Owens Embraces Troubled Teamate 'Pacman'

June 3, 2008— -- Terrell Owens has an idea for keeping his new teammate Adam "Pacman" Jones out of trouble.

Owens, who is being recognized this summer as an Alzheimer's Association Champion for his work for the foundation, says Jones — who was suspended from the NFL after a series of arrests, including one stemming from a shootout at a Las Vegas strip club — should join him in his charity work.

"I hope we can get him affected by [Alzheimer's] just a little bit so he can forget about those strip clubs," Owens joked in an interview with ABC News Radio.

Owens, who has experienced his own share of controversy in his career before coming to Dallas in a 2006 trade, believes "Pacman" will succeed in Dallas once NFL commissioner Roger Goodell lifts his nearly two-year suspension.

Jones has been granted permission by the league to join the Cowboys' training camps and pre-season games. A decision on whether he will be reinstated for the 2008 season will be made by September 1, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement on Monday, Reuters reports.

"Pacman's a great kid, and obviously he's a great athlete. If we can get him on the field and Roger Goodell can reinstate him, I think that's really just going to put his mind in a better place. The year he's had has really helped him get his life in perspective, and I think he's ready to do the right thing," Owens said.

Owens Gives Back, Looks Forward

Owens, whose grandmother has been diagnosed with fully formed Alzheimers, has been involved with the Alzheimer's Association charity since 2003.

"It was a no-brainer," he said. "My grandmother raised me, and I just feel blessed to be able to give back."

The charity's recognition of Owens comes during a quiet off-season for the typically hyper-loquacious, highly controversial wide receiver — save the reported $34 million, four-year contract extension Owens received yesterday. Meanwhile, the same can not be said for a number of his teammates.

Oft-injured Cowboys linebacker Greg Ellis is feuding with Dallas coaches and management over the team's decision to limit his practice time, wide receiver Terry Glenn is in a litigation battle over a possible injury settlement and, of course, there's "Pacman."

When posed a question about the Cowboys' off-season dramas, Owens said, in a mock-revelatory tone: "You know what? All of this stuff you're mentioning, I don't think any of it is about me."

Try as he might to joke about his past, Owens is never too far from the character questions and allegations that have plagued his career. But, he says, he doesn't try to rationalize or explain his behavior anymore — good or bad.

"There's a lot of misconceptions about me, and that's all media-related," he said. "They've tried to destroy my character in a sense. And I think it's fair to say that a lot of time … the media doesn't make mention of the good things that I do and the bad things I'm not a part of.

"But at the end of the day, all that really matters is my family and that the people around me benefit from me being who I am as a person. I do things from my heart. I don't really do it for the publicity of it," he said. "I'm not going to do something just to rebuild or repair my image — that's just not who I am."

Reuters contributed to this report.