NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Adam "Pacman" Jones won't have to worry as much about getting called for interference in his new adventure in pro wrestling.
The referee might not even be looking in his direction.
In an effort to stay busy during his season-long suspension for off-field legal scrapes, the Tennessee Titans' cornerback will be joining Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, with his first appearance scheduled Thursday night.
TNA co-founder Jeff Jarrett announced the move Monday at a news conference that Jones did not attend as promised.
"I am a big fan of wrestling, so I wanted to give it a try," Jones said in a statement. "I respect wrestling and I'm not coming in like it's just a show. I want to prove that I am the greatest team-sport athlete."
It's not yet known whether Jones, who has become a divisive figure for the team and its fans, will become a good guy or a "heel" - wrestling parlance for the bad guy.
Jarrett said he planned to let the audience decide.
"I'm a third generation in this business. The wrestling business is built literally on conflict and controversy and larger-than-life personalities. I know that the media certainly knows Pacman from one side of his personality," Jarrett said.
"I really think he's a very charismatic guy. When you get to know him from our approach - very marketable - and you'll see when you tune into the pay-per-view on Sunday the response he will get. He's a star. He's a star."
Jarrett said he and other TNA wrestlers have been working with Jones, and he was impressed with the athletic ability of the first defensive player taken in the 2005 draft. Jones has a ring set up for training at his farm south of Nashville.
"I've never been in the ring with someone with more natural athletic ability," Jarrett said.
What's not immediately clear is how the new gig will coincide with NFL contracts that prohibit non-football activities that could cause injury. Jones remains under contract with the Titans, although they are working on switching their top draft pick, Michael Griffin, to make the change from safety to cornerback.
Jones' agent, Michael Huyghue, said last week that he talked to the Titans about a pending deal with TNA, but said the player would not actually be wrestling.
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