Dallas Cowboys Release Adam “Pacman” Jones after Allegations of Atlanta Shooting

Today the Dallas Cowboys released the troubled cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones after just one season with the team. The Cowboys will not suffer a salary cap hit, and will receive two draft picks from the Tennesee Titans, Jones’ former team.

Adam Jones, who had been suspended for all of last season, was reinstated to the league at the beginning of this season after being involved in a shooting at a Las Vegas strip club, however he was suspended again after a fight in a Dallas hotel.

The release of Adam “Pacman” Jones, apparently comes after the Cowboys recieved information that the player was allegedly involved in a second shooting incident, this time in the Atlanta area. According to ESPN, Jones allegedly ordered the shooting of a man outside of an Atlanta strip club. While charges have never been filed, a witness said that Jones had a dispute with the victim and ordered the hit. Police are not actively investigating the case.

This history, coupled with a lack of production on the field, was apparently too much for the Cowboys. Pacman was supposed to be a play-maker for the Dallas Cowboys and provide a strong cornerback presence along with a dangerous punt and kick return game. Instead, the result was a six game suspension and less than 100 yards in returns for the season.

It is amazing that Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys would wait this long to cut Pacman. The man was simply a liability. His cornerback play was average, and his off-field behavior was an embarrassment to the team. I seriously doubt that the Cowboys locker room benefited at all from his presence.

This begs an important question. Why does Jerry Jones insist on taking in troubled players in the hopes he and the Dallas Cowboys organization can change them. Adam “Pacman” Jones is just one of a number of idiots who have been brought in to the team. Terrell Owens, while he has been productive at times, is still causing plenty of turmoil within the team. Tank Johnson made a fool of himself in Philadelphia with a temper tantrum that would disgust a 4 year old.

Looking back over the 2008 Dallas Cowboys season, one of the many problems with this team was the unity and focus. Deon Anderson and Flozell Adams got into a fight, Terrell Owens complained about favoritism, and Bradie James assaulted a fan. It is clear that the attitude in this team was not a positive one, focused on winning a championship, or even representing the Star well. Instead, players were selfish and spoiled, more focused on having a good time and getting a paycheck. That Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips could allow such an attitude to prevail is disgraceful.

The Dallas Cowboys have always been America’s team. With players like Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman, and a coach like Tom Landry, who dripped of sportsmanship, it is a complete embarrassment that Pacman Jones was even allowed to wear a Dallas Cowboys uniform.

Jerry Jones needs to evaluate his decision making. What made the Dallas Cowboys great was not winning, but winning with class. Tom Landry fostered an attitude of sportsmanship. The Dallas Cowboys are great because of a long-built and hard-earned reputation that can easily be lost in the next couple of years.

This is not an angry rant about how Jerry Jones treated Tom Landry, but Jerry Jones needs to remember the Dallas Cowboys of the past. It is important to find not only talented players. Players with a dedication to winning. Yes, Adam “Pacman” Jones is a talented individual, but his attitude for the past few years has been nothing short of complete selfishness. He should have never been picked up, and certainly never been reinstated after the 6 game suspension.

What will benefit the Cowboys most this season is a change in attitude. No longer should a player like Adam “Pacman” Jones be allowed on the team. Instead we need players committed to representing themselves and their team. Players who will leave it all on the field and take each loss hard. Players who hate to lose, but more importantly, players who hate the thought that they might embarrass the team. Behavior such as the type exhibited by Adam “Pacman” Jones should not be tolerated. Winning is important, but it is not everything. Playing with class is.