From The Sideline
From The Sideline
No More Pacman?
By BRANDON FINLEY
Sports Columnist
Adam Jones, the star NFL player known as Pacman, is looking to change his infamous nickname. Jones busted onto the NFL scene during his rookie season, and clearly looked to be headed for great things on the field. However, off the field incidents led to Pacman being known more for his troubles than the troubles he was giving to opposing offenses.
Since being drafted by the Tennessee Titans Jones has been arrested six times, and been involved in twelve total incidents involving police activity. Due to the negative moniker that the name now entails, Jones is looking for a new beginning in Dallas.
"There's really just a lot of negativity behind it. It's just time for a change, man. I'm doing everything to make sure that I'm all right as a person, mentally and emotionally," Jones announced publicly.
So it will just be Adam for the newly acquired Dallas Cowboy, but will the name change also result in a character change? That's what NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will be taking into account.
Jones is waiting on Goodell to make a ruling that should come a week before the Dallas Cowboys open their NFL season. Right now Jones is doing all the right things. Last week, he spoke to kids at a camp hosted by Dallas Mavericks player Brandon Bass. At the conclusion of the camp the kids began to cheer for their hero saying, "Pacman." That may be the last time that cheer is given.
Jones, whose been called Pacman since the time he was a child by his mother, had this to say, "My mom is going to call me 'Pacman.' That is what it is. I can't change that. I'm not saying that my teammates won't call me 'Pacman' on the field. But for the most part, I want to be Adam or Mr. Jones."
Jones still has a chance to shed the Pacman image. Many players have done it including the recent example of Randy Moss in New England. If there's a place to succeed it would be Dallas, who has a history of turning trouble makers into championship success stories. Jones will be playing on America's Team. Will he shed America's image of Pacman?
