Actually, there's little doubt

Well, well, well.

Pacman Jones (that's the gentleman's booking mug at right) recently worked out for Cincinnati, which apparently also has interest in Matt Jones. Both Jones have had more than their share of run-ins with the law — which makes them just about right for the Bengals.

Cincy’s the team, after all, that in a 14th-month span in 2006-07 had no less than 10 players arrested.

In recent years the Bengals have added the troubled Tank Johnson and the troubled Larry Johnson to the mix.

In 2007, explaining his … uh … player-personnel philosophy, Bengals owner Mike Brown said, “I guess the world is divided up between redeemers and non-redeemers. I happen to be a redeemer.”

I’m guessing what he really is is someone looking to acquire what he thinks is top talent on the cheap.

Maybe I’m a cynic.

We love you just the way you are

First, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones cuts Pacman Jones loose.

Then comes word he’ll not lift a finger to keep Tank Johnson from leaving as a free agent.

Then there are whispers he might — gulp — release Terrell Owens, all for the sake of locker room amity.

Could Jones finally be wising up?

"I think we all know that chemistry is the problem with this team more than the schemes or anything else," a Cowboys source told ESPN’s Ed Werder. "Are we going to continue to allow talent to outweigh everything else in the decisions we make with players and putting the roster together? We're like the Redskins used to be when they signed every player they wanted. There's more to it than talent. It has to be more about the team.''

As a longtime Cowboys hater, one who's enjoyed watching the team implode because of the low character of Jerry's favorites, I can only make this plea: "Say it ain’t so."

"I think some of people want to just cut our losses and get rid of all those guys _ TO, Tank, Pacman,'' another Cowboys source said. "But I really think Jerry likes the thrill of trying to make it all work."

Whew!

He loves him some him

If Jerry Jones were a baseball player, he’d be hitting at about the Mendoza Line.

Let’s take a look at his more-recent major decisions: Are they hits?

The hiring of Wade Phillips? No.

The hiring of Jason Garrett — at $3 million a year — as offensive coordinator and “coach in waiting”? No.

The acquisition of Tank Johnson? No.

The acquisition of Terrell Owens? The result has been a few big games, a few not-so-big games, some typical Owens-inspired controversy. Give Jones a broken-bat single on this one.

The acquisition of Adam Jones? An emphatic no, especially as Jones was cut this week by the Dallas Cowboys after they were informed about an ESPN story that says, “three Atlanta-area men allege that Jones arranged for someone to shoot at them two months after the football player was suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in 2007.”

Jones, both owner and general manager of the Cowboys, looks like not just a bad judge of talent, but a fool for his recent moves, particularly for his attempt to rehabilitate Pacman’s career.

But as Pacman is leaving Dallas — and possibly the NFL for good — it’s only fair to give him the last word.

Told he seemed to be taking his release from the Cowboys pretty well, Pacman said, “If I beat myself up, who will take care of me? Football means a lot to me, but it’s not everything. It’s not like I’m taking it pretty good, I love me some me.”

No one could have said it better.