Pacman Jones Should Be a Baltimore Raven

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

A long time ago, an NFL player had a man die after a run-in with his entourage. The fans in that player's city rallied around him even though it seemed he'd obstructed justice. 

That player turned it around. If he ever retires, he'll walk into Canton. He'll be remembered as one of the greatest to play his position and a pillar of his community. 

Who would have thunk it? 

More recently, an NFL player had a man lie paralyzed after a run-in with his entourage. This player was drafted higher than the first one. He'd shown incredible talent on the field but his organization and his city didn't rally around him. 

Now the first player's team finds itself ever so close to the Super Bowl. They could use a punt returner. They could use a cornerback that can play alone on an island. 

They could use someone who can do all the little things that second player can do. 

Ray Lewis is a role model. Pacman Jones is a free agent that could use a role model. 

The interest in Pacman probably hasn't been as high as you'd expect for a guy who had nearly as many tackles as Frank Walker or Fabian Washington in far fewer games. 

Or a guy that returns kicks and punts and up until sitting out a season was perhaps the most exciting player in football. 

Now, conventional wisdom says Pacman has run out of chances in the NFL. Funny, I can't find a single thing that says convicted in any article about Pacman Jones. Lots of words like probation, suspended sentence, you know, things they said about Ray Lewis. 

Lewis wasn't even suspended when that guy died after the run-in with his entourage. 

Considering Ray's career path, considering the man he's become, the pillar of the community and considering the similarities in their pasts. 

Ray sort of owes Pacman some mentoring. I'm not sure if Pacman would accept it but he could help the Raven's to a place I'm sure Ray wants to be. 

Pacman? I have no love for Pacman. I could care less if he ever plays again. But if Ray can go without even a suspension, Pacman might as well get a break too. 

He needs a mentor. He needs a city that will embrace him based on his play. He needs a team that needs his skill-set. 

He needs Baltimore. 

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