Sorry Adam, You'll Always be Pacman to Us

Recently Adam "Pacman" Jones told the media he would like them to no longer use his well-known nickname "Pacman." This came just shortly after being traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Dallas Cowboys. Unfortunately for Jones, it's just not that simple to run away from such a troubled past.

If you asked the casual sports fan who Adam Jones was, they would probably be 50-50 on whether they knew him or not. Turn around and ask the same question using "Pacman" and I guarantee you'll get almost a 100 percent yes. That is problem number one for Jones. Everyone knows him by "Pacman," and Adam has no one to blame but himself.

Even after having some character issues at the University of West Virginia, the association with the name "Pacman" was still fairly good. The Titans drafted him sixth overall because they knew he had the raw talent to be one of the best shut-down corners in the league. 

After a promising rookie year, Jones was turning "Pacman" into one of the most well-known nicknames in sports, and for mostly the right reasons. Then the off-the-field issues came.

Beginning in 2005, Jones got into a number of legal issues that I'm sure you all well know by now. It was all a snowball effect after that. After the one year suspension for the 2007-2008 season, Jones would get into another nightclub altercation in Atlanta, which was later dropped. Oh yeah, and how can I almost forget? He became a professional wrestler.

Now Jones begins his saga with the Dallas Cowboys. Cowboys' training camp has just recently started, and it seems like for now Jones is focused on the right things. He's battling it out with Terrell Owens on the practice field, which is a good thing.

Most likely NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will grant Jones one more chance to become a professional in his no-nonsense league he is trying to create. I still think the future is dark for Jones. Trouble has always seemed to find Jones, and now Jones is going to play for the Dallas Cowboys. If staying out of trouble in Nashville was a challenge, then how can you expect to stay out of trouble in the Big D? 

It doesn't matter if the media calls him Mother Teresa. If Jones cannot change his behavior, and ultimately become a professional, then the future will remain dark and gloomy. I am by no means rooting against Jones. Once again, I think he has the skills to be one of the best in the league.

Instead of running away from a name he will never be able to get away from, Jones should focus on doing what he does best, and that is playing football. If Jones can consistently do that, then "Pacman" will turn into a name that will slowly, but surely, stand for something good in this league.