Jun 2, 2008 - 7:38 PM
0 shoutsNEW YORK (Ticker) -- Troubled cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones has been granted a partial reinstatement from his league-imposed suspension, the NFL announced Monday.
A member of the Dallas Cowboys, Jones will be allowed to participate in organized team activities (OTAs), training camp and preseason games.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told Jones that a final determination regarding his reinstatement for regular-season play will be made by September 1.
"Commissioner Goodell told Jones that his continued participation in the NFL depends on demonstrating that he can conduct himself in a lawful and reliable manner," the NFL said in a statement. "Jones will be expected to continue the personal conduct program established for him by the NFL and the Cowboys and to avoid further adverse involvement with law enforcement."
The Cowboys will hold OTAs from Tuesday to Thursday for the next two weeks, in which Jones will participate, before conducting a mini-camp from June 17-19.
Jones, who was traded to Dallas from the Tennessee Titans six weeks ago, originally was suspended indefinitely in April 2007 for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
Goodell previously had said Jones could be traded while on suspension and that he would review the cornerback's status before training camps open in late July.
If Jones was not reinstated by the NFL, the Titans would have to return a fourth-round pick to the Cowboys in 2009.
Should Jones get suspended again, the Titans would have to give up a fifth-round pick to the Cowboys.
"This limited reinstatement is a step in the process," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "Adam is aware of the things that need to be done in order to take the next step."
On December 6, Jones pleaded no contest to a reduced charge in a Las Vegas strip club melee which preceded a triple shooting that left a man paralyzed.
As part of the plea bargain, Jones was sentenced to one year of probation and agreed to offer testimony about the gunman. Prosecutors dropped two charges of coercion, a felony carrying a possible sentence of one to six years in prison.
Prosecutors are hoping that Jones can identify the gunman who opened fire February 19, 2007 outside the Minxx Gentlemen's Club, where Jones had earlier been involved in a brawl.
On April 18, Arvin Kenti Edwards was arrested in Yakima, Washington on six felony charges and is awaiting extradition to Nevada, where the case will move forward.
On the heels of that arrest, Las Vegas police charged that Jones paid $15,000 in "extortion" money to Edwards, who allegedly had threatened the player and his family.
Edwards has since said he was framed by Jones and denied he received any extortion money.
In addition, Edwards claimed Jones "paid somebody to shoot that club up. Now, if he wants to tell on somebody, he needs to tell on himself and tell them what he actually done."
Despite his litany of off-field problems, Jones could provide the Cowboys with a dynamic cover cornerback and an explosive weapon on special teams.
An All-Pro selection in 2006, Jones appeared in 15 games with the Titans that season, recording 51 tackles and four interceptions. He returned one of those picks for a touchdown and also emerged as one of the top punt returners in the league, averaging 12.9 yards and scoring three TDs in 34 attempts.
