Adam “Pacman” Jones’ off-the-field behavior may have ended his pro football career prematurely, after both the NFL and CFL turned their backs on him.
Back in January, the Dallas Cowboys cut Jones from their roster, due to his off-field conduct. He was limited to just six games last season after a scuffle with a member of the security detail provided by the team.
In 2007, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended the former first-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans for his part in a 2007 shooting outside a Las Vegas strip club.
Following the loss of interest from the NFL, Jones has reportedly begun to talk to CFL teams.
Just this week, it was announced that he would play for the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. However, the team said Wednesday (September 2) that they had ended their pursuit of the controversial ex-NFL cornerback.
“It is unfortunate that this situation became public; however, our position has remained consistent,” Blue Bombers coach Mike Kelly said in a statement. “We will pursue athletes that we believe will contribute to our organization on and off the field.
Jones’ behavior has cost him a lot of money. While he lost close to $1.6 million during his 2007 suspension, he ended up with a six-figure salary as a Dallas Cowboy, which also went South.
If he would’ve landed in Canada, his salary would’ve been around $60,000.
Pacman Jones was the sixth-overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. While his career started off slowly, he showed signs of becoming an elite NFL player in his second season, leading the league in punt return average with 12.9 yards, and ranked seventh in the league in kick return average.
Despite the loss of interest from the NFL and CFL, the United Football League has shown interest, according to a report from AOL’s BlackVoices. Their season starts in October.
Other troubled NFL stars who played in the CFL while trying to jump-start their careers include Ricky Williams, Andre Rison and Lawrence Phillips.