Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
IRVING, Texas ó Adam “Pacman” Jones is already showing his new teammates some of his playmaking skills.
Still, Jones knows lessons learned off the field in more than a year away from the game are more important than two interceptions in two offseason practices with the Dallas Cowboys.
“Just picking and choosing my places, my friends, knowing what to do, when to do it and what not to do,” Jones said Wednesday after his second workout with the Cowboys. “Out of everything I’ve been through, that’s the past. I’m going to talk about the future.”
After Jones missed the 2007 season while suspended from the NFL, commissioner Roger Goodell this week partially reinstated the cornerback. Jones can practice with the team and has been cleared for training camp and preseason games, but may not know until Sept. 1 ó six days before the Cowboys’ opener ó if he can play in the regular season.
Jones, who met with Goodell last month in Atlanta, is confident that he will do his part to play.
“I know what it takes for me to do what I need to do, and that’s what I’m going to do,” Jones said, refusing to detail what Goodell told him. “It’s all up to the commissioner. Like I said before, I’m going to do my part.”
PANTHERS
CHARLOTTE ó D.J. Hackett’s sore knee has put a damper on the competition at receiver for the Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers signed Hackett and fellow veteran Muhsin Muhammad in the offseason to give them more options to pair with star Steve Smith. Muhammad and Hackett were expected to contend for the starting job.
Muhammad has been working with the first team in two-receiver sets and Hackett has been the third receiver. But Hackett missed two straight optional practices with a sore knee before returning to the field Wednesday.
Hackett’s injury has also moved Dwayne Jarrett up the depth chart after his disappointing rookie season in 2007.
SUSPENDED
TAMPA, Fla. ó Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Jerramy Stevens was suspended without pay for the first two games of the season and fined an additional game check Wednesday for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.