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NFL notebook: Pacman Jones suspended 1 game

By The Sports Xchange
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones returns a punt against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones returns a punt against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones has been suspended one game for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, the league announced Friday.

Jones, 33, 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.

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The Cincinnati prosecutor dropped the felony charge and in May and Jones entered a plea of guilty to obstruction of official business stemming from the incident. The state court imposed a sentence of time served (two days' confinement) and court fees.

The NFL explained in a letter to Jones that it considered the "extensive video documentation of the tone, tenor and nature of your interactions with law enforcement at the site of your arrest, during transportation to the jail, and during the booking process. As you acknowledged, your post-arrest words and actions reflected poorly on you and your family, the Cincinnati Bengals football club, and the NFL. While it is our understanding that appropriate apologies have been publicly extended, they do not completely negate your behavior and admission of culpability for the underlying conduct."

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--The Carolina Panthers signed Pro Bowl offensive guard Trai Turner to a four-year contract extension, the team announced.

The 24-year-old Turner is now under contract with Carolina through the 2021 season. He was entering the final year of his rookie contract.

The extension is worth $45 million with $20.5 million guaranteed, according to the Charlotte Observer. The deal includes a $15 million signing bonus.

The $11.25 million per-year average makes Turner the NFL's third highest-paid guard behind Cleveland's Kevin Zeitler ($12 million) and Oakland's Kelechi Osemele ($11.7 million).

--The Kansas City Chiefs signed their first-round draft pick, quarterback Patrick Mahomes II, to a four-year rookie contract.

All of Kansas City's six draft picks are now under contract ahead of the Chiefs' training camp starting next week.

Mahomes' deal is worth $16.4 million with a $10 million signing bonus and a fifth-year option, according to the Kansas City Star.

The Chiefs traded up from the 27th pick in April's NFL Draft to take Mahomes out of Texas Tech with the 10th overall selection.

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--First-round pick Jamal Adams signed a four-year rookie deal with the New York Jets.

The LSU safety, projected as a top-5 pick by NFLDraftScout.com, Adams was the No. 6 pick in April. His agreement is worth $22.3 million and includes a fifth-year team option.

When business opened Friday, the third overall pick -- Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas of the 49ers -- and fifth selection (Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis of the Titans) remained unsigned.

Adams, known for his hard-hitting skills in coverage, should provide an immediate upgrade on Calvin Pryor, the incumbent strong safety who underperformed and was traded to the Cleveland Browns.

--Detroit Lions legendary running back Barry Sanders has returned to the team nearly two decades after his sudden departure.

The Hall of Famer, now 49, will be a "brand ambassador," team president Rod Wood told The Detroit News.

"We've thankfully, the last couple years, had an unofficial relationship with him," Wood told the newspaper. "This year, we formalized it. You described it well, it's kind of a brand ambassador. He'll be going on road trips, showing up for suite visits, he'll be at the Taste of the Lions event, and just interacting with our fans on behalf of the team.

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"It's a formal agreement. I worked with Barry and his agent to put something together that works for both of us. It's not a football role. It's more of a marketing, business role."

--Might Calvin Johnson be seriously considering the invitation to training camp extended by the Lions?

Wood sounds confident that Johnson might join the Lions after the team sent a formal invitation. Johnson retired before the 2016 season and said recently that he walked away because the franchise was not close to reaching the Super Bowl.

"As I said on WJR (Radio), we had a very nice, cordial exchange," Wood said of his discussion with the receiver known as Megatron. "I'm hoping he comes. I'm not going to say anymore beyond that. I do have confidence it'll work out ultimately."

The optimistic outlook comes on the same day the Lions announced an ambassador role for Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders.

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