Cowboys release troubled cornerback Pacman Jones

[January 08, 2009]  IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Troubled cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones must look elsewhere in the NFL for another chance. The Dallas Cowboys are done with him.

Jones was released Wednesday by the Cowboys following a turbulent season in which he was suspended six games for an off-field scuffle and made little impact on the field.

Jones, expected to give the Cowboys a boost on defense and special teams, had no interceptions and averaged just 4.5 yards per punt return. His release will become official Feb. 9, the first day NFL teams can make waiver requests.

"He was surprised, and I think he was obviously somewhat hurt," said Worrick Robinson, Jones' Nashville, Tenn.-based attorney. "At the same time, he understands the business behind what is happening here."

Jones' attorney added he expects the cornerback will be back with some team in 2009.

"He is young. He has a lot of ability and he is eager to get back on the field," Robinson said.

Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple declined to comment on the team's decision and said owner Jerry Jones was unavailable. Coach Wade Phillips did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.

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.

But on Oct. 7, Jones got into a scuffle with a bodyguard who was part of a team-employed security detail. A week later, Goodell suspended the cornerback indefinitely, which eventually turned into a six-week suspension. Jones missed a seventh game later in the season with an injury.

The 25-year-old Jones spent part of his time away from football taking part in an alcohol rehabilitation program.

"He was a young man who needed the opportunity to be in treatment, and he got the treatment he needed," Robinson said. "He came out of there a better person and a healthier person because of that."

Robinson said he did not think Jones' suspension was a factor in the Cowboys' decision to release the cornerback.

"We don't have any reason to believe at this point that that off-the-field incident had anything to do with the team's decision today," Robinson said. "I know there was certainly a lot of bad that came out of that situation, but there was some good that came out of that situation as well."

Jones had 31 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. On special teams, he averaged 22.1 yards on seven kickoff returns. The yearlong ban in 2007 and six-week suspension in 2008 contributed to Jones playing below expectations, Robinson said.

"Being off a year is certainly going to affect most every athlete," Robinson said. "I think he made good strides through training camp and through the first few games, and then I think his six-game suspension did knock him back a little bit."

When Jones was traded to Dallas in April, Tennessee received a fourth-round draft pick. The Titans were also supposed to get a sixth-rounder next year, but because Jones was suspended again, Dallas will instead receive a fifth-round pick in 2009.

Before coming to Dallas, Jones was arrested six times and involved in 12 instances requiring police intervention after Tennessee drafted him in the first round in 2005.

[Associated Press; By JEFF CARLTON]

AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.

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