Titans cornerback Pacman Jones has been suspended for the entire 2007 season as a result of his repeated off-field trouble. The suspension is a major signal from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that he's serious about cleaning up the league's image, which has been tarnished by arrests of many players, with Jones chief among them.It's also a major loss for the Titans: Say what you will about Jones off the field, but he was developing into one of the league's best young defensive backs, and the Titans' pass defense will have a hard time adjusting to the loss of Jones. The one silver lining for both the Titans and Jones is that he can apply for reinstatement after Week 10.
Titans owner Bud Adams released a statement saying he supports the league's action and that even after Jones has served his league-imposed suspension, the team might not welcome him back:
Unfortunately this decision does not end our deliberations about this player for our team. We will need assurances from the player on a number of issues before we are comfortable having him return to the team. Until we see a change in behavior through his actions and until he shows the ability to avoid controversy off the field, we will move forward with the possibility that he may not return to this team.
The league has also released its new personal conduct policy to all 32 clubs, but today's suspensions are based on violations of the league's old personal conduct policy.
See also: NFL Suspends Bengals Receiver Chris Henry Eight Games
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
4-10-2007 @ 2:02PM
Derrick said...
I think jones should appeal and also sue the league. How can you suspend a guy for a year who has not been cnvicted of any crime. The new commish is doing this because of the media. I hope Jones win this one. What happens if anything comes out about wrong doing on the police part. Is the commish going to apologize to Jones.
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4-10-2007 @ 2:05PM
Sandy said...
Avoid controversy, Bud? He's going to be kicked off the team for controversy?!?
Hell, time for the Pats to dump Brady, then, I guess.
He's had ONE conviction.
I'm so sick right now.
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4-10-2007 @ 2:45PM
dmarco1970 said...
I think its a raw deal for jones and it sounds like pres Bush is running the NFL. Only in this counrty will you need DNA to prove an outcome. Whatever happen to proving a persons guilt or just treat him like a person from New Orleans a day after Katrina. offer him some help after he is finally convicted of a crime. Until then make him pay for being at the wrong place at the wrong time by giving him a year off from work or better yet why not try for two. Now the NFL thinks like every other fool give a guilty person less time for their crime and by all means send them home early as a reward.
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4-10-2007 @ 2:50PM
chris said...
he got what he deserved. maybe he will learn to keep his nose clean and stay away from trouble. Goddell did what he should.
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4-10-2007 @ 2:50PM
jsbbritt said...
You suspend him without being convicted of a crime the same way you suspend Imus who was not convicted of a crime and did not commit a crime.
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4-10-2007 @ 3:01PM
Dave's Football Blog said...
Bud Adams is referring to Jones as "The Player." He might as well just say that Pacman's best chance of playing football this year is in Toronto.
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4-10-2007 @ 3:07PM
phoennix10 said...
So, what did Tank Johnson get for parole violation and four months in jail?
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4-10-2007 @ 3:13PM
east nashville said...
well all you redneck Titans fans get what you want! Welcome to another losing season. Don't worry you still have Jeff Gordon, and he's white!
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4-10-2007 @ 3:52PM
jimwadevice said...
Wow...it's easy to tell which comments are from black people and which are from white. Mr. Goodell is the best thing to happen to the NFL since Walter Payton. He is going to do what any person in his position should do, hold those who represent the NFL accountable. If Pacman worked for IBM and acted like he does, he would not have a job! He should take the year off to figure out if he wants to have a profession...or hang out with his fellow thugs and be a washed up punk like so many before him have chosen to do. Pacman has actually been given a second chance to do something he is good at. Hopefully he will evaluate his situation and realize what he is throwing away by acting the fool (i.e. Mike Tyson, Ricky Williams, Odell Thurman, Chris Henry, Ron Artest...and the list could go on and on)
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4-10-2007 @ 3:53PM
edison said...
I don't get it. You give a black man an opportunity to better himself, and this is what he does! I am certain that he is blaming the white man for all of his problems right now!
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4-10-2007 @ 3:56PM
Mr. Mott said...
Give the same punishment to IMUS!!!!
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4-10-2007 @ 3:56PM
dick jones said...
I can see the color of the commentors by their comments. Don Imus is smiling now, as well he should
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4-10-2007 @ 3:56PM
acsportsbooks.com said...
nice! see ya in 2008 PacMan. Sucks to be you.
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4-10-2007 @ 3:57PM
Bill Green said...
I am doubly embarrassed to know that both Pacman Jones and Chris Henry were members of the West Virginia University football team...my alma mater! We do have some great athletes at WVU and most of them play by the rules on and off the football field! Both players deserve the suspensions they received and if they do not abide be the rules now, they will never play in the NFL again!
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4-10-2007 @ 3:58PM
Bob Woychik said...
It's about time some of these professional athletes "role models" were held accountable for their actions. In any other profession...doctor, lawyer, accountant etc their license would be suspended and they would be deprived of income privileges. Maybe all professional athletes should be required to obtain an athlete's license that could be used to determine license taxes based on income and moral culpability
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4-10-2007 @ 3:58PM
Scott said...
I don't get it. You give a black man a great opportunity to better himself, and this is what he does. I'll bet he is blaming the white man for all of his problems right now! If Roger Goodell is serious about cleaning up the league's image, which has been tarnished by arrests of many players, with a little scrubbing and polishing, maybe some of those black players will turn out to be white after all!among them.
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4-10-2007 @ 4:02PM
JIM H. said...
Responing to East Nashville's comments on 4/10..
What a racial pig you are. You must be a ten time loser like "pac man". He got what he deserved. It's about time sports started taming their athlete's.
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4-10-2007 @ 4:03PM
Sean said...
I'm glad the NFL is making an example of this behavior...atheletes are role models whether they like it or not...if they conduct their personal lives in this manner,a year off withOUT pay is a good lesson learned
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4-10-2007 @ 4:05PM
Rich said...
Great! This goes to show that it doesn't matter what your opinion is about the "reality" of daily life -- if you're a knucklehead in the posh world of the professional athlete you should get the damn boot. Let there be waffle stomps and both ass cheeks for this dirtbag.
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4-10-2007 @ 4:10PM
jay martin said...
Way to go West Virginia University.Both Pacman Jones and Chris Henry are great testimony to the morals of your "great football team"..
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