Adam “Pacman” Jones, while talented, could do something stupid on any play. He knows it, apparently.
Jones told reporters Wednesday he was fined $35,000 for slamming wide receiver Amari Cooper’s head into his helmet Sunday during a scuffle in the second quarter of the Cincinnati Bengals’ 33-13 win over the Oakland Raiders.
Conventional wisdom says Jones shouldn’t do it again, at least if he’s concerned about his bank account. But the Bengals cornerback isn’t ready to completely revamp his style.
“Hopefully it won’t happen again,” Jones told reporters Wednesday. “But I can’t promise you guys that in the heat of the moment it won’t happen again. I do my best to keep my composure and do what I have to do to not hurt my team.”
Jones, a polarizing player, insisted he’s learned from his actions and that he’ll try to keep his cool moving forward. The key word there, of course, is “try.” Jones is somewhat of a loose cannon, and the 31-year-old considers his emotions, which sometimes get the best of him, to be a hallmark of his game.
“My line, you can’t walk with the line. When the line is crossed, you either click on or you click off. So I don’t know about the line,” Jones said. “As far as in life, you have to walk like that, but on the field, I’m just one of those guys who plays with no seat belt. I’m not going to change the way I play for nobody.
“As long as it’s not hurting my team, then I’m cool. I know the difference between playing smart and reckless and playing smart and reckless and doing dumb things. Hopefully that won’t happen anymore.”
Jones also told reporters he plans to appeal his fine stemming from Sunday’s incident.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
