PFW: TWWHI: Cowboys have plans for Pacman but will be patient

[WoodysGirl]

April 25, 2008

The first order of business for the Cowboys will be to hear what the commissioner’s office rules on CB-RS Pacman Jones and whether he’ll be eligible to play for the Cowboys this season. Another factor is when he might be able to join the team. DT Tank Johnson, for instance, was allowed to practice with the team before joining the Cowboys' active roster coming off a suspension; a similar situation might be allowed for Jones, though there has been no word yet. But if he’s cleared, the Cowboys won’t just turn Jones loose. They know he hasn’t played in more than a year, so they will work him into the rotation slowly. But they think he has the potential, at some point, to be an impact player on defense — either as a right corner or as a nickel back to start — and on special teams, as a kickoff and punt returner. He also might be tried, as he had been occasionally in Tennessee, on offense as a trick-play specialist.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL/NFC/NFC+East/Dallas/WWHI/2008/wwhi042508.htm

 

[Phrozen Phil]

Patience will be the key for all things Pac-Man related, whether it's playing or getting in football shape. The one exception is there should be no patience for bad behaviour..

 

[TheCount]

Exactly, I know some of us are expecting pro bowl performance out of him right away, but I think there will be a lot of rust.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Exactly why we have to get a cb early. Henry can't stay healthy and who knows when Jones will be able to play.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I cannot wait......if he is a changed man, we have a baller folks!

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Exactly, I know some of us are expecting pro bowl performance out of him right away, but I think there will be a lot of rust.

Randy Moss-like rust or ?

Randy, in effect took off the season with the Raiders and then set records the NEXT YEAR with NE.

Just saying....

 

[WoodysGirl]

Randy Moss-like rust or ?

Randy, in effect took off the season with the Raiders and then set records the NEXT YEAR with NE.

Just saying....

Randy still participated in a NFL training camp, worked out in a NFL training facility, trained under the guidance of a NFL strength and training coordinator, and played NFL games, even if only half-arsed. No comparison, IMO.

 

[RainMan]

I cannot wait......if he is a changed man, we have a baller folks!

But it could just as easily prove to be a "balla'" we're getting.

 

[RainMan]

My concern is how the body reacts after a year away from the game. Will he suddenly be more injury prone, and unprepared for taking on NFL bodies in contact?

I agree the rust will be there, and he has to be worked in. Aside from the behavioral issues, you can't just go and replace Henry with him because he won't be ready.

I'm curious how quickly he'll be able to help out the special teams. Is that a role that will return naturally, or could fielding punts be one of the harder tasks to take on immediately? I guess we'll know in a few months.

And as for the offensive side of the ball, I think that's something you start working on in Year 2. I think you start him out as the No. 4 corner (assuming we draft a guy in Round 1), and try to slide him onto the special teams quickly if he's ready. Putting him in on offense, too, is not only unwise but I think sets a poor tone for the rest of the players.

 

[skinsscalper]

I'm not setting the bar high for Jones, this year. I don't think we'll see what we're hoping to see (atleast from a defensive standpoint) until later in the year.

Assuming that Jones stays out of trouble (a HUGE, and probably ill advised, assumption) I think next year is when we are really going to see the type of play that will get us excited about him.

I'm taking the Jerry Jones approach to this whole thing for this season: ANYTHING we get out of Adam THIS season is a luxury. Next year is when I HOPE we see the dynamic player this guy can be.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Randy still participated in a NFL training camp, worked out in a NFL training facility, trained under the guidance of a NFL strength and training coordinator, and played NFL games, even if only half-arsed. No comparison, IMO.

Well Pac SHOULD be allowed to participate in all things prior to reg season.

Will disagree that there is "no comparison" though. You could argue that Pac is so much younger that he CAN bounce back and be effective pretty much out of the gate.

 

[Apollo Creed]

I think Pacman with a years worth of rust is still a better 3rd corner than Reeves, and twice the punt returner we had in Crayton.

He has football instincts and makes plays, something that not many people in our secondary or return game have.

 

[RainMan]

I think Pacman with a years worth of rust is still a better 3rd corner than Reeves...

Don't tell the Texans.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Don't tell the Texans.

They will find out soon enough

 

[RainMan]

They will find out soon enough

You know there will be unrest with the signing when you venture to a Texans message board and read, "We should have signed Nate Jones."

 

[WoodysGirl]

Well Pac SHOULD be allowed to participate in all things prior to reg season.

Will disagree that there is "no comparison" though. You could argue that Pac is so much younger that he CAN bounce back and be effective pretty much out of the gate.

I agree you could make that argument that he could bounce back fairly easily, but based on what evidence? His youth? That can only get you only so far.

Goodell is not even planning to hear his appeal until June. And who knows when he may be allowed at Valley Ranch. Just seems a bit optimistic to think that he'll be able to make an immediate impact this year, let alone one like Randy made in NE.

 

[JerryFan]

My concern is how the body reacts after a year away from the game. Will he suddenly be more injury prone, and unprepared for taking on NFL bodies in contact?

I agree the rust will be there, and he has to be worked in. Aside from the behavioral issues, you can't just go and replace Henry with him because he won't be ready.

I'm curious how quickly he'll be able to help out the special teams. Is that a role that will return naturally, or could fielding punts be one of the harder tasks to take on immediately? I guess we'll know in a few months.

And as for the offensive side of the ball, I think that's something you start working on in Year 2. I think you start him out as the No. 4 corner (assuming we draft a guy in Round 1), and try to slide him onto the special teams quickly if he's ready. Putting him in on offense, too, is not only unwise but I think sets a poor tone for the rest of the players.

I don't think there will be an issue with him being more injury prone cause he missed a year. I think if he is allowed to participate with the team in the off season workouts then he will be much better off obviously. Either way he'll get some time to work into the D no doubt. I think he starts off our 3CB and whatever happens from there happens.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I think Pacman with a years worth of rust is still a better 3rd corner than Reeves, and twice the punt returner we had in Crayton.

He has football instincts and makes plays, something that not many people in our secondary or return game have.

Amen.

I agree you could make that argument that he could bounce back fairly easily, but based on what evidence? His youth? That can only get you only so far.

Goodell is not even planning to hear his appeal until June. And who knows when he may be allowed at Valley Ranch. Just seems a bit optimistic to think that he'll be able to make an immediate impact this year, let alone one like Randy made in NE.

Thanks for agreeing that we could make that argument.

Yes, his youth and as goinforsix mentioned... he has "football instincts"... a nose for the football... those intangibles lead me to believe he what I have already posted.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I don't expect anything more than the nickel corner out of him until at least midseason, provided he's even allowed back on the field, and to return punts.

The corner situation will take a little more time to get back into, full force, but somehow I doubt that the year off is going to suddenly make him an average, or below average, return man.

 

[Rockytop6]

I'm not setting the bar high for Jones, this year. I don't think we'll see what we're hoping to see (atleast from a defensive standpoint) until later in the year.

Assuming that Jones stays out of trouble (a HUGE, and probably ill advised, assumption) I think next year is when we are really going to see the type of play that will get us excited about him.

I'm taking the Jerry Jones approach to this whole thing for this season: ANYTHING we get out of Adam THIS season is a luxury. Next year is when I HOPE we see the dynamic player this guy can be.

If he stays clean and on the team, if he only plays special teams as KR, etc. he will be worth probably what he is paid this first year. I know I'm making a terrible assumption about his salary for this year but he could earn his money just playing ST.