Ready or Not, Here He Comes…

An article by Kelly Horn    2 Comments

The Dallas Cowboys and Pacman Jones have agreed on a 4-year contract that will now ensure his spot on the team as soon as he is reinstated. The contract will have annual bonuses and also includes a clause that will give Pacman an advance of his salary as soon as his reinstatement becomes official. This is not a signing bonus as that would have certainly raised some eyebrows, so instead they came up with a good scheme of advancing him millions as soon as he becomes eligible to play.

Like it or not Pacman will be wearing the proud uniform of the Dallas Cowboys. NFL Commissioner Robert Goodell emphatically denied and rumors that he and Jerry Jones have any agreement in place that will reinstate him. Goodell made the following statement today.

“I don’t have any expectations what I might do. I’ve said I will decide before training camp based on how he conducts himself and how seriously I think he understands his responsibilities as an NFL player. ”

Jones has been suspended since April 10, 2007, and has had numerous violations of the NFL’s personal conduct rules. His off the field conduct includes 10 different incidents that required police intervention while he was with the Titans. Six of those times ended in his arrest including his incarceration during the 2007 NBA All-Star weekend. During that incident three people were shot in a seedy strip club.  One of those shot is now paralyzed from the waist down.  He copped a plea in return for identifying the shooter.

This past Friday, the person who Pacman identified as the shooter provided the court with documents that Pacman paid him $30,000 in hush money. This new allegation of extortion is still breaking news and it may overturn his plea agreement.

I find it amazing that in light of these new allegations, Jerry Jones was still motivated to get a deal done with Pacman.

As part of the trade, the Cowboys will send the Titans a fourth-round pick in this weekend’s draft. If he is reinstated and on the roster in 2008, The Cowboys will also send the Titans a sixth round pick in 2009. If Jones isn’t reinstated the Cowboys will get their fourth round pick back in 2009.

Well, for better or for worse it looks like Pacman is now our problem and not the Titans.