NFL tells Pacman if he as much as sneezes, he's out

November 23, 6:34 PMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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Sources tell ESPN that after consulting with clinical professionals who handle substance abuse, the NFL has issued its final -- and they say it's really final -- warning to Adam "Pacman" Jones: Miss a meeting, violate the smallest team rule and you're gone.

I know, I know, you wonder why the other ultimatum and zero tolerance policy was not enforced. So did I, but now I get it. Many things can complicate terminating an employee in the work place and that is what we're dealing with here.

Sometimes we forget that although they might work in an entertainment/sports business, professional athletes are mere employees. Some have good contracts and some don't. Their work rules are bargained for by their union reps and like most big businesses today, the NFL is more sensitive to illnesses that are related to substance abuse.

What we learned from the latest punishment of Adam Jones is that the league took his alcohol issues into account when deciding to reinstate him. I can tell you from personal experience that the majority of large businesses would have done the same, if for no other reason than to avoid litigation. Substance abuse problems are considered disabilities and are dealt with as such by employers.

Whether or not Jones has a substance abuse problem or just a behavior problem, after the league determined he would be helped with treatment, it had to use that measuring stick when deciding his future activity as an employee. Now it is up to him to show if it helped, hurt or didn't make a lick of difference.

Has he gotten more chances than we'd expect or like? Sure. But Roger Goodell says this is absolutely, positively IT.

We'll see.