Tom E. Curran • E-mail

Jerry Jones said during the NFL Combine he was disappointed in the “wow” his team produced in 2007.

The Cowboys have traded for Pacman Jones.

Wow. How’s that, Jerry? In the most negative way imaginable, I say, “Wow.”

I feel for you parents in Dallas.

It was bad enough when your kid wanted a T.O. jersey. But you got it for him anyway because, while T.O. might be a nutjob, at least he’s never really hurt anybody (aside from Donovan McNabb and his feelings).

Now what do you do when Junior wants a Pacman jersey? Pacman was merely the root cause of a Las Vegas strip club melee in February 2007 that ended with three people shot and one paralyzed. He’s only been arrested six times since entering the league in 2005. He remains on the indefinite suspension handed down by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a year ago. This fella’s not quite so benign, is he? Have fun not only explaining why Junior can’t wear the jersey but why Jones is a part of the team you all root for. Thank the owner.

It’s funny, less than 24 hours ago, I wrote a column that criticized Bill Parcells for being too safe with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft for the Dolphins. Well, you can bet if Parcells was still in Dallas, Pacman would still be Titans property. But there’s nobody around now to tell Jerry, “No.”

You think the staggeringly overmatched Wade Phillips can do that? Fat chance. Not when the Cowboys are erecting a lavish new stadium in a down economy with labor strife on the NFL horizon. Pacman helps on two fronts. He brings the Mike Tyson Factor to Dallas at the turnstiles and he will help on the field as well. He’s a good football player.

Now, the question is whether or not he gets to play football. At the NFL Owner’s Meetings earlier this month, Goodell was steadfast about not lifting Jones’ suspension until he felt Jones was a changed person.

“I’ll make a decision prior to the start of training camp,” Goodell said. “I have seen some of his recent comments … and some of those comments were encouraging. I have always said he has to accept responsibility for his actions. Dallas, they know the consequences [of a trade] and the status of the player. I don't feel any obligation to do more than I said, to reconsider his status. I have made no commitment.”

The Titans get a fourth-round pick in this weekend’s draft in exchange for Jones, according to a report. They’ll get an additional fourth-rounder next year if Jones plays an unspecified amount of time. The pick will be refunded by the Titans next year if Pacman isn’t reinstated.

There is no doubt that Pacman Jones is one of the league’s better cornerbacks. Even with a private life in disarray, he proved that in 2006 for Tennessee. But how much chaos will he cause in Dallas by his mere presence? If and when Goodell reinstates him, can Jones comport himself in a way that seems completely foreign to the way he has so far in his adult life?

Rotoworld's Fantasy impact     NFL Player News Pacman joins Dallas The ultimate risk-reward move, but the Cowboys protected themselves. If Jones stays suspended, the Titans will send Dallas a 2009 pick. We think it's worth it. The Cowboys have also re-worked Jones' contract and we suspect it's team friendly. Based on ability and on-field production, Jones is more valuable than anyone in the 2008 draft. Perhaps it will blow up on Dallas, but the price isn't too high. More on Pacman Jones

The only real question is this: Is Jones going to clean up his act because he wants to play football in the NFL or because he wants to be a better person? If it’s the former, it won’t last. And, sadly, it might not last if it’s the latter, either.

Redemption stories are easy to embrace. Fixing a life gone off the tracks isn’t easy and those who commit to doing so and ultimately become better people should be congratulated.

There just hasn’t been much evidence submitted since Jones was suspended to indicate he’s changed. Just words, really. And even they haven’t been that persuasive. Asked earlier this month if he’ll be able to stay away from the myriad gentleman’s clubs in the Dallas area (strip clubs and Pacman mix like oil and water), Jones said, “I cannot say ever, ever. But I can say they won't see me in them for the next three or four years.”

The ball is now in Goodell’s court. He’s been pretty militant about cleaning out the toxins and parasites from the NFL’s innards. It’ll be interesting to see how he goes about reintroducing Pacman Jones into the system.

If and when he does, Pacman Jones officially becomes Jerry Jones’ headache. Wow.

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