Pacman and the Bengals. A match made in...?

It has come out that Pacman Jones, the former 6th overall selection of the 2005 NFL Draft, who has been out of the NFL since 2008 because of repeated bad behavior and violation of the league's Personal Conduct Policy, is going to sign a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. Many will say that the two deserve each other. The Bengals have had a number of players in trouble with the league and the law, and have taken in just as many who have had problems when they played on other teams. Now it looks like they have another in Jones.

But the question here isn't why the Bengals are signing him. Mike Brown is a self proclaimed 'redeemer.' He took Chris Henry back in after releasing him and after the league suspended the receiver. He has given Cedric Benson, Tank Johnson and Matt Jones another chance. The Bengals even offered Michael Vick a contract, but he signed with Philadelphia instead. Now they are bringing in Adam "Pacman" Jones. Mike Brown will be the patron saint of redeemers if Jones performs well with Cincinnati.

But for me the question is "What position will Jones play, and can he even make the team?" Jones is a cornerback. The Bengals have one of the best pair of young corners in Jonathon Joseph and Leon Hall. They have second year player Morgan Trent, and used a 3rd round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft on Brandon Ghee. Jones was a feared punt returner in his time with the Tennessee Titans. The Bengals have Quan Cosby, who averaged nearly 12 yards per punt return in 2009. Bernard Scott returned kickoffs, and ran one back for a touchdown against Pittsburgh that was the difference in the game. They also drafted Jordan Shipley in the 3rd round, and he returned kicks at Texas. The two positions that Jones played the best are well covered.

There is one position he might have a shot with in Cincinnati. Safety. The Bengals did not draft a safety in 2010, but they are looking to sign Gibril Wilson. Jones seemed to have lost a step or 2 when he was in Dallas, and if has bulked up then safety may be the position for him. He may be undersized in run support, but in pass coverage he could excel. He would be covering tight ends and backs who are going to be slower then the receivers on the outside, and if his cover skills are still there he would be perfect for nickel and dime coverage packages.

If the Bengals can bring the tough love to Jones that he needs, and if he buys into the words of Head Coach Marvin Lewis and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, then Jones will be a bargain for the Bengals. Now all they have to do is keep him out of trouble off the field. That may be the toughest task awaiting Mike Brown's Team of Redemption.