NFL roundup News and notes

Cowboys: The NFL is giving Adam “Pacman” Jones another chance. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the suspended cornerback has been reinstated by league commissioner Roger Goodell, but he must miss two more games — this Sunday and the following game on Thanksgiving. He’ll be back Dec. 7 at Pittsburgh. Goodell suspended Adam Jones indefinitely on Oct. 14, saying he’d put a timeframe on it after the cornerback missed at least four games. This decision means it will be a six-game suspension. Jones also missed the entire 2007 season. By the time he returns, he will have been suspended from 22 of a possible 28 games. His yearlong suspension was for repeated legal troubles while with the Tennessee Titans. Over the offseason, he was traded to Dallas and then given another chance by Goodell. The Cowboys gave him a bodyguard to help keep him in line, but on Oct. 7, Jones got into an alcohol-related scuffle with the bodyguard during a private party at a Dallas hotel. Now, he’s getting another chance. The league did not immediately make any comment. “He’s just chomping at the bit to get back and come back and be successful,” teammate Tank Johnson said Wednesday, before the announcement. “He knows we’re all with him and we’re never going to turn our back on him and as soon as he gets back it will be business as usual. I can’t wait to have 21 next to me in the locker.” Jerry Jones said Adam Jones could return to practice Monday. The owner said the player would have “limited participation” this week, but would not be part of full-squad practices or conditioning. Quarterback Tony Romo said Jones will be welcomed back into the locker room. “When he was here he worked very hard and he helped us,” Romo said. “He’s a good football player and I don’t see why you wouldn’t welcome a guy back that works hard on the practice field.”

Vikings: Defensive end Jared Allen has been fined $25,000 for a recent spate of late hits, but he won’t be suspended. He’s not planning to reduce his aggressiveness, either. After his summons to NFL headquarters in New York on Tuesday, Allen returned to Winter Park to continue resting and rehabilitating his sprained right shoulder. He vowed his approach to pass rushing would not change, even though he’s been fined a total of $80,000 this season — over three separate levies — for what the league has deemed unacceptable contact during games.

Redskins: Running back Clinton Portis, who surprised himself by playing last week on a sprained knee, sat out practice Wednesday but expects to be ready for Sunday’s game against Seattle. “Sore. It’s better than it was last week,” Portis said. “I’m playing this week, if that’s what you all want to know. No ifs, ands, buts about it, I’ll be playing.” Portis rushed for 68 yards on 15 carries in the 14-10 loss to Dallas despite not practicing at all last week. Portis is the league’s second-leading rusher with 1,063 yards.

Cardinals: Arizona declined to consider releasing Edgerrin James when the running back’s agent inquired about the possibility, the team’s general manager said Wednesday. Rod Graves said he received a call from agent Drew Rosenhaus three weeks ago after James was benched in favor of rookie Tim Hightower and didn’t play a down in Arizona’s 34-13 victory at St. Louis. According to Graves, Rosenhaus asked if the team would consider releasing James “and we declined it as a consideration.” “I explained to him that we still saw Edgerrin as a valuable member of our football team,” Graves said. James has three carries for 5 yards since losing his starting job.

Giants: While he seemingly had no problem moving side to side and running forward during individual drills Wednesday, New York Giants halfback Brandon Jacobs wants to wait another day before saying whether he will play against the Arizona Cardinals this weekend. “I feel good,” Jacobs said. “The last time I had this injury I couldn’t walk the next day and I was out for three weeks. This year it’s just a nagging thing that’s been there, but I don’t think it will hold me out.” Jacobs, who is 121 yards shy of his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season, tweaked his left knee in the first half of the Giants’ 30-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. An MRI showed no structural damage. “There is no pain and I don’t feel restricted,” Jacobs said.

Associated Press