Putting Penn to blog
Now that Cal Ripken has thrown out the ceremonial first pitch before a Tampa Bay Rays game, I have just one question:
Can he join the Orioles' rotation?
Adam Jones is ready to play again...the other Adam Jones.
"Pacman" was reinstated today by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, so the cornerback/kick returner can suit up for the Dallas Cowboys and try to avoid a seventh arrest since entering the league in 2005.
Fingers crossed.
"This is another step in the process," Jones said in a statement released by the team.
We'll see if this is the last time "Jones" and "released" appear in the same sentence.
I just checked on Hayden Penn's progress, and I was told that he began a throwing program two days ago and is being checked by doctors today. The inflammation is down in his right shoulder, and he'll resume his program in the fall instructional league.
Penn ran out of time in his goal to pitch again for Triple-A Norfolk. The Tides' season ends on Monday. And he won't be part of the Orioles' expanded roster.
No decision has been made concerning Penn's next stop after the instructional league. It all depends on his health, of course.
"Everything looks clean and looks good," said David Stockstill, director of player development. "The end goal is to have him the most ready he can be for the start of spring training."
Fingers crossed.
Are you guys kidding me.... We are defending a 6 time loser that got a 4mil + a year job after what he did. Most of us in the REAL world get in troulbe once and we are unable to get a job for 50,000/year. The guy is what a 6 time loser that is jail for a middle/low income individual. I am tired of people saying give a second/sixth chance to prove himself. I makes me sick that our children are looking up to wanna be stars like him. If I could find a person out there that would want there kid to resemble this man I would shut up and walk away from watching fottball. But until then we need to put out own interests aside and think about the overall effect of giving stars like this 5 tries to get it right! What does this say about the way sports are going... I mean what is next Chad Johnson changing his name.... This is RIDICULOUS!
Roch,
Thanks for the reply to my comment. I do have great respect for what you do. But after watching more stories on television on his reinstatement, it's too much like people are waiting or expecting him to mess up again. I don't have patience for people like that either who waste talent. But there's a difference in acknowledging his past troubles and EXPECTING him to mess up again. That's what it looked like when you said that he's "trying to avoid a seventh arrest". Most of us wouldn't get that many chances at practically anywhere else; I agree. But pro football is way different than the jobs we have, as unfair as that may sound. Talent like that will get you pretty far, and a few more chances than most of us will get. A shame so many waste it.
Don't get me wrong; I'm not one of those that will support him no matter what. I don't care for the Cowboys at all. But I know that all of us, even though we may not necessarily have multiple arrests...have done things in the past that we regret. Even then, not all of us are even willing to step up and take responsibility for it. He has.
Interesting you mention Deion Sanders, because I watched him talk on Pacman Jones on the NFL Network last night, and he said some interesting things as well. I personally don't care much for Deion either, but I believe and trust in what he said about Pacman and his behavior in the time he's spent with him.
We can't change the past, all we can do is apologize and move on. Everybody in the world is going to focus solely on his record, but he's trying to move on and do right. Does that mean he will? Maybe, maybe not. But at least he sees the error of his ways. Many of us can't even do that much. At least that's a step in the right direction.
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Agreed. I'm rooting for him to stay on the field and out of trouble. He's a lot of fun to watch. He reminds me so much of Deion with his skills as a cornerback and returner. Hopefully, he realizes that this is likely his last chance in the NFL and he can't blow it. And maybe there are a few vets in that lockerroom who can keep him in line. - Roch
Cal Ripken is a baseball ambassador, which is a job that's not limited to Baltimore or the Orioles. The guy has been to the other side of the globe to promote the game. His poularity transcends Baltimore to the entire baseball community. I tip my hat to him for having the guts to spread out with his new role. As hard as it may be to see him in another jersey, we really need to understand that he is an ideal role model for baseball fans and little leaguers around the world, not just in Baltimore. It's just a ceremonial first pitch; he didn't buy a suite at the Trop. Get over it already.
I doubt that I'd get that many chances at MASN, The Sun or anyplace else. - Roch
August 28, 2008 6:30 PM
After filming all those Viagra commercials you've had some chances............at least I hope.
I just saw the photo of Cal in a Rays jersey. It was soooooo wrong to see that. Just plain wrong!
"so the cornerback/kick returner can suit up for the Dallas Cowboys and try to avoid a seventh arrest since entering the league in 2005"
I'm sure he's going to be trying to do more than just avoid a seventh arrest since 2005. He just MIGHT be trying to help the Cowboys win. Call me crazy.
Let's not throw stones at Pacman Jones. Please let's not throw stones as though we are all perfect. If Goodell thought well enough to reinstate him, let's please cut out all the corny jokes connecting him to prison or handcuffs or any of that nonsense. Not only is it not funny, but it's also not very original. We've heard them all before...let's move on to something else. There's so much more going on than him and his legal troubles.
A man is taking a step in the right direction, and at least he can raise his hand and take responsibility for his troubles. Can't say the same for many of you all that sit behind computers and throw stones at him. I really don't like the Cowboys, but we don't have to sit and expect him to mess up again. We may not have been arrested six times, but please...none of us are perfect either.
Goodell reinstated him...let it go.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I left out about 12 other transgressions that aren't included in the arrest file. I hope he straightens out his life. He's Deion Sanders if he gets his act together. The kid is blessed with a world of talent. But I have no pity or patience for anyone who wastes it the way he has. I'm not asking him to be perfect. I'm asking him to behave like a responsible adult and to stop embarrassing himself, his family and his employers. I doubt that I'd get that many chances at MASN, The Sun or anyplace else. - Roch
why don't the orioles take fiorentino of the 40 man roster to make room for a pitcher or another catcher.
I hear Adam Jones was disappointed he didn't get to visit the White House. The one in Irving, TX not DC.
I guess it is part of the "process" for Pacman Jones. The other parts of the process included handcuffs, Miranda rights, finger printing and mug shots. Let see if the words Jones, processed and released appear again in a sentence.
Roch, I may have missed this discussion on a previous blog but Ripken Baseball teaming up with TB is yet another slap in the face, kick in the groin to Baltimore baseball. We survived an off-season where Millar threw out a first pitch in Boston and Huff bashed the town to field a competitive (yet frustrating) team in 2008. Now the modern day icon of O's baseball teams up with TB and in a Rays jersey, none the less, tosses out a first pitch??? Wake me from this nightmare.