Jones signed to 1-year contract
Publicly confident throughout training camp about their cornerback depth, the Broncos pivoted Sunday, signing veteran Adam “Pacman” Jones to a one-year contract after he worked out for the team.
Jones, who turns 35 next month, is expected to practice Monday. To make room for him on the roster, the Broncos waived rookie linebacker Bo Bower.
Jones has 16 interceptions in 139 career games, a career that has been stopped and re-started repeatedly by a long list of off-thefield troubles dating back to his rookie year in 2005.
Jones is reunited with Broncos coach Vance Joseph, who was Cincinnati’s defensive backs coach in 2014-15. Jones made the Pro Bowl both years (combined six interceptions).
The Broncos traded Aqib Talib to the Los Angeles Rams during the offseason, committing to Bradley Roby as the starter opposite Chris Harris. They signed veteran free agent Tramaine Brock, drafted Isaac Yiadom in the third round, claimed C.J. Smith off waivers and returned 2017 third-round pick Brendan Langley.
Brock, who missed a week in camp and the preseason opener against Minnesota because of a hamstring injury, was the Broncos’ nickel against Washington on Friday. The Broncos will keep Yiadom on the roster and Langley, despite his struggles on defense, remains a core special teams player.
Jones sustained a season-ending groin injury last December while making an interception against Pittsburgh. He played right cornerback in that game, but has experience covering the slot receiver, chiefly in 2011 and ’13 when Leon Hall was injured.
Jones spent eight years with the Bengals, but the team declined to pick up his contract option (guaranteed $6 million) in March. He worked out for the Cleveland Browns last month but did not sign.
Jones’ signing comes after the Broncos added linebacker Alexander Johnson earlier this month.
Johnson was signed shortly after being found not guilty on a charge of aggravated rape.
Pacman’s history of trouble
•2005: Jones was arrested on charges of assault and felony vandalism after a nightclub altercation. Those charges were ultimately dismissed. •2006: Jones was arrested in Georgia and charged with marijuana possession and was handcuffed after police said he threw a punch at an officer. The drug charge was dismissed in January 2007. Later in 2006, Jones was arrested for disorderly conduct and public intoxication and sentenced to six months of probation. During the regular season, Jones was cited on a misdemeanor assault charge and suspended one game by Titans coach Jeff Fisher.
•2007 (part 1): Attending NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, Jones was present when an early morning strip club brawl broke out and three people were shot. Police alleged Jones incited the right by throwing wads of dollar bills toward the stage and then becoming angry when the dancers picked up the money. He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct but was later sued.
•2007 (part 2): Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Jones for the entire season for numerous violations of the league’s personal conduct policy.
•2008: Jones re-surfaced with the Dallas Cowboys, but was suspended six games by the league after a scuffle with a team bodyguard.
•2009: Jones was released after the Cowboys learned of his connection to a shooting outside an Atlanta strip club in June 2007. Charges were never brought. Jones signed with Cincinnati.
•2010: Jones was detained after a game following a traffic incident, but police later apologized, saying Jones had done nothing wrong.
•2011: Jones was arrested for disorderly conduct while intoxicated and resisting arrest. He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was placed on one year of probation. The resisting-arrest charge was dropped after he apologized to the police.
•2012: Jones was ordered to pay $12.4 million in damages to two Las Vegas strip club employees from the incident in 2007. Tommy Urbanski, the club manager, was left paralyzed from the waist down after being shot. Aaron Cudworth, a former bouncer, was wounded. Even though Jones wasn’t the gunman, police believed his actions instigated the shooting. Jones appealed but the verdict was upheld by the Nevada Supreme Court. •2013: Jones was accused of punching a woman who dumped a beer on him at a bar. He was found not guilty.
•2017: Jones was suspended for the first game for violating the league’s personal conduct policy after being charged with assault, disorderly conduct and obstructing official business. A police cruiser’s video showed Jones verbally abusing an officer. The felony assault charge for spitting on a nurse was dropped after Jones entered alcohol and anger management treatment. Jones pleaded guilty to obstructing official business, but two other misdemeanors were dropped.
•2018: Jones was attacked by an Atlanta airport employee.