The Winnipeg Blue Bombers sudden change of heart regarding Pacman Jones suggests the leaked signing may have been red-flagged by the league.
Okay, let's get this straight. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are no longer pursuing Pacman Jones.
This is the same team that put Jones on their exclusive negotiation list when no team in professional football wanted anything to do with the National Football League reject.
And this is the same team whose player-personnel director, John Murphy, openly talked about the team's imminent signing of said player, who by the way also talked of coming to Winnipeg to play.
Of course, all this was supposed to be hush-hush, done under the cone of silence at Blue Bomber headquarters.
No one was supposed to be aware of the mad Bombers and their secret move to sign the player who has strippers around the world cringing at the mere mention of his name.
And all this was not supposed to happen until the contract had been signed, sealed and registered with the Canadian Football League.
Of course, like many things this year under the direction of head coach Mike Kelly, this just couldn't be done smoothly and seamlessly.
Like the great spying incident by the renegade Winnipeg scout who happened to be a friend of Murphy, this one had fumble written all over it.
Late on Wednesday night after a day of controversy, ridicule and behind-the-scenes wrist slapping (notably to Murphy, for commenting on a contract that hadn't been made official), the Bombers issued a statement indicating they will no longer be pursuing the services of Adam Jones.
"It is unfortunate that this situation became public, however our position has remained consistent," Kelly said in the release. "We will pursue athletes that we believe will contribute to our organization on and off the field.
"We have completed our assessment and due diligence and at this time we will not be pursuing the services of Adam Jones."
Personally, I would rather the statement said something along the lines that the situation has been addressed, it's being handled internally and nothing further will be said.
And if that wasn't completely understood it would be repeated again and again, to the point the phrase "what part of that don't you understand?" would be added for effect.
In reality, this move was likely red-flagged from the CFL headquarters, which had to view this as a p.r. nightmare. Even the mere notion the Bombers had an interest in Jones created a flood of conversation, most of it negative.
Maybe Jones would have helped the Bombers kick-return game, but he also had enough baggage to counteract that.
So, Pacman Jones, thanks for the memories. You created a lot of them and you never set foot in Canada.
Now, how about Kelly's admitted interest in Charles Rogers, who is under suspension from the NFL and therefore ineligible to play in the CFL?
We'll wait for the Bombers' media release to quash that idea, too.
