Pacman Jones Posterboy of Athletes Blessed with Talent That Goes to Waste

Today is the first day of Fall Break at the University of Dayton. Instead of taking a trip or going home to see the family, I decided to hang back and make some extra money by working at the recreational facility on campus.

As I was hanging out at the equipment issuance desk, a story on SportsCenter (that's right, I get to watch SportsCenter while I get paid!) came up about Adam "Pacman" Jones getting into trouble again.

This time, Pacman apparently got into a fight with one of his bodyguards in a hotel late Tuesday night.

Pacman is a perfect example of athletes who put great talent to waste. Before being suspended for last season, Jones showed us that he could easily be one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL when he was on the Titans.

Pacman signed a five-year deal worth $30 million with the Titans in 2005. Not to mention $15 million was guaranteed. After Jerry Jones decided to give him a shot in Dallas, he signed a four-year deal worth $13.3 million.

The results of his incidents off the field have cost him millions of dollars in the long run.

I don't know about you, but I would be furious with myself if I lost millions of dollars because I couldn't keep myself out of trouble.

Whether it's the NFL, NBA, NHL, or even MLB, we have all seen athletes over the years, such as Pacman, who just can't seem to stay out of trouble. Players get suspended for stupid incidents that occur off the field.

The thing that bothers me the most is these athletes spend their whole lives practicing the sport they love. They are blessed to receive the opportunity to play at a professional level and show off their talent to fans that admire them. I would love the opportunity to make millions of dollars playing a sport I love.

I'm happy Jerry Jones gave Pacman a second chance to clean up his career in the NFL. It's a shame that's not how it always works out for everybody.

I remember watching Maurice Clarett during his freshman year at Ohio State. After leading the Buckeyes to a national championship, it was obvious that Clarett would one day play in the NFL.

Instead of playing every Sunday, Clarett is serving jail time for aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon.

Honestly, I hope for the best with Pacman. He is lucky enough to be given another chance in the NFL after all of the incidents he has been through. I would hate to see such great talent go to complete waste.