CINCINNATI -- Adam 'Pacman' Jones isn't a stranger to controversy -- or its resulting spotlight. Over the span of his 10-year career, the cornerback has been suspended, cited, accused and arrested for offenses from disorderly conduct to assault.
On Wednesday, Jones announced on Instagram that he got a letter from the league informing him of a $35,000 fine after he ripped Raiders rookie Amari Cooper's helmet off and slammed his head into the helmet during Sunday's game at Oakland.
Jones has played for the Bengals since 2010, but also played for the Cowboys and Titans in his first five years in the league. He makes an average of $1,783,333 annually under his current contract with the Bengals.
Bengals CB Adam Jones weighs in on fine for incident with Amari Cooper: "I can't promise it won't happen again. I'm an emotional player."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 16, 2015
Even with the new of Jones' fine, some are still calling for his suspension from the league.
Obviously, the opinion with the most weight is that of the NFL, whose stance was revealed on Tuesday by NFL.com writer Ian Rapoport, following ESPN reporting that Jones would likely not be suspended.
As for #Bengals CB Adam Jones, the play where he knocked Amari Cooper’s helmet off will be reviewed. Expect a fine for Jones, no suspension
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 14, 2015
Football analysts, sports personalities and fans are weighing in on Jones' punishment.
Ed Werder of ESPN called the move to fine but not suspend Jones "rational", because Cooper was not injured. But Werder's colleague (sort of) ESPN writer Kevin Seifert didn't share the sentiment.
Rational for #NFL fining but not suspending Pacman: incident on field, Bengals penalized 15 yds, didn't swing helmet, Cooper wasn't injured,
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) September 15, 2015
Given NFL point of emphasis on fighting, surprising that #Bengals’ Pacman Jones wasn’t ejected for slamming Amari Cooper’s head into helmet.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 13, 2015
Other sports journalists weighed in, too, but with a tinge of playfulness.
Pacman Jones' cheap shot on Amari Cooper, narrated by WWE's Jim Ross https://t.co/viUywt4i9v
— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) September 13, 2015
Pacman Jones welcomes Amari Cooper to the NFL with a nice head thump. pic.twitter.com/vkkpTYnNOU
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) September 13, 2015
Pac Man Jones just American History X'd Amari Cooper
— Mike Procopio (@mikeprocopio) September 13, 2015
But -- at a huge surprise to probably no one -- fans proved to be the most passionate and outraged over Jones' move and the NFL's decision not to suspend.
@NFL nice handling of the Pacman Jones assault on Amari Cooper...said no one ever. #criminals
— Nigel Haze (@ChilledBriefly) September 15, 2015
How Adam Jones didn't get fined or suspended for slamming Cooper's head into a helmet is beyond me. Player safety @NFL, practice it. #oak
— Dennis Gauker (@distantgrapes) September 14, 2015
@RapSheet wow. "Knocked his helmet off"? Then slammed his head into it you mean... Unreal
— Kristen (@kris10engels) September 14, 2015
@AmariCooper9 kudos for being the bigger man against pacman jones on that lil incident
— Krisztian92 (@kristian1260) September 14, 2015
@AmariCooper9 Adam Jones is a dirty man. Loved that you kept your cool, and your team had your back. You'll turn it around. #RaiderNation
— Shawn Schaffer (@sschaffer24) September 14, 2015
@AmariCooper9 Pacman is a scumbag, get em next week
— P.W (@peteywengs) September 14, 2015
Jones didn't shy away from social media amidst the controversy. He posted a video on Instagram with the caption "Lmao !! I love the game of football sorry if you mad or if you think I play with a chip on my shoulders !!! Look at the film"
He also responded to a few Tweets calling for his suspension and appeared humored by the attention.
Lmao look do what you gone do !!!!! Smh people crazy pic.twitter.com/2Qaqm715za
— ADAm Pacman Jones (@REALPACMAN24) September 14, 2015
Cooper expressed some disappointment after the game and the resulting loss of his NFL debut over Twitter.
I'm mad at MYSELF about that one! smh.
— R.I.P Freddy G (@AmariCooper9) September 14, 2015
He also told ESPN that he didn't take it personally and "it's football."
Amari Cooper: "It's football. It's a physical game so you kind of expect it." Adam Jones: "Whatever you saw happen, that's what happened."
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) September 14, 2015
Even though they were the vocal minority (at least on social media), locals did throw a bone Pacman's way.
Adam Jones put Amari Cooper in his place 😂
— Hal John Lockwood (@haljohn_32) September 13, 2015
"Bengals' Adam Jones on heated play: 'I don't back down from anybody' http://t.co/nMdUv7bqp1" @j_dawg1994 poor Amari Cooper lololol
— Sohum (Ted) Talreja (@TheAverageSohum) September 15, 2015
@MikeAndMike not excusing Adam Jones idiotic actions, but he was punched in the throat right before that by Cooper. Watch the film.
— Darrell Hazel Jr (@iamPRIME06) September 15, 2015
Welcome to the NFL https://t.co/9SspU5pdoI
— Holy Grail Banks (@holygrailbanks) September 14, 2015
Maybe their support is evidence of Cincinnati sports fans' notoriously fierce loyalty to local teams. Or maybe these local fans remember a time when Jones was cited for acting disorderly and driving drunk or arrested for assaulting a woman at a downtown nightclub. Whatever the case, they're sticking with their Pacman.
