Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones (24) returns a punt for seven yards in the second quarter at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on September 18, 2016. File photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI |
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Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown and coach Marvin Lewis came to the defense of cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones on Wednesday.
Jones was arrested Jan. 3 on a felony charge of harassment with a bodily substance and misdemeanor charges of assault, disorderly conduct and obstructing official business as a result of an altercation with a security guard at a Cincinnati hotel. The Cincinnati prosecutor dropped the felony charge last week, and Jones' lawyer said he will plead not guilty to the remaining charges.
"He knows full well what he has done to himself," Brown said at the NFL owners' meetings in Phoenix on Wednesday. "He regrets it. But it's been made into a public issue and maybe I am overly tolerant. If so, so be it."
Brown doesn't condone Jones' actions, but refused to condemn the 33-year-old either.
"You are dealing with people's lives here," Brown said. "It's easy to sit on high and say, 'Oh, terrible, terrible. Let's bring down the sword.' I think that's an overreaction. I'm not condoning his actions. They were, in all honestly, embarrassing. He was out of control. He misbehaved. He made a fool of himself. No one knows that more than he does.
"I don't know that I have been perfect in my lifetime, either. I probably did some things I wish I hadn't."
Lewis also defended Jones, who was shown on video using profane language toward police officers and telling them he wished they would die. Jones' lawyers have since released a statement saying that their client has apologized for what he said and is seeing counseling for anger management as a result of the incident.
"As time has come out, other than his language what did he do?" Lewis said, via the Cincinnati Enquirer. "But that's up to whatever happens. The case is still under review, we'll see how it plays out."
Jones was apprehended for turning violent when he was approached at the Downtown Millenium Hotel late in on the night of Jan. 2. Jones allegedly kicked at and head-butted the police officers who took him into custody.
When he arrived at the jail early on Jan. 3, Jones, according to court records, spit on a jail nurse who attempted to provide treatment.
A 10-year veteran and one-time Pro Bowler, Jones totaled 66 tackles, one interception, seven passes defensed and one forced fumble over 16 games in the 2016 season.
