Bengals Banter: Words of Wisdom from Adam Jones, Roger Goodell

Jan 5, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones (24) returns a kick against the Houston Texans during the second quarter of the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals cornerback Adam Jones was arrested earlier this month and accused of striking a woman with an open palm after she allegedly threw a beer bottle at him outside Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Jones has since pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge, and instead of laying low and letting this situation blow over, he’s admitting his faults and speaking at the NFL Rookie Symposium in order to help the NFL’s newest members avoid the same pitfalls that have plagued Jones throughout his career:

"I can’t control what people say, or what people’s opinion is. But who are you to judge or say how I’ve grown or what I’ve done. …I’m just gonna keep doing what I’m doing, being a great father and doing good in the community and keep my head straight and keep doing like I’ve been doing Guys tend to run away when they feel pressure. I had the chance to run away … I refuse to do that because the guys need to know really what is happening out there. Not what you want to hear, not the cut message. It needs to be really uncut so guys can know what guys are going through and what situations they need to stay away from."

Jones knows he can’t continue to make the same mistakes, and hopes to overcome his shortcomings:

"I’m an emotional person. Things happen so quick. I’ve got things I’ve got to work on and that’s one of them. I don’t like confrontation, but when I’m around confrontation and physically touched, there are some things I have to work on as a person that don’t come overnight. I’ve changed, but I’ve never said I’m a god. I’ll keep working, keep my nose clean like it’s been clean, and keep my head down."