 | Lions confirm interest in Pacman Jones but 'nothing's imminent' |
John Niyo / The Detroit News
Lions general manager Martin Mayhew confirmed the Lions' interest in free-agent cornerback Pacman Jones, whose well-documented troubled past has kept the former first-round pick out of the NFL two of the last three seasons.
Sheldon White, the Lions' vice president of player personnel, attended Jones' workout for a handful of teams last week in New Orleans.
"I would say nothing's imminent," Mayhew said. "But we're definitely tracking that and gathering more information. And he's a guy that has a skill set that would help us."
Asked if he'd categorize the Lions' interest as "strong" or simply doing their due diligence, Mayhew said, "Probably somewhere between those two things."
"If it was 'strong' I think we would've signed him after the workout," Mayhew added. "He had a really good workout, from what I understand. But we need to do some more research on him."
Mayhew cited Jones' history with coach Jim Schwartz, who coached him for two seasons in Tennessee before he was traded to Dallas in 2008. Mayhew also pointed to his own relationship with ex-Florida State teammate Deion Sanders, who has helped mentor Jones the last year.
"He hasn't been in trouble for almost two years now," Mayhew said of Jones, who was arrested six times during his three years with the Titans and was suspended for the 2007 season for multiple violations of the NFL's personal conduct policy. "That's a pretty big hoop to jump through. That's a good sign. Talking with Deion about him, and where he is in his life, he had a lot of positive things to say. I'd like to sit down and talk with him myself personally.
"We don't have a date set up, but I would think that'd be a next step for us."
http://www.detnews.com/article/20100323/SPORTS0101/3230435/1126/Lions-confirm-interest-in-Pacman-Jones-but--nothing-s-imminent-
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