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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Bombers pursuing 'Pacman' Jones

By: Gary Lawless

1/09/2009 8:40 AM | Comments: 54

Adam 'Pacman' Jones

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Adam 'Pacman' Jones (ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES)

WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are in talks with cornerback Adam (Pacman) Jones.

Stories in several U.S. publications are reporting this morning that a deal has been signed but club management told the Free Press early Tuesday morning that is premature. A contract has not been signed nor has one been sent to the former Dallas Cowboys speedster.

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Blue Bombers personnel man John Murphy, however, is quoted in a number of places discussing the impact Jones would have on the Bombers and the team's marketing department.

An early report had Jones arriving in Winnipeg on Wednesday but the team has yet to investigate his status with Canada Border Services 

Jones has never been questioned as a player but as been suspended several times by the NFL for his off-field activity. Most notably, Jones was involved in a strip club shooting that left a man paralyzed.

"It'll be a good experience for me to get back in game shape and compete and play football, which I like to do," Jones told SI.com. "I'm real happy for the opportunity that's been given to me. Of course it's disappointing to me to not be playing in the NFL. But things happen and you have to adjust. "

Blue Bombers personnel man John Murphy told SI.com that Jones will be a difference maker in the CFL.

"If I was in the same position in the NFL I might have a lot more reservations," said Murphy. "But for me it's a win-win. I'm smart enough to know that if I'm looking for somebody who can be a playmaker for the second half of our season, there isn't a better football player who's not in the NFL, at 25 years old, who's ready to play football, is going to play with a chip on his shoulder, and is going to bring some fun and excitement to our team, our locker room, our city, and our league.

"And at the same time it's a business decision as well as football decision. From a marketing standpoint, a business standpoint and a football standpoint, I could go to 100 NFL training camps and every preseason game and more people will hear and know about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the next two weeks -- from the coverage we'll receive -- than in the last 10 years."

Jones played for the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans in the NFL.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

 

Your feedback

What do you think about bringing Jones on board?  Share your feedback in the comments section below. 

If you'd like your comment considered for publication in the paper edition of the Winnipeg Free Press, include your name and location in your comment.

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54 Commentscomment icon

More gun toting criminals in Winnipeg, now we just import them to the football team......great idea.

Why on earth would anyone want someone with his criminal record on our football team? This guy needs to be dropped like a hot potato not picked up by our league.

I for one would NEVER go to a game if he joins our team. I won't support someone with his criminal record by buying a ticket.

Professional athletes are role models for our youth. Given the amount of trouble Jones has been in, and the fact he has wasted his second chance dis-qualifies him as a role model. In other words he will only dis-credit the Bombers and the CFL if he is signed.
But even more disturbing about this, is the arrogance of the Bombers management. As a community owned team they are accountable to the people of this city. The comments made by Kelly and the other guy, shutting down any discussion about the issue shows they do understand their responsibilities and accountabilities.
But Kelly and the other guy are right, this not the time to talk about recruiting a convicted criminal
The only relevant matter at issue here is the integrity of the management of our community owned team.
Time to clean house, and the coach should be the first to go.

guess our immigration people are turning a blind eye
i`ll bet you if we had a criminal record like his we sur as hell would not be allowed into the u.s.a.
they can keep him we dont need another rouble maker we have too many of our own!!!

Why did the Free Press decide to show that video?. That was 2007. Old news. Why is the Free Press trying to run this man out of town before he even gets here. Welcome to Unfriendly Manitoba Pacman!

The soap opera continues! Wow, I don't know who is trying to out due who here - the Bomber management or the media. Why do you keep edging each other on like that? I saw the clip and childish came to mind right away. I think maybe both the Bomber staff and the media in Winnipeg, should just settled down, because you blamed the fan base for acting like idiots, but maybe it is both the media and the senior management for the Bombers who are really causing the problem and dragging the fans in this city to a frenzy. Childish really and my respect for both areas is weakening.

As for this potential player,I have mixed feelings. He has screwed up big time, and boy I hope he has learned from that, because if he wants to get back to where the big $$'s bucks are he will have just 10 games to get his a** together. He will probably have less games than that actually, as he does have to learn the Canadian rules, plus learn to adapt to a much larger field. No pressure,right? I think playing on our field, might test him in a way that has never been done before. Remember, no fair catch in this league.

So, for a half a year or season, I am willing to give this young man the benefit of the doubt, because if he doesn't make it here, he is done. He might be raining tears instead of dollars. So this is really up to him and how badly does he want to grow up.

Let's hope that three parties grow up - him, the media and the coach. Maturity does wonders when push comes to shove.

I just have to laugh at some of these comments. Right now I am just going to wait and see what happens before I make a stupid comment as well.

When did the people running and managing the Bombers become such jerks? And i don't mean anything about Pacman Jones, I just mean in general how the public and the media are treated by Kelly and his minions. Disgusting!

All of these self righteous people making comments here should hope and pray they never find themselves in a situation where they have gotten themselves in trouble or made mistakes ... and then live to regret it when they are forever labelled for it and not given a second chance. And as for the media, they are simply not really doing their jobs if they are so sidetracked by an issue like this and can't get around to doing what they are supposed to be doing ... that is talking about football.

No problem with giving the guy a second chance, everyone deserves on. This guy seems to have had several second chances. My problem though is with the player of personel recruitment. He seems to have developed the same attitude of the coach of "we are not talking about it" as on C>K>Y> sports tonite. Both these guys had better realize (their G.M. as well) that this is still a "Community owned team". The community thereby pays their wages and have the right to ask questions and "GET answers". If, and when it is privatley owned, then it is none of our bussiness, but untill then, watch who you tell to shut up. We "The community" pay your wages and cover any shortfdall in finances to the tune of millions of $$, when there is a shortfall.

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