Pacman won’t wrestle
Judge must OK deal to limit Jones’ role in ring
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer
Pacman Jones will not wrestle, have physical contact of any kind or be involved in any other action that puts him at risk of injury, under terms of an agreement reached late Friday between the suspended cornerback and the Titans.
The deal still must be approved by a Williamson County Chancery Court judge because earlier Friday a different judge granted the Titans a temporary restraining order against Jones.
The agreement seeks to modify that order, which prevents Jones from providing any “wrestling” or “performance services.”
Judge Jeffrey S. Bivens was scheduled to hear the motion at 10 a.m. today.
The Titans had asked for the temporary restraining order to stop Jones’ participation in a pay-per-view event Sunday for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. In a statement, the Titans said they asked for the order because, “All NFL players have language in their contracts that prohibit them from engaging in activities ‘which may involve a significant risk of personal injury.’ We certainly believe wrestling to be hazardous and it is obvious from the player’s conduct that he is ignoring this aspect of his agreements with the club.”
The six-hour meeting Friday night at team headquarters included Titans Chief Operating Officer Steve Underwood, Jones’ attorney, Worrick Robinson, and TNA’s Jeff Jarrett and resulted in an agreement that kept restrictions in place and made them more specific.
The agreement quells the franchise’s concerns that Jones was putting himself at risk of injury in violation of his football contract while allowing Jones to maintain some sort of outside-the-ring involvement with TNA.
While the Titans now expect Jones is meeting the conditions of his NFL contract, it is unknown whether TNA now thinks he’s breaking his deal with them.
‘As scheduled’
Despite the restraining order, a TNA spokesman said Friday afternoon that Jones “will appear as scheduled at the Hard Justice pay-per-view event Sunday night” in Orlando, Fla.
Nashville employment lawyer Kevin Sharp said that if Jones didn’t get relief from the court beforehand “it would not be very smart” for him to appear at Sunday’s event, as he would be in contempt of court and face fines and possibly even time in jail.
Neither Robinson nor Michael Huyghue, who acts as Jones’ agent, returned phone messages seeking comment.
Hype
On a TNA television show Thursday night Jones was billed as “the most controversial figure in sports” and helped hype Sunday’s pay-per-view special, which will air at 7 p.m.
But on the TNA Web site, the reference to Jones said only that he would make a live appearance at which “the TNA Wrestling newcomer will speak out about his decision to join Total Nonstop Action.”
In their filing, the Titans said they “notified Mr. Jones that his participation in TNA wrestling events, activities and promotions violates his NFL Player Contract. (The team) requested assurances that Mr. Jones would not engage in any activities that may involve significant risk of personal injury to him.”
“Mr. Jones failed and/or refused to do so or to otherwise provide assurances that his role with TNA does not violate his NFL Player Contract because he cannot.”
The Titans quoted language from Jones’ wrestling contract that was outlined by TNA in capital letters:
“YOU FULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE RENDERING OF YOUR SERVICES HEREUNDER MAY BE HAZARDOUS, YOU KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY TAKE ON AND ASSUME THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH RISK. …”
At another point in their documentation, the Titans said: “It would be the height of absurdity for (Jones) to argue that professional wrestling for TNA — itself promoted a “high risk” endeavor — did not well exceed the prohibition of his NFL Player Contract — engoing in any activity ‘which may involve a significant risk of personal injury.’”
The Titans left open the possibility that they could add TNA to their complaint after discovery. The Titans also said they had made personnel and strategic decisions expecting Jones to ultimately be part of the team.
Pacman won’t wrestle - Nashville, Tennessee - Saturday, 08/11/07 - Tennessean.com