones was charged with disorderly conduct.
September 2013: Jones was cited for disorderly conduct during a traffic stop.
February 2015: Jones was asked to leave a casino in Indiana after an altercation.
And the most recent incident with police occurred in January 2017. According to the Dayton Daily News:
“Jones was arrested in downtown Cincinnati on charges of disorderly conduct and assault. He later was charged with a felony for spitting on a nurse at the county jail intake department.
Police on Monday released video from inside a police cruiser in which Jones goes on an expletive-filled rant following his arrest and tells the officer driving the cruiser ‘I hope you die.’”
When recently addressing a cadre of reporters, Jones seemed contrite about the incident and thanked the team for sticking with him. Jones said,
“Words can’t express my gratitude or my feelings for the organization, Mr. Brown, coach Lewis, the teammates, the City of Cincinnati…I don’t take it for granted.”
Minutes later, Pacman emerged. A reporter asked a follow-up question about the arrest, and Jones responded,
“Didn’t I just tell you don’t ask me that? You out the (interview). Turn around. Go back that way. See you. Next question. That’s his last interview for the year.”
It didn’t end there. According to the Dayton Daily News:
“Jones, who reportedly was taking anger management classes in wake of his arrest, continued to berate the reporter while walking toward the restroom after ending the interview, yelling at him for asking ‘stupid (expletive) questions.’
Jones continued after returning from the restroom, telling [the reporter] to “shut the (expletive) up.” After a couple of teammates tried to calm Jones down, [coach] Lewis entered the locker room and sat down to talk with him.
Jones’s outburst came less than a minute after he said, “My job is to lead by example here.”
After multiple charges for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and spitting on women, Pacman Jones is on track to enter his 11th season in the NFL.
When is enough, enough?
Time to unplug Pacman.