Sep
Bombers pursue NFL bad boy
Courtesy Winnipeg Free Press:
Adam “Pacman” Jones, the one-time NFLer who’s as known for his “making it rain” escapades in strip clubs as he is for his considerable playing ability, is close to a deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The Bombers weren’t offering an official comment Tuesday, but Jones could be in the lineup for the club come Labour Day, when they take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Jones’ agent, Worrick Robinson, said Tuesday afternoon a deal between the Bombers and the former Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys cornerback is imminent.
“At this point, we’ve very close to coming to terms and Adam could be in Winnipeg and ready to play as soon as this weekend,” Robinson said, from his Nashville office. “All that remains to be done is working out a few minute details and then getting Adam to Winnipeg.”
The 25-year-old Jones, who is a free agent and no longer under suspension from the NFL, is expected to work into the Bombers lineup in a kick return role. In three NFL seasons he returned 70 kickoffs for 1,803 yards and no touchdowns and 84 punts for 807 yards and four touchdowns. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, speed is the player’s top asset.
Arrested
Jones has had numerous run-ins with the law and has been arrested on at least six occasions and wanted by the police for questioning on 12 other occasions, but Robinson said the player will have no trouble clearing the border.
“Adam is in Atlanta waiting for us to tell him to go to Winnipeg,” said Robinson, who declined to make Jones available to the Free Press for a phone interview. “That will take place in the coming days when he gets up there. I can tell you this: Adam is grateful for this opportunity and excited to make the most of it and make it work for everybody involved.”
Jones did speak to U.S. media outlets late Monday night.
“It’ll be a good experience for me to get back in game shape and compete and play football, which I like to do,” Jones told SI.com. “I’m real happy for the opportunity that’s been given to me. Of course, it’s disappointing to me to not be playing in the NFL. But things happen and you have to adjust. ”
Bombers head coach Mike Kelly refused to comment on negotiations between Jones and the club. Prior to Kelly’s daily media scrum, club director of football operations Ross Hodgkinson gave a short address.
“As per the league and club policy, we do not discuss negotiations with players, we do not discuss players we are possibly in negotiation with,” Hodgkinson said. “The CFL policy is no information on a contract is to be discussed until it’s registered with the league. The topic of Pacman Jones is purely a hypothetical topic and will not be discussed going forward in this press conference.”
Kelly took questions on a number of issues before being asked if Jones was on the team’s negotiation list.
“It’s been reported that he is on our neg list and we have discussions with players on our neg list all the time to gauge their interest,” Kelly said, before being asked about putting a player with Jones’ background on his team. “We have far more inside information than is released outside. Each player has his own situation and you handle each one accordingly.”
Kelly was asked about giving a player a second chance and the responsibility a community-owned team has to its constituents.
“Being part of any community is giving second chances. I spent last week in Philadelphia and I think they gave a player (Michael Vick) a second chance,” Kelly said. “You look at each situation and you have discussions. You do background and you stay away from sensationalism and keep a level head and talk to your inner circles. And then you make decisions that will best serve your purpose.”
Blue Bombers personnel man John Murphy has been quoted in a number of places discussing the impact Jones would have on the Bombers and the team’s marketing department.
“If I was in the same position in the NFL, I might have a lot more reservations,” Murphy said. “But for me, it’s a win-win. I’m smart enough to know that if I’m looking for somebody who can be a playmaker for the second half of our season, there isn’t a better football player who’s not in the NFL, at 25 years old, who’s ready to play football, is going to play with a chip on his shoulder, and is going to bring some fun and excitement to our team, our locker-room, our city, and our league.
“And at the same time, it’s a business decision as well as a football decision. From a marketing standpoint, a business standpoint and a football standpoint, I could go to 100 NFL training camps and every pre-season game and more people will hear and know about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the next two weeks from the coverage we’ll receive than in the last 10 years.”
Jones played for the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans in the NFL.
He has never been questioned as a player, but has been suspended numerous times by the NFL for his off-field activity.
