In the Dallas Cowboys locker room after their road win against Green Bay last month, a reporter approached Adam "Scrapman" Jones, aka lover, fighter, wrestler, stripper-a-holic.
The writer had a simple question: Would you like to be more involved in special teams play or even involved on offense? Scrapman stared at the reporter and Scrapman's face looked like someone had just smacked him.
"Listen to this chump," Jones said, referring to the reporter.
|
|
| If the Cowboys fail to reach the Super Bowl, Jerry Jones will be scrutinized for bringing players like Pacman aboard. (US Presswire) |
Scrapman then turned to a Cowboys teammate as the writer smiled somewhat awkwardly. "Listen to this chump," Scrapman said. "What a chump."
"Chump."
Guess Scrapman thinks the guy was a chump.
First, I didn't think anyone used the word "chump" these days. It's very 1970s. Who does Scrapman think he is, Rooster from Baretta?
Second, and most important, it was an interesting scene because when I saw Scrapman just a month or so before in training camp, his personality was completely different. Scrapman was so subservient, I thought he was going to ask if my shoes needed a shine.
Clearly, now, Scrapman is tired of playing the part of good citizen and wants to get back to The Ways of Scrapman. This especially seems true since published reports state that Jones, once again, earned his nickname by getting into some sort of altercation/fight/mud wrestling with bodyguards or strippers or God knows what.
The previous good behavior was apparently all an intricate act. Shocker, I know.
This is a long-winded, extremely long-winded way to make the point that an owner whom I greatly respect has put his eggs in one dysfunctional basket.
If this experiment works in Dallas and the Cowboys reach the Super Bowl, then Jerry Jones deserves executive of the year. If it fails, however, and all of the miscreant types he has signed recently start acting like, well, miscreants, then Jones' Hall of Fame legacy could take a serious hit.
I like Jones. Always have. If I were a fan, I'd beg for him to be my team's owner because he cares. Does he have a tremendous ego? Well, do birds fly?
Still, he deserves to be considered one of the best owners of all time.
Yet Jones has staked his reputation on the reputations of several disreputable players, including Scrapman, Terrell Owens and Tank Johnson. It's a volatile mix.
Since 2005, Scrapman has been arrested six times and involved in 13 incidents requiring police investigation. If Scrapman is involved in the legal system any more, he'll be able to pass the bar.
Even Michael Vick says those statistics are embarrassing.
There's a chance the experiment could work, but as Scrapman's latest alleged incident demonstrates there's an equally good chance the entire thing could blow up in the Cowboys owner's face.
There might've never been a team this talented with such a thin line for error and nose for trouble.
Jerry Jones is now seeing what Philadelphia and Tennessee eventually discovered. The Eagles got rid of Owens because they witnessed how he can single-handedly destroy a locker room. The Titans saw the extreme untrustworthiness that is Scrapman.
You know things are insane in Dallas when Tank is the model citizen.
|
|
|
UKnowMoreThanMe How do you get in a fight with the guy who is supposed to keep you from getting in fights? Scrapman is a fool. He deserves whatever Goodell decides to do with him.
The funny thing is... Adam Jones isn't even that good of a cornerback, yet thinks he's the second coming of Deion Sanders. Once again, he's a fool. Jerry Jones is actually quite smart about this move in my opinion... If Adam Jones does get kicked out of the league, or whatever else, the Cowboys get their pick back from the Titans like nothing ever happened. That's smart in my book. I don't think Jerry Jones is risking his reputation at all. |
|
|
| Mike Freeman: We agree that Adam/Pacman is a fool. No one disputes that. But we disagree that Jones is risking his reputation. If this entire thing works, he's brilliant. If it doesn't, he'll get the blame. Jones is taking a tremendous risk with Scrapman." |
| Click here for more Community reaction |
Jones was so desperate for a championship he rolled the dice with questionable characters and now one of them, Scrapman, might be letting Jones down after the owner put so much faith in him.
Seriously, Scrapman is so Thug-Life he got into a fight with bodyguards assigned to protect him. You absolutely cannot make this stuff up.
Unbelievable.
Well, at least this time no one got a cap busted in their ass.
This from Dale Hansen, sportscaster in Dallas, in April after the Cowboys signed Scrapman: "If character doesn't really doesn't matter, why don't they sign Osama bin Laden to play wide receiver? They need one, he's 6-4, and we know nobody can catch him."
Nice line.
Scrapman might end up making Jones look like a stone, cold fool.
Your legacy remains safe for now, Mr. Jones. But be careful. Be very, very careful.
You've put your reputation into the hands of Scrapman.
Good luck with that.
