Pacman heads north to resume football career

Update: It seems the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will not be bringing Pacman to the Great White North after all. The Blue Bombers have appeared to have done their "due dilligence" and concluded that Jones would not be a fit for the organiztion.

Former Tennessee Titan and Dallas Cowboy Adam "Pacman" Jones will be playing football again...for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Jones agreed to a one-year deal with the team.

Jones chose the CFL over the upstart United Football League due to a few factors. One of those factors was the financial aspect but no contract terms were released. Plus, Pacman will be able to use his talents on both offense and defense with Winnipeg. The story was first reported by Jim Totter of SI.com.

Jones made the following statement with SI.com:

"It'll be a good experience for me to get back in game shape and compete and play football, which I like to do. 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. "

The Dallas Cowboys released the once promising Jones in February. Jones was suspended for the entire 2007 season (as a member of the Tennessee Titans) due to his violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy. The Titans traded Jones to the Dallas Cowboys prior to the 2008 season. He later served a four game suspension at thte beginning of the 2008 season (as a member of the Cowboys) after Jones has a "conflict" with a bodyguard assigned to him by the Cowboys.

Much has been made of Jones and his off-field expoits. But Blue Bomber general manager John Murphy did some homework. Murphy knows of his "issues" concerning the NFL. Who doesn't. Over the last two weeks, he spoke to a few NFL general managers and none of them gave any indication that Jones was ever a bad teammate. The only drawback to any NFL team signing Jones was that he is only one misstep away from a permanent league ban.

One GM went so far as to offer this:

"He's already got 2 1/2 strikes against him, so he's just not worth the time."

Pacman desires to play in the NFL again. The CFL gives him a chance that  NFL teams cannot be willing to give him considering the heavy handed manner in which NFL Commissioner Roger Godell "judges" those that violate the personal conduct policy. But is this move a good one for Winnipeg?

Murphy addressed that. He feels it's a "win-win" situation. And it is. The Blue Bombers get a talented, 25-year-old that can help the team. He can not only be used on both sides of the ball, but in the return game as well. Jones can also be used in the marketing of team. Jones must now use that to his advantage and help repair an extremely tarnished reputation.

Some will view this signing as another athlete receiving preferential treatment. It is. I agree with that 100%, maybe even 110%. I do wish Pacman well. I just hope he can find the nerve to stay away from Windsor.