NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A decision on Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones' appeal for leniency from NFL commissioner Roger
Goodell will be delayed while lawyers complete paperwork.
Jones
The commissioner then will review the briefs summing up the
legal points and testimony from the appeal hearing before deciding
whether to ease Jones' season-long NFL suspension. The decision
would come no sooner than May 21, two people close to the case told
The Associated Press.
The two familiar with the new paperwork spoke on condition of
anonymity because Goodell has asked those involved not to speak
about the pending appeal.
Jones and his attorneys spent nearly four hours Friday arguing
that the first defensive player taken in the 2005 draft deserved a
lighter punishment than missing the 2007 season. They cited at
least 280 other NFL players arrested or charged since January 2000
without being suspended for 16 games, and attorneys representing
the NFLPA also argued for Jones at the hearing.
Goodell punished Jones and Cincinnati receiver Chris Henry last
month for conduct detrimental to the league. The NFL announced the
suspensions a week after hearings with the commissioner.
Henry was suspended for eight games, although Jones' suspension
included a review after the Titans' 10th game. Jones has not been
convicted of any charges but has been interviewed by police 10
times and been arrested five times since being drafted.
Attorney Manny Arora did not return messages left by the AP on
Monday, but attorney Mark Trigg declined to comment.
"The commissioner asked that we not speak publicly about the
hearing until he makes his decision, and we're going to honor his
request," Trigg said.
Paperwork filed with the NFL on May 1 in Jones' appeal reserved
his right to sue the league if unhappy with the final decision from
the same man who punished him last month. If Jones chooses to sue
the league, he would be on his own with no support from the
players' union.
NFLPA spokesman Carl Francis said the procedure for appealing
this kind of discipline by the commissioner is set forth in the
collective bargaining agreement. He said that means the union
cannot challenge legally what members agreed to as part of their
labor agreement.