By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine
Suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam"Pacman" Jones signed a short-term deal with the Total Nonstop Action pro wrestling group Monday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed by TNA.
Jones will make his first in-ring appearance on the group's Impact television show Thursday on Spike TV. He is also scheduled to appear on TNA's next pay-per-view telecast on Sunday, August 12, from Orlando, Fla.
"I am a big fan of wrestling, so I wanted to give it a try," Jones said. "I respect wrestling and I'm not coming in like it's just a show. I want to prove that I am the greatest team-sport athlete."
Jones was suspended for the entire 2007 season on April 10 by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for numerous run-ins with the law in just two NFL seasons,including some type of alleged involvement in a shooting at a Las Vegas strip club during the NBA's All-Star weekend in February. That incident left an employee of the club, ironically a former pro wrestler, paralyzed from the waist down.
Since entering the NFL, Jones has been questioned by police 10 times and has been arrested five times.
The TNA wrestling promotion is based in Nashville and is owned by Panda Energy but is a distant second in a realm ruled by World Wrestling Entertainment. The company is run by Dixie Carter and longtime pro wrestler Jeff Jarrett.
The signing of Jones is an effort to garner publicity for a fringe company in an industry already stained by implications of steroid and other drug use after the highly-publicized Chris Benoit murder-suicide case.
"Pacman is a gifted athlete and though he has had some serious off-the-field issues, he has a chance to take his suspension and turn it into a positive,something good," said Carter. "We met with him numerous times before signing the contract, and each time we were thoroughly impressed with his desire to change his image, train hard and his commitment to take this opportunity to show a different side of himself.
"We are well aware of the controversy that might surround this signing, but it is our goal to help Pacman during his time away from football. Pacman wants to change his life, so we will do everything in our power to surround him with a positive work environment and people who will help him achieve his goal."
Jones joins an impressive list of NFL players who have made the jump from the football field to the wrestling ring, including Bronko Nagurski, Leo Nomellini, Bill Goldberg, Steve McMichael, Wahoo McDaniel and Ernie ‘The Big Cat’ Ladd.
The Phanatic Magazine
Suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam"Pacman" Jones signed a short-term deal with the Total Nonstop Action pro wrestling group Monday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed by TNA.
Jones will make his first in-ring appearance on the group's Impact television show Thursday on Spike TV. He is also scheduled to appear on TNA's next pay-per-view telecast on Sunday, August 12, from Orlando, Fla.
"I am a big fan of wrestling, so I wanted to give it a try," Jones said. "I respect wrestling and I'm not coming in like it's just a show. I want to prove that I am the greatest team-sport athlete."
Jones was suspended for the entire 2007 season on April 10 by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for numerous run-ins with the law in just two NFL seasons,including some type of alleged involvement in a shooting at a Las Vegas strip club during the NBA's All-Star weekend in February. That incident left an employee of the club, ironically a former pro wrestler, paralyzed from the waist down.
Since entering the NFL, Jones has been questioned by police 10 times and has been arrested five times.
The TNA wrestling promotion is based in Nashville and is owned by Panda Energy but is a distant second in a realm ruled by World Wrestling Entertainment. The company is run by Dixie Carter and longtime pro wrestler Jeff Jarrett.
The signing of Jones is an effort to garner publicity for a fringe company in an industry already stained by implications of steroid and other drug use after the highly-publicized Chris Benoit murder-suicide case.
"Pacman is a gifted athlete and though he has had some serious off-the-field issues, he has a chance to take his suspension and turn it into a positive,something good," said Carter. "We met with him numerous times before signing the contract, and each time we were thoroughly impressed with his desire to change his image, train hard and his commitment to take this opportunity to show a different side of himself.
"We are well aware of the controversy that might surround this signing, but it is our goal to help Pacman during his time away from football. Pacman wants to change his life, so we will do everything in our power to surround him with a positive work environment and people who will help him achieve his goal."
Jones joins an impressive list of NFL players who have made the jump from the football field to the wrestling ring, including Bronko Nagurski, Leo Nomellini, Bill Goldberg, Steve McMichael, Wahoo McDaniel and Ernie ‘The Big Cat’ Ladd.
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