Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Bengals’ ‘Pacman’ Jones back after one-game suspension
CINCINNATI » Adam “Pacman” Jones watched and winced as the Bengals stumbled through one of their worst season openers.
He’s back from his NFL suspension trying to help them get beyond it.
The cornerback served a one-game suspension for his offseason arrest and misdemeanor conviction. He was activated Tuesday and will start against the Texans at Paul Brown Stadium on Thursday night.
The Bengals lost to the Ravens 20-0, the first time in their history that they were blanked in a season opener at home.
Most of the issues involved the offense — Andy Dalton had five turnovers — but the young defense had bad moments as well.
Healthy and eager to play, Jones was relegated to watching on television.
“It was very odd, especially when you’re still playing at a high level and you know you can help your teammates out,” Jones said. “But like I’ve said, I put myself in this situation. I’ve already apologized to my teammates, Mr. (Mike) Brown, all of my coaches. Now it’s back to the basics.”
A defense that’s in transition was missing two of its veteran starters for the opener. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict served the first of his threegame suspension from the NFL for his latest egregious hit during a preseason game.
The Bengals got rid of several veterans in the offseason, creating bigger roles for young players on the defensive line and at linebacker. Jones and Burfict help the younger players keep up with the defensive adjustments on the field.
“It’s a different team,” cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick said. “We’ve got a lot of young guys out there, especially (Sunday). So it was a big difference out there, and you could tell.”
Jags place Robinson on IR
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. » The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed receiver Allen Robinson on injured reserve and signed receiver Max McCaffrey off New Orleans’ practice squad.
Robinson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Sunday at Houston and will have season-ending surgery.
McCaffrey is the son of retired NFL receiver Ed McCaffrey and the brother of Carolina Panthers rookie running back Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey started 38 games during his four-year career at Duke, where he caught 117 passes for 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Lewis, Moss, Urlacher among first-year nominees for HOF
CANTON, OHIO » Star linebackers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher and game-breaking wide receiver Randy Moss are among 11 first-year eligible players for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Also part of the 108 early nominees who are eligible for the first time, having been retired for five years when the class is chosen next February, are cornerback Ronde Barber, wideouts Donald Driver and Steve Smith (former Giant, Eagle and Ram), offensive linemen Steve Hutchinson, Matt Birk, and Jeff Saturday, and defensive linemen Richard Seymour and Kyle Vanden Bosch.
The roster of nominees consists of 53 offensive players, 38 defensive players, five special teams players and 12 coaches. Modern era nominees will be reduced to 25 semifinalists in November and, from there, to 15 finalists in January.
During Super Bowl week, 48 voters will discuss the finalists, plus senior nominees Robert Brazile and Jerry Kramer and contributors nominee Bobby Beathard.