08/28/2008 - Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has reinstated cornerback Adam Jones.
Goodell granted the former Titans cornerback his reinstatement on Thursday, clearing the way for Jones to return to the field, this time as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.
"This is another step in the process," said Jones. "I am very grateful for this opportunity, and I understand my responsibilities to the Dallas Cowboys and the National Football League. Right now I just want to keep working hard so I can accomplish the goals that I have set for myself both on and off the field."
Jones, then with Tennessee, was suspended for the entire 2007 season by Goodell for violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy. Jones had numerous run-ins with the law in just two NFL seasons, including an alleged involvement in a shooting at a Las Vegas strip club during the NBA's All-Star weekend in February 2007. That incident left an employee of the club paralyzed from the waist down.
The 24-year-old Jones, formerly known as "Pacman," was dealt from the Titans to the Cowboys in late April in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.
"Adam has worked hard to get to this point, but he also knows that there is still a lot of work ahead of him," said Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones. "He is fully aware of the opportunity that he has been given, and he knows that this is an ongoing process."
Goodell had partially reinstated Adam Jones this past June, allowing him to practice and play in preseason games with the Cowboys.
The Cowboys will have to give a sixth-round pick in next year's draft to the Titans because Jones was reinstated. Dallas will receive Tennessee's fifth- round pick next year if Jones again earns a suspension from the league, however.
Taken seventh overall by the Titans in the 2005 draft, Jones established himself as a star in the defensive backfield and as a kick returner in his first two seasons. He registered 115 tackles, one sack and four interceptions as a cornerback, and the West Virginia product also returned four punts for touchdowns and amassed 1,648 yards on kickoff returns.
Success on the field was almost always coupled with turmoil off it for Jones, though. Since entering the NFL, the Atlanta, Georgia native has been questioned by police 10 times and has been arrested six times.
Jones last played in a regular-season game on December 31, 2006, Tennessee's season finale against the New England Patriots. In three preseason games with Dallas he has eight tackles and a pass deflection, with two punt returns for 42 yards.
The Cowboys have Jones penciled in as their third corner, behind Terence Newman, who is battling a nagging groin injury, and Anthony Henry. Dallas hosts Minnesota on Thursday night in its preseason finale, and the Cowboys open the regular season on September 7 at Cleveland.
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The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.
While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.
For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.
1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.
2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.
How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.
Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.
Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.
How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).
Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.
Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.
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