rynesandbergfan23
Bench Warmer
NFL.com wire reports
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 20, 2007) -- Suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones bought a full-page newspaper advertisement to print an open letter in which he promised to regain trust of his team and fans.
In the advertisement in the sports section of Friday's editions of The Tennessean -- Nashville's daily newspaper -- Jones told his family, coaches, teammates and Titans fans he must reorganize his priorities.
"In the past few weeks, I have learned a lifetime of lessons," the letter states.
Jones writes of hoping to not only meet, but exceed the expectations people have of him.
"The first step in meeting these goals is for me to stop making the poor choices that have put me in this position," the letter reads.
Jones is appealing his season-long suspension by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Cincinnati receiver Chris Henry, a teammate of Jones at West Virginia, also was suspended. But Henry received an eight-game ban.
In his letter, Jones said his attorneys advised him to appeal the suspension to "clarify some of the facts and address the unprecedented punishment that was imposed."
Jones said he plans to re-enroll at West Virginia University and finish his degree.
The sixth pick overall in the 2005 draft and the first defensive player taken that year, Jones has talked with police 10 times since being drafted, and been arrested five times. He has not been convicted of any charge since being drafted.
Goodell left open the chance for Jones' return after the Titans' 10th game if he meets a list of stringent requirements. That included staying out of "adverse" involvement with police and putting together a plan of community service the NFL must approve.
But Las Vegas police want to charge Jones for inciting a fight at a strip club on Feb. 19 that led to a triple shooting. Jones also did not inform the Titans of two arrests in Georgia last year, and a felony obstruction charge for allegedly biting a Fayetteville, Ga., police officer was delayed until May.
Titans owner Bud Adams has said team officials weren't sure they want Jones back unless he changes his behavior and avoids controversy off the field. Titans coach Jeff Fisher didn't want to talk about Jones during a radio interview Friday morning.
"We've moved on. I have moved on," Fisher said.
Excerpts from Letter C/O ESPN
"At age 23, I never thought my life would come to a crossroads. Over the past two years I have made many mistakes that have affected my family, my team and most importantly our fans."
"In the past few weeks, I have learned a lifetime of lessons. First and foremost, I need to reogranize my priorities. As a grown man and a new father, my first priority is my daughter and family. Second, I have to not only meet the expecations of my coaches, teammates and fans, but exceed them in every respect, on and off the field. The first step in meeting these goals is for me to stop making the poor choices that have put me in this position. ..."
"... While I make no excuses for the past nor do I ask for any sympathy, my attorneys have advised me to appeal the suspension imposed by Commissioner [Roger] Goodell. The basis of the appeal, which will also be heard by Commissioner Goodell, will be to clarify some of the facts and address the unprecidented punishment that was imposed."
"To my family, teammates, coaches and fans, I recognize that I have lost the right to ask for your patience and understanding; however, I will do everything in my power to regain your trust and respect."
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 20, 2007) -- Suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones bought a full-page newspaper advertisement to print an open letter in which he promised to regain trust of his team and fans.
In the advertisement in the sports section of Friday's editions of The Tennessean -- Nashville's daily newspaper -- Jones told his family, coaches, teammates and Titans fans he must reorganize his priorities.
"In the past few weeks, I have learned a lifetime of lessons," the letter states.
Jones writes of hoping to not only meet, but exceed the expectations people have of him.
"The first step in meeting these goals is for me to stop making the poor choices that have put me in this position," the letter reads.
Jones is appealing his season-long suspension by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Cincinnati receiver Chris Henry, a teammate of Jones at West Virginia, also was suspended. But Henry received an eight-game ban.
In his letter, Jones said his attorneys advised him to appeal the suspension to "clarify some of the facts and address the unprecedented punishment that was imposed."
Jones said he plans to re-enroll at West Virginia University and finish his degree.
The sixth pick overall in the 2005 draft and the first defensive player taken that year, Jones has talked with police 10 times since being drafted, and been arrested five times. He has not been convicted of any charge since being drafted.
Goodell left open the chance for Jones' return after the Titans' 10th game if he meets a list of stringent requirements. That included staying out of "adverse" involvement with police and putting together a plan of community service the NFL must approve.
But Las Vegas police want to charge Jones for inciting a fight at a strip club on Feb. 19 that led to a triple shooting. Jones also did not inform the Titans of two arrests in Georgia last year, and a felony obstruction charge for allegedly biting a Fayetteville, Ga., police officer was delayed until May.
Titans owner Bud Adams has said team officials weren't sure they want Jones back unless he changes his behavior and avoids controversy off the field. Titans coach Jeff Fisher didn't want to talk about Jones during a radio interview Friday morning.
"We've moved on. I have moved on," Fisher said.
Excerpts from Letter C/O ESPN
"At age 23, I never thought my life would come to a crossroads. Over the past two years I have made many mistakes that have affected my family, my team and most importantly our fans."
"In the past few weeks, I have learned a lifetime of lessons. First and foremost, I need to reogranize my priorities. As a grown man and a new father, my first priority is my daughter and family. Second, I have to not only meet the expecations of my coaches, teammates and fans, but exceed them in every respect, on and off the field. The first step in meeting these goals is for me to stop making the poor choices that have put me in this position. ..."
"... While I make no excuses for the past nor do I ask for any sympathy, my attorneys have advised me to appeal the suspension imposed by Commissioner [Roger] Goodell. The basis of the appeal, which will also be heard by Commissioner Goodell, will be to clarify some of the facts and address the unprecidented punishment that was imposed."
"To my family, teammates, coaches and fans, I recognize that I have lost the right to ask for your patience and understanding; however, I will do everything in my power to regain your trust and respect."
