Close the strip clubs, Pacman in Cincinnati

With news of Adam “Pacman” Jones expected to officially sign with the Cincinnati Bengals Monday, May 9, reaction has been mixed.
For me, it's simple: Jones adds depth to the bottom of the depth chart, creates more competition for training camp and was dirt cheap to obtain.
Everybody knows about Jones' past and most agree he doesn't deserve a third — maybe fourth — chance in the NFL, but he must have shown the Bengals something at his workout. When Cincinnati worked him out in February, scouts said Jones looked slow and confused but told him to keep working and not to give up on this opportunity.
Less than three months later, the Bengals gave Pacman that opportunity and he didn't let them down. For them to offer him a contract, he must have done something that impressed them. He must have kept working and improved. That shows dedication and a love for the game: two of the most critical attributes for any good player.
The guy is only 26 years old, the same age as fellow cornerback Johnathan Joseph (a free agent after the 2010 season) and was a former first-round draft pick out of West Virginia.
With the Bengals' top-two cornerbacks nearing the end of their contracts, if Jones happens to work out and stay out of trouble, at minimum he gives you a serviceable backup. I'm not saying he'll replace Joseph or Leon Hall, but depth at a critical position like cornerback is a must in the NFL.
With David Jones, Morgan Trent and rookie Brandon Ghee all competing for playing time at corner, Jones' presence will push them all to compete against each other at an even higher level, hopefully leading to improvement for all.
If you look at the Bengals' roster to begin the 2009 season at the running back position, there sat Cedric Benson, DeDe Dorsey, Brian Leonard and rookie Bernard Scott. All we heard was, “When is DeDe Dorsey going to get his chance?” or, “Why don't we give the ball to DeDe more?”
After the intensity of competing with three other quality NFL athletes in training camp, Dorsey was the one the Bengals determined he could cut it. Dorsey made the team, but was cut in mid-September and spent the majority of the 2009 season in the United Football League.
My point is, when competition plays a role and your career is at risk, it brings out the best in you, we find out who the best players are and which players are deserving of a precious spot on the 53-man roster.
Oh yeah, and he signed an incentive-laden minimum salary contract. If Pacman performs well, he'll be paid well. If he “makes it rain” at Déjà vu, the Bengals will cut him quicker than you can say strip club.
There's really no downside to the contract Jones is expected to sign, because the Bengals hold the keys to his future if he can stay clean. Even if he manages that, there are no guarantees Jones will even make the club out of training camp.
So, why all the fuss? Because the guy has only played in nine of the past 42 NFL games due to off-field issues.
I understand those worries and also the concern raised over whether or not he will screw up this teams' locker room chemistry.
Cincinnati defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said, “We've got a bunch of strong character guys on defense; I'm not going to let this kid screw up our chemistry.”
While I applaud the bull-headed answer by Zimmer, he's going to have to do more than just state what most of us don't believe. He is going to have his hands full with Pacman, but with a locker room full of “second chance” guys. Maybe this is the perfect fit for Jones.
If this deal works out for the Bengals, they could have stumbled upon a cheap talent for two years that could prove to be crucial for their defense down the road.
For Jones, it's a matter of dedication and staying clean. But that could be a lot to ask from a guy who hasn't been relevant since 2006.
Only time will tell.
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