Pacman Jones to NFL rookies: 'Learn from my mistakes'

NBC SPORTS - If the NFL was looking for the best possible speaker to invite to this year’s Rookie Symposium in order to express to this year’s rookie class the wrong way to do things...

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

NBC Sports – If the NFL was looking for the best possible speaker to invite to this year’s Rookie Symposium in order to express to this year’s rookie class the wrong way to do things, they couldn’t have done much better than Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones.

Jones was the sixth overall pick of the 2005 Draft and made good on his lofty draft position in his early years with the Titans. He never fully blossomed into a star, though, because he couldn’t stay out of trouble off the field. That led to suspensions, long absences from the game and his departure from Tennessee, leaving him to continue his career as a sub corner without any of the special buzz he brought to the game when he first hit the NFL.

Avoiding the same kind of career trajectory was the theme of Jones’ speech to the rookies on Monday. He didn’t want the NFL Network or NFL.com to broadcast his discussion, but he shared some of what he talked about with Jeff Darlington of NFL.com.

“If I could tell them anything, I just want them to realize this is a business,” Jones said. “When you sign your contract, you are the head CEO of your company. The Adam Jones Company – whatever it is. We can’t go running down a field for the rest of our life. Every decision you make is critical. It might not get you now. But it will get you later.”

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