Adam Jones fined $35K for play on Amari Cooper

The National Football League has fined Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones $35,000 for slamming the head of Oakland Raiders rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper into his dislodged helmet on Sunday, according to ESPN.

Jones has needed to be disciplined in the past, but most for the off-the-field incidents. Jones is lucky to not have been suspended after this malicious play, in which he tackled Cooper to the ground before pushing off the helmet and then slamming Cooper’s head into it. There was a personal foul called on the play and the 15-yard penalty was enforced, but Jones was allowed to stay in the game.

The Bengals got off very easy here. Cincinnati does not have great depth at cornerback and if Jones were to be suspended, it would be facing the San Diego Chargers this week with only Leon Hall and Dre Kirkpatrick as reliable corners. San Diego has a bevy of weapons on the outside including Malcom Floyd, Steve Johnson and Keenan Allen, who set a franchise record last week against the Detroit Lions with 15 catches.

For Jones’ part in all of this, he is not talking much, per ESPN:

"“Whatever you saw happen, that’s what happened,” Jones said earlier this week. “I’m just here to play football. I don’t back down from anybody and I’m not out here trying to start anything. I’m just out here playing football.”"

Frankly, the whole ordeal is just embarrassing. These are professional football players and to act that way on the field is disgraceful. How commissioner Roger Goodell could not suspend Jones is mind-boggling, but then again so are most of the punishments handed down by Goodell.