Adam Jones suspended one game to start 2017 NFL season

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones has been suspended for one game by the NFL for his offseason arrest.

Jones will have three days to appeal the suspension decision.

The NFL has released a statement on Jones’ suspension saying it reviewed “extensive video documentation of the tone, tenor and nature” of Jones’ actions. Here’s part of the press release the NFL issue today, including some of what the league told Jones regarding his suspension:

The NFL explained in a letter to Jones that it considered the "extensive video documentation of the tone, tenor and nature of your interactions with law enforcement at the site of your arrest, during transportation to the jail, and during the booking process. As you acknowledged, your post-arrest words and actions reflected poorly on you and your family, the Cincinnati Bengals football club, and the NFL. While it is our understanding that appropriate apologies have been publicly extended, they do not completely negate your behavior and admission of culpability for the underlying conduct."

Jones will be eligible to return to the team's active roster on Monday, September 11 following the Bengals' September 10 game against the Baltimore Ravens. Jones is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.

The suspension stems from a January 3, 2017 arrest that occurred in downtown Cincinnati. Jones faced misdemeanor charges of assault, disorderly conduct and obstructing official business as well as a felony count of harassment with a bodily substance.

Jones ended up pleading guilty to obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor offense, and all other charges were dropped. He had to serve two days in jail when the arrest occurred and pay court fees. Those were the only punishments he received from the Hamilton County Municipal Court.

The transportation to jail, referred to in the above commentary from the NFL included Jones telling a police officer his was “a b–tch a– ni—-” and saying “I hope you die tomorrow. You’re gonna be out of a job tomorrow.” You can watch the NSFW video of that here.

This is not Jones’ first NFL suspension as he was suspended from the NFL for the entire 2007 season and for part of the 2008 season for off-field issues.

The story revolving around Jones’ January 2017 arrest, his 10th arrest since being a Round 1 draft pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, started with him allegedly banging on hotel room doors at the Millennium Hotel in downtown Cincinnati. When security approached him, he allegedly assaulted the security guard and then the police upon their arrival. Those charges were all dropped and the only one that stuck was disorderly conduct as Jones was screaming and causing a scene at the hotel. There were also allegations that he spit on a jail nurse, which was connected to the above-mentioned felony, but that was the first of the charges to be dropped. There was also video of that incident, though it wasn’t all that clear what happened in the video.

Earlier this offseason, Dave Lapham predicted Jones would receive a 2-4 game suspension, an opinion shared by many. So, this suspension is not as bad as it could have been, especially considering Jones’ past suspensions and arrests.

The Bengals face the Ravens in Week 1 of the 2017 season and it now looks like Jones’ ability to play in that game is very much in question. He will likely attempt to appeal the suspension, but it’s unlikely he will succeed. Jones is expected to start for the Bengals at cornerback this year. The Bengals will likely look to William Jackson III or Darqueze Dennard to fill in on the left side at cornerback, opposite Dre Kirkpatrick, while Jones is suspended.

The Bengals have released the following statement on Jones’ one-game suspension:

The Bengals anticipated this result and are glad to finally put the matter behind us. Our focus is on getting ready for the upcoming season. Adam will participate in training camp and we are counting on him to help our team when he returns from suspension.

You can catch up on all things related to Jones’ arrest and suspension here.