'Pacman' Jones takes hard stance against anthem kneelers

By Ross Kelly July 14, 2018 at 10:57am

Earlier this week the NFL Players Association filed a grievance against the NFL to stop its new policy on national anthem protests that was put in place for the 2018 season.

“The union’s claim is that this new policy, imposed by the NFL’s governing body without consultation with the NFLPA, is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement and infringes on player rights,” the NFLPA said.

But one member of that union, Adam “Pacman” Jones, thinks players should find another way to bring awareness to social issues besides kneeling for the anthem.

Jones was stopped by TMZ Sports in Los Angeles International Airport and was asked about the anthem kneelers. His response might come as a surprise to some.

“I’m all for the anthem,” Jones told TMZ. “I have a couple of family members that have been over to Iraq.”

“The social issues don’t have nothing to do with the national anthem,” said Jones, adding that players should “figure out another way besides that way.”

Do you agree with 'Pacman' Jones?

Jones’ view is shared by his employer for the last eight years, the Cincinnati Bengals.

No Bengals took a knee during the national anthem last season, and the team’s owner, Mike Brown, reportedly told safety Eric Reid during his free agent visit that he “intends to prohibit” such protests before asking Reid if he would be kneeling next season.

Jones is also a free agent in search of a job, and it’s possible his words are designed to appease NFL teams that might consider signing him.

Jones’ comments to TMZ came before he departed for Georgia, but what happened to the cornerback after he landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport made even bigger headlines.

Seemingly out of nowhere, an employee of the airport began cursing out Jones, which led to a fight between the two.

After the man provoked Jones, Pacman turned into the Hitman and knocked the man down in the middle of the concourse. Police then arrived on the scene and determined that Jones fought back in self-defense, and he was allowed to board his flight to Cincinnati.

The airport employee, Frank Ragin, was arrested on two counts of battery, but before he could be booked, he first had to be hospitalized with cuts on his face. He was then photographed from his hospital bed, and that picture was used as his arrest mugshot.

https://twitter.com/TyishaWSB/status/1017126650419572736

Jones avoided any injuries, which is important considering how his 2017 season went. He missed time due to a concussion and hernia in addition to being suspended one game.

He had hernia surgery in May but has received no known interest from NFL teams. If he does play in 2018, the soon-to-be 35-year-old will be the fourth-oldest cornerback in the league.

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