Near the
2007 NFL Draft, Jones's numerous off-the-field problems led to speculation that the Titans would cut or trade Jones before his third season, despite his breakout second year. Reese himself said that he and others on the Titans had spent "countless hours" trying to set Jones straight. He also said that while Jones had been everything the Titans had hoped he would be on the field, he'd been "nothing but a disaster off the field" during his two years in Nashville.
[2]
On April 10, 2007, NFL commissioner
Roger Goodell announced a one-year suspension for Jones, to be re-evaluated after the tenth regular-season game, pending disposition of current cases, which Jones appealed.
[3][4] Jones took out a full ad in
The Tennessean, promising "he'll win back trust" of his teammates and fans." "To my family, teammates, coaches and fans, I recognize that I have lost the right to ask for your patience and understanding," Jones wrote. "However, I will do everything in my power to regain your trust and respect." Jones also wrote in the letter, his plans to re-enroll and finish his degree at
West Virginia University. "The basis of the appeal … will be to clarify some of the facts and address the unprecedented punishment that was imposed," Jones wrote in the letter. However on June 12, Jones withdrew his appeal.
On November 5, 2007, it was reported that Jones would not be allowed to be reinstated during the
2007 season after meeting with Goodell. Tennessee running back
LenDale White told
The Tennessean that he thinks that "53 of 53" Titans' players would want Jones to return to the team. Quarterback
Vince Young said, "We are going to do well without him, we can do well with him...".
[5] On December 13, 2007, the NFL agreed to hear the players' union's appeal on Jones's behalf. The players' union appealed Roger Goodell's decision to not allow Jones to be reinstated during the 2007 season.
[6]
On February 1, 2008,
ESPN reported that that Goodell remained "disappointed" in Jones and that he would most likely not be reinstated after the
Super Bowl. The NFL was to review Jones after the
2008 Pro Bowl.
[7] It was also reported that the Titans would try to trade Jones, if reinstated.
[8]
On March 8, 2008, Jones announced on a
Tennessee radio station that he felt he was in "tip-top shape" and was ready to be reinstated. His agent also announced that they would consider applying for reinstatement before the
2008 NFL Draft. Jones also said on the radio show that he would like to play for the
Dallas Cowboys, if the Titans were looking to trade him.
[9] The
Detroit Lions,
Oakland Raiders,
Kansas City Chiefs,
Houston Texans and
New Orleans Saints also expressed interest in Jones. On March 30, Jones participated at a charity basketball event, where he then signed a football for a fan with the #21, later saying that he believed he would wear the number if he ended up in
Dallas with the Cowboys.
[10] NFL Network correspondent
Adam Schefter had also described the Tennessee–Dallas trade for Jones as being "imminent".
[11] On April 1, NFL commissioner
Roger Goodell said that he would have a decision on reinstating Jones prior to training camp, presumably in July.
[12] However, the next day, reports said that the trade was being delayed due to the Cowboys denying the request to provide a fourth-round pick and a pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Also, disagreements let out over whether the Cowboys would reimburse the Titans for a bonus owed to Jones.
[13] However, Adam Schefter of
NFL Network reported on April 13 that trade talks had restarted, with the Cowboys offering a sixth-round pick and the Titans requesting a fourth-round pick in the 2008 draft.
[14]
