I feel the same way, I don’t like to see thugs and criminals wearing my teams uniform every week. But I think it’s worth giving guys a second chance (notice I didn’t say 5 or 6th chance) based on what they can bring to the team and what mistakes they have made.

You bring up 2 cases that seem to be at the center of the latest Cowboy bashing articles, blog comments, and ammo for co-workers and friends who like to tell you why they hate Dallas. (I think it’s because they are jealous, and/or don’t like to root for successful teams)
Tank and now the Pacman. First off, I wasn’t too happy about Tank being brought in, as a fan. But considering Jason Ferguson was lost for the season before the 1st game was over, and given the lack of depth at that spot.(Nobody was really sure if Rat could fill in for an entire season), I think Jerry the GM made the best move he could. And I’ll be the first to say Tank has worked out very well here in Dallas. A good player and no off the field BS. Well done Jerry.

That bring us to Pacman. I didn’t want this guy from day one of the trade rumors, and I’m still not as excited about it as others, but I guess I have prepared myself for the day he gets re-instated and starts contributing on the field. I can only hope it goes as well as Tank’s re-instatement. Best case scenario is he doesn’t mess up off the field, and becomes a ProBowl caliber CB and punt returner. Worst case, he messes up and gets the boot, and Dallas gets another 4th round pick in 2009. Still not too bad. The key was, this deal was done before the draft, when Dallas was still in need of CB help (I would say desperately in need) and before we knew we’d get Jenkins as a steal at #25 and Scandrick as a steal in the 5th round.

Point being, both Tank and Pacman were brought in cheaply at positions of great need where they have proven to be good players in the NFL. I think Jerry wants to win badly enough that he will take a small risk on a “bad character” if he feels there is no other choice. I don’t think it will become his habit to take in every guy with a bad past and questionable future. He’s a shrewd businessman, he values PR and the Cowboys brand is a valuable one. He won’t be adding any more guys like Pacman (I’m looking at you Chris Henry) for a long time.

It’s a great time to be a Cowboy’s fan, so don’t be ashamed to root for this team made up of 99.5% good guys. (I’ll count Pacman as 0.5% since he isn’t technically part of the team yet)

Did you lose your pride in 1995 when Irvin was arrested after our third super bowl ring in four years? Were you bursting with pride when our high character guys couldn’t piece together a winning season? I get what you are saying but Jerry Jones has always proven himself to be an owner that will do what it takes to win and that’s why I love him. If you want an example of organizations doing things the wrong way and paying the price, look at the Bengals. Playoff losses notwithstanding, the Cowboys are the premiere organization in the NFL – they win big and lose big but are one of the most successful franchises in the history of the league.

As for Pacman, again I get what you are saying and share the same fears but Jerry is a gambler and he looks at it this way – If Pacman can’t seize this last chance after hitting bottom, if he can’t realize that him staying out of trouble will be the difference between being a millionaire athlete and a broken down bum who is featured on “Outside the Lines” in five years, then the cowboys will drop him like a bad habit and move on. I like those odds and I hope that Goodells punishment has shown Adam that times are changing and those that can’t adapt will go extinct.

Part of the reason I was drawn to the cowboys is that they are never boring. Jerry knows how to generate excitement and I sincerely hope this year it equates into playoff win(s).

I couldn’t have said it better myself, the madness of signing thugs like Pacman must stop.

I am so tired of hearing about how much of a thug Jones is.

I guarantee you if he was white, he’d be Sean Connery. I don’t know how many times people just get brainwashed by ESPN or dallascowboys.com, but it is really annoying.

yeah, yeah I got that, but how does that make him thug with seemingly no hope for redemption?

Turn a blind eye to what went on here in past years. Does anyone really think that the SB teams of the 70s and 90s consisted of a bunch of boy scouts? Come on, people. The Cowboys didn’t win over America by wearing bowties and never starting sentences with a conjunction.

When da King gets the chance to buy young talented players “on the cheap” - see Tank and Pacman - he goes for it.

Kind of like buying a once-proven commodity at rock-bottom prices, hoping it’ll eventually return to form and pay dividends and/or a windfall down the road.

It’s having an owner who wants to be buddies with the players and having a Golly-Gee head coach.

None of us would lose a minute of sleep if Jimmy were head coach because we knew the players would either get with the program or he’d kick them out. New England’s top receiver that inserted fear into defensive coordinators was available last year and many wouldn’t touch him with a 38 1/2 foot pole. And why did everyone think NE got a steal? Because they knew Belicheck would keep him in line.

Does anyone really believe that Wade will disclipline Pacman if he’s having a pro-bowl year but told the coach he’s still going to strip clubs? If the answer is no – you’ve just confirmed the biggest problem.

I’m proud of the team…just wish the QB would dump the over-rated bimbo and her publicity whore dad.