Adam Jones is no saint. But, neither are the close to 2,000 men playing in the NFL. If you want Angels singing songs of forgiveness, you’re out of luck.
There certainly comes a time when enough is enough. On the eve of Bengals’ training camp, news broke that CB Adam Jones would be suspended one game. As expected, the masses are divided, with more fans feeling as though his punishment wasn’t harsh enough. Give it a break, already. Let Jones get on the field and do his job. Whatever happens after that is on him.
It seems as though Jones is in trouble all the time. Yet, when his track record is truly scrutinized, he hasn’t done as much as he gets tagged for doing. The man isn’t getting into bar fights every weekend, he hasn’t been on the end of tons of domestic violence runs by the police. In fact, compared to many fans that stay in the court system, he’s (dare I say it?) a model citizen.
Jones is known throughout the Cincinnati area as a charitable player who donates to just causes. But, in the opinion of more than a few, he’s nothing more than sewer scum. A common thug. Yeah, I’ve had my moments with Jones. When he went ballistic in the Meltdown at Paul Brown, I wanted to dive through the screen and…nevermind. But, that’s the way it is with all the Bengals. Heck, when Vontaze Burfict did dumb things, he was on my hit list too.
This Ain’t No League For Boy Scouts
Cincinnati Bengals
If you want Angels and Choirboys singing the Hallelujah Chorus, you’re a fan of the wrong sport. Jones isn’t innocent and neither are the other almost 2,000 men that play professional football. The NFL is not a place for wannabe saints and misguided souls. It’s a landscape littered with foul-mouthed, ill-mannered, men that intend to do bodily harm to the opponent. Working in that type of environment will make anyone…a little off kilter.
But, I understand. This is supposedly about Jones’ off-field behavior. Let’s look at it this way: what he does on his summers away from the NFL is his concern. Should he be held accountable? Certainly. Everyone has to take responsibility for their actions. Yet, Roger Goodell & Co. have decided his actions warranted one game. With that said, it’s time to move on.
Jones will have a chance to either prove he’s changed or feel the wrath of no contract. Eventually, the act wears thin. Mike Brown is on his side for now. But, lots of former Bengals have been tossed on the scrap heap. This should be Jones’ wake up call. It could have been much worse.
Last Chance?
"“The history is what it is,” Brown said, via ESPN. “Some of these things are more serious than others. Do I wish that we had to publicly defend him? No. But I have elected to do it and I don’t regret it. We’ll see how it ends up. Maybe it’ll turn out the way I want to, maybe it’ll go amiss. We’ll see. It’s up to him now.”"
In our journey through life, we all do things that seem right at the time, but turn out to be asinine decisions. Jones is a part of the human race. He just happens to be a gifted athlete. That doesn’t make him a god. It makes him a target for those who will hold him under a microscope and judge every detail of his life. Here’s the kicker. All that truly matters is how he performs on the field.
"“I like him personally,” Brown said of Jones. “I admire a lot of things about him. He didn’t come up the easy way. Believe me, if any of us had come up that way, I wonder where we’d be.”"
Of course, it’s seldom easy. But, the grudge holders always think it is.