Adding
to what has been a seemingly-endless array of personal and professional
controversies, embattled NFL cornerback Adam “Pac Man” Jones was
released by the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday after allegations surfaced
that he may have met with someone to arrange a shooting while he was
suspended from the NFL in 2007. ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” reporter
John Barr contacted the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys and Jones’ attorneys
about a story that is set to run on the program on Sunday in which
three Atlanta men claim that Jones, in 2007, arranged for someone to
shoot them two months after Jones was suspended by NFL commissioner
Roger Goodell.
The shooting occurred
in June of that year, outside a suburban Atlanta strip club. One of the
victims told ESPN that after he had a dispute with Jones inside the
club, they were repeatedly fired at as he and two others left the club.
Bullets struck the victims’ car. Charges were never brought against
anyone because the victims couldn’t see the shooter. The NFL was aware
of the incident. Police investigating a separate Atlanta-area case had
been told by an informant that Jones ordered the June 2007 shooting
following his dispute with one of the men. Police have said that while
the case remains open, they are not actively investigating.
“Surprised? Yeah, I
was surprised [at being released],” Jones told the Dallas Morning News.
“All I can do is keep working hard, keep my nose clean and hope for the
best.” He also told the paper, “It will be a lawsuit in a week against
ESPN. That’s stupid. It’s so stupid I have no more comments.”
The Cowboys traded for
Jones despite the cornerback’s suspension for the 2007 season after
multiple off-field incidents while with the Titans. He was given
another chance and cleared to play in 2008 by commissioner Roger
Goodell. The troubled player missed six games this season for violating
the league’s player conduct policy. He was involved in an Oct. 7
scuffle with a team bodyguard at a Dallas hotel, though no one was
arrested. He missed a seventh game with an injury. Jones was expected
to help rejuvenate the Cowboys on defense and special teams, but
averaged just 4.6 yards per punt return and had no interceptions during
the 2008 season. -dusty culpepper
