Another on the Path Towards Character Redemption: Adam Jones Makes His Case

by Josh Kirkendall on Jun 17, 2010 3:42 PM EDT in Analysis

FLASHBACK. Josh Kirkendall wrote on May 4, 2010: "Pacman Jones. Please go away. I beg. I plead to the football gods to answer me on this one prayer." Kirkendall continued: "I don't normally beg the mythical football gods for an answered prayer. This one, I beg. I plead. I whisper, 'for the mighty Bengals to acquire thee Pacman Jones would bring about a plague that will haunt them for a bunch of fortnights and such.'"

Man, that Josh Kirkendall. Idiot.

The Bengals signed Adam Jones a few hours later proving one of two things. The football gods don't exist and Indiana Jones 4 should have never been made.

For all of the crazy begging, keyboard slamming along with my beautiful technique putting forehead through drywall, Adam Jones has been anything but a man ambitious on character redemption.

"He's come in and done everything we've asked him to do at this point," Cincinnati defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle said. "He's been very coachable. He wants to do well and is extremely competitive. He wants to win at everything. He's got that nature about him."

Jones said he's working to better himself and shed his old image. For starters, he no longer wants to be called "Pacman." That nickname represents a persona that often got into trouble.

...

"I've only had one year of OTAs since I've been in the NFL; that was my second year," Jones explained. "I had a pretty good second year, too. I think OTAs is a big part for me. Some people don't need it. I need the extra work. It's a situation that [keeps me] focused and just getting back to football."

May we be the first to encourage Jones to stay the course, for he is just another early example of how the Bengals go against the NFL current and do what they must. It's almost at the point now that no matter what the person's history, if the Bengals sign him, I'm hardly expecting to worry about off-the-field issues. These second-chance guys come, turn into selfless teammates-- in Cedric Benson's case, a leader -- and the collection of outcasts unite for a common goal.

And that's why I was wrong then... and damn proud of it.

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Comments

proud of being wrong, uh!

me too!
And I can fix your hole in the wall Josh… I do drywall for a living.

by WHYUS!! on Jun 17, 2010 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

if jones makes the pro bowl

everyone is invited to my house for big ’ok slice of that humble pie.

Who to tha dey.

by Bengals NFL Champs on Jun 17, 2010 8:04 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

that's big 'ol slice

I hate auto text

by Bengals NFL Champs on Jun 17, 2010 8:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

It'll be a Humble Pie Potluck!

I’ll bring some Humble Cobbler, just to shake things up a bit.

by TheWalrus1971 on Jun 17, 2010 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ve got the humble hotdish.

This is our year!

by Paul Cannon on Jun 18, 2010 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

don't count....

your chickens before they hatch. It’s still early. I was neutral when the rumors were flying. I am cautiously optimistic that he can stay clean and that he can still perform at the level he was playing before the trouble. No matter the outcome, it was a low risk move by the Bengals and as long as it was okay with Zimmer, I’m okay with it. But I hope the move hits the jackpot.

by redberkey on Jun 17, 2010 8:40 PM EDT reply actions

Your cautious optimism is is appropriate. But...

So far everyone is very high on him. He isn’t just doing ok to this point – he is doing excellent. Hey, I am not good at many things, I can’t sing and and if you saw me dance you would probably run out and put a spoon in my mouth assuming I might swallow my tongue in a spaz attack, but everyone is good as something. I have very sensitive, accurate and reliable BS meter. That is why in 24 years of running my business I have never had to fire anyone. The needle on my BS meter never even twitched on any of his interviews. Take some comfort in that as it is 98% accurate..

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Jun 18, 2010 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Does Pacman want to redeem his character?

…or just get another chance at a big NFL contract? If the former, what has he done to make it up to Tommy Urbanski, the man who was paralyzed in Las Vegas in a fracas Jones touched off? Not much, so far as I can tell. Until he owns up to his responsibility to Urbanski (has he even apologized?), he’s still Pacman.

It was worth the wait.

by MtnExile on Jun 18, 2010 10:30 AM EDT reply actions