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Updated at 8:41 a.m., Thursday, August 9, 2007

NFL: 'Pacman' defends arrest record

By TERESA M. WALKER
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones appeared on television today to promote his foray into wrestling and tried to untangle his legal record. Maybe he should have brought a lawyer with him.

Jones appeared on ESPN2's "First Take" and immediately disputed how many times he's been arrested.

"Everybody keeps saying I've been arrested six times," Jones said.

"I haven't been arrested six times. I've only been arrested twice. I've been accused and people have put warrants out on me numerous other times, but as of today I'm on no probation, I haven't been charged with anything, so I'm just keeping my head up and make sure I'm doing everything to make sure I'm all right with myself."

The NFL has suspended Jones for the season, with a review set for November, because it ruled he violated the league's personal conduct policy. A string of five arrests, documented by police records, since he was drafted in April 2005 was a factor in the suspension.

Jones' sixth arrest came in June when he was booked by Las Vegas police in the most serious case. Jones is under indictment there on two felony counts of coercion stemming from a February fight at a strip club that left a bouncer paralyzed.

Jones also confirmed today that he will be professionally wrestling during his suspension and defended his decision.

"I pick up the wrestling thing, now you don't want me to wrestle," Jones said while sitting in front of a wrestling ring set up next to his home south of Nashville.

"I don't know what you all want me to do. Just sit in the house and be miserable all day? I can't do that. I have to keep my spirits up high. I have a whole family to take care of."

Jones has taped another cable appearance that is to air on Spike TV tonight to promote his Sunday night debut with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling on a pay-per-view event titled "Hard Justice."

When TNA co-founder Jeff Jarrett said Jones will actually wrestle in the ring, Jones chimed in, "I'm good too."

Wrestling, especially if Jones were injured, could violate his Titans contract. Jones said he didn't plan on getting hurt.

Jones told ESPN2 that he did visit a strip club the night before a hearing with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in New York in April. Jones said he went in to get something to eat and that was what he told Goodell.

"If I could do anything different, I wouldn't have went and gotten nothing to eat then. There wasn't even no girls in there," he said with a smile.

Besides his six arrests, Jones also has been interviewed in five other law enforcement investigations, and Georgia police have said they want to interview him about a June 18 shooting after a strip club fight there.

Jones said he knows he has to make better decisions about his friends and where he goes.

He said he is taking one college course online, bought 60 uniforms for school children, regularly visits Boys and Girls Clubs and is helping build a house for a Nashville police officer paralyzed in a shooting last year.

Jones also said he has been staying in touch with his teammates in training camp.

But Titans quarterback Vince Young said earlier this week he hadn't had time to talk with Jones. Some planned to record his TV appearance because they were scheduled in meetings during tonight's show.

Jones remains hopeful Goodell will ease his suspension and said he is doing everything he was asked, including counseling classes.

"Hopefully, I can get back a couple games early if Goodell is listening to this. All I can do is keep my prayers up and do what he asks me to do," Jones said.