League Exploring Discipline For Jones

NFL officials were investigating Tuesday night's incident involving Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones to determine whether Commissioner Roger Goodell will discipline Jones under the league's personal conduct policy.

Goodell said in a radio interview yesterday he was "disappointed" that Jones was involved in the incident but would wait until he knows more about what happened to pass further judgment.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said at a news conference that he'd decided against imposing discipline himself. Adam Jones got into a scuffle with one of his bodyguards in a restroom at a Dallas hotel.

"These guys were joking, were kidding, having fun right up until almost the time they went into the restroom," Jerry Jones said. "It crossed over into more than that, and it ended quickly."

Jerry Jones said the episode occurred Tuesday night, not early Wednesday morning as previous reports had indicated.

"It's clear there was some type of an incident," Goodell said on ESPN Radio. "We want to understand all the facts and once we do understand the facts, then we can make a judgment."

Adam Jones participated in the Cowboys' practice yesterday and is to play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Jones was suspended for all of last season under the league's conduct policy while with the Tennessee Titans, and Goodell warned him that further trouble could end his NFL career. Goodell reinstated Jones just before this season. The Cowboys had obtained him in an offseason trade with the Titans.

"I've been very clear with him about the fact that [Jones's off-field behavior] cannot reflect poorly on himself, the team or the NFL, and that there were certain things that I expected of him," Goodell said during his radio interview. "And I think he clearly understands that. I guess I would tell you that I'm disappointed that we're even discussing this at this point in time."

The NFL's conduct policy empowers Goodell to punish a player even if the player is not convicted of a crime. It also empowers Goodell to impose a lifetime ban from the league on a player who is a repeat offender.

When he suspended Jones for an entire season and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry for half a season in April 2007, Goodell wrote in a letter to each player: "I must emphasize to you that this is your last opportunity to salvage your NFL career. I urge you to take full advantage of the resources available to support you in that effort."

According to police, two men and a woman were arguing in the lobby of the hotel around 11 p.m. Tuesday. Hotel employees reportedly overheard a scuffle in a bathroom. Police determined the disturbance was over and no witnesses came forward. The bodyguard told police it was a private matter and he didn't want to pursue it any further. The hotel management told police the only damage was a broken glass light switch plate.

The Dallas Morning News identified the bodyguard as Tommy Jones and said he declined to press charges against Adam Jones.

Gross, Otah Return

Starting tackles Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah participated in the Carolina Panthers' practice yesterday. Both had missed a game and Wednesday's practice. Gross was cleared to return from a concussion that caused him to miss a game for the first time in his NFL career. Otah had been sidelined by a sprained ankle. . . .

Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow was sick and missed practice for a second day in a row. The team didn't provide details and it was unclear if Winslow is in jeopardy of missing Monday night's game against the New York Giants. . . .

The NFL plans to review the case of Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Matt Jones under its substance abuse policy for possible disciplinary action. The policy allows for possible discipline by the league for drug-related violations of the law, according to the NFL.