Artrell Hawkins

Artrell Hawkins (AH):  Every athlete has that “ah-ha” moment, when they realize their talents are above average.  Talk about that moment for you.

• Adam “Pacman” Jones (Pacman):  Probably around 9 years old.  I had something like 34 touchdowns in 10 games as a running back.  My team won the national championship that year…and that’s when i knew if I worked hard, I could be pretty special.

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(AH):  Who was your favorite player growing up?

• (Pacman):  Deion Sanders.  I was always a 2 or 3 sport player and my goal was to play basketball and football…I had scholarships for both of them.  But Deion was the best of my time.  There were other cornerbacks out there who were good, but as far as being flamboyant, his punt returns, kick returns–that’s why I was out there.  And Emmitt Smith….I wore #22 as a running back.

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(AH):  What were your impressions of Rod Woodson when he was here helping as a coach last week?

• (Pacman):  He’s a great person, very smart.  I learned a lot from him while he was here.  You can tell the guy worked hard when he was playing.  He knows what’s coming, when it’s coming…..and he’s a great person to be around also.

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(AH):  Through your career, your athleticism goes without saying.  But at cornerback, they talk about your lack of technique.  Do you see your technique getting better by working with Kevin Coyle (Bengals defensive backs coach)?

• (Pacman):  I would say it’s getting better every day.  He makes sure my technique is always right.  Like today, I slipped up and had my eyes in the backfield too long, and in a game I probably could’ve went and got that ball.  But it’s the little things that make you so much better.  So he’s done a great job with me…both him and Zim (Mike Zimmer).  They stay on me every day….and i want to get better, so I like the coaching.

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(AH):  Who’s the fastest defensive back on the team?

• (Pacman):  Me, hands down.

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(AH):  As far as another teammate, who’s been the biggest influence since you’ve been here?

• (Pacman):  Chris Crocker.  He’s been the most positive and professional, as far as helping me on the field and off the field.  I think Crock’s a good person, and even though he hasn’t been through what I have, he’s an older guy and has a lot of respect for others.

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(AH):  Compared to other locker rooms that you’ve been in, how does the Cincinnati Bengals locker room compare?

• (Pacman): It’s more like my Tennessee locker room here…we all get along.  In Dallas, there was more division and the guys really didn’t hang together.  But here, we all get along pretty good.

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(AH):  A year ago, you were out of football and unsure of your future.  This is your first game back…in front of a national crowd…against your former team. How does it feel to be back?

• (Pacman):  It’s a blessing.  I won’t take it for granted this time.  My God is a good God, and I respect and have learned from everything I’ve been through.  That’s the reason I’m here getting another chance.  I’ve bettered myself as a person also.  But i’m gonna let the game come to me on Sunday…work on my technique and do my job, and I think everything will play out well.

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(AH):  What do you want people to know about Adam “Pacman” Jones?

• (Pacman):  I’m not the guy who they think I am.  They consider me a monster.  I’m nothing like that. I had a coach come to me today and say a few words about what one of the referees was saying about me, and I almost went in my locker and cried.  That’s not me. The past is the past, and all I can do is show them what I learned and where I’m going now.  I just want people to not judge a book by it’s cover, and give me a shot.

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(AH):  What are your goals for this year?

• (Pacman):  Staying out of trouble, first of all, and being a good teammate.  Everything else will come.  On the field, there’s not much for me to worry about out there as long as I’m doing my technique.  I’m gonna do my job and make my share of plays.

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(AH):  How do you prepare yourself for game day?

• (Pacman):  Film, film, film!

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(AH):  Any pre-game rituals?

• (Pacman):  I hate for my feet to get wet before a game.

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(AH):  Let’s have some fun and do a few “quick hits” as we like to call them on www.artrellhawkins.com…..

• T.I. or Jay-Z? (Pacman): Jay-Z
• Favorite Jay-Z song?  (Pacman):  The old Jay-Z songs
• Kobe or Lebron? (Pacman):  Lebron
• Facebook or Twitter?  (Pacman):  Neither
• 16 or 18 game NFL season? (Pacman):  18 games but no pre-season
• Brett Favre:  In or out this season? (Pacman):  Out
• T.O. Show or Ocho’s Ultimate Catch?  (Pacman):  The T.O. Show…I love the family factor and how he’s trying to evolve.

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(AH):  Where do you see Pacman in 5 years?

• (Pacman):  Hopefully still here.  Probably on the last year of my deal….maybe about to re-up on another contract….if not, on a boat somewhere fishing.

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(AH):  If you had to pick 3 words to describe your future, what would they be?

• (Pacman):  The sky…promising…and redemption.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 12th, 2010 at 1:59 pm and is filed under Cincinnati Bengals, Sports Talk. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.