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IRVING, Texas - After just one season with the team, the Cowboys are cutting ties with Adam "Pacman" Jones, releasing the cornerback late Wednesday afternoon.
Jones, who joined the Cowboys last spring through a trade with the Titans, seemed to make as many off-the-field headlines as he did with his play.
Even with three years remaining on Jones' contract, the Cowboys apparently felt the need to move on from the often-troubled cornerback, who served a six-game NFL suspension this season for his involvement in a scuffle with his own personal bodyguard at a Dallas hotel back in early October.
Although the Cowboys inherited Jones' original contract with the Titans, which expires after the 2011 season, they will not take a salary cap hit, considering his bonus hit Tennessee's books last season when he was dealt to the Cowboys for a fourth-round pick in 2008. The trade also included the Cowboys giving Tennessee a sixth-round pick in 2009. However, because of Jones' suspension, it not only nullified that pick, which goes back to Dallas, but the Titans then had to give the Cowboys an additional fifth-round pick next season.
During his suspension, which was originally four games but league Commissioner Roger Goodell waited another two games before officially reinstating him, Jones reportedly attended an alcohol rehabilitation program.
In his first game back after the suspension, Jones suffered a herniated disk in his neck against Pittsburgh - an injury that was believed to be a season-ender and potentially career-threatening as well. However, Jones healed faster than anticipated and missed just one game before playing the last two of the season.
He ended the year with nine games played, six of which were starts. He finished 17th on the team with 33 tackles, including 27 solos. Jones tied with Terence Newman for the team lead with 13 pass deflections.
However, Jones was supposed to add some flash to the return game, particularly as a punt returner. Instead, he had one of the NFL's lowest averages at 4.5 yards.
He had only 95 punt return yards on 21 attempts. As a kick returner, Jones had 155 yards on seven runbacks for a 22.1 average.
Along with his shoddy reputation for off-the-field behavior, which included six previous arrests since the Titans drafted him sixth overall in the 2005 draft, Jones was also considered one of the NFL's up-and-coming cornerbacks, not to mention a stellar returner.
He already earned four punt-return touchdowns in two seasons with Tennessee, including three in 2006. In comparison, the Cowboys have had four punt returns for touchdowns since 2000.
Jones often tried to make more out of his returns by running sideways, rather than simply darting ahead.
However, the Cowboys are not releasing Jones only because of his inabilities to dazzle in the return game.
His off-the-field issues that plagued him Tennessee, which included 12 different times he was questioned by the police, didn't exactly stop once he came to the Cowboys.
And throw in the fact that he wasn't much of a difference maker on the field, and it made sense for the Cowboys to simply cut ties.
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said there would be changes next season. It just so happened that Pacman Jones becomes the first major one of the off-season.
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Nick Eatman - 
