IRVING, Texas — There are roughly three weeks of downtime between now and the start of training camp. So now is a time for Dallas Cowboys players to get away for a while before the 2008 season begins in earnest.

Receiver Terrell Owens was spotted at the movie premiere of "Hancock" alongside model Serinda Swan. Defensive tackle Terry "Tank" Johnson attended the BET awards. And in addition to excursions with girlfriend Jessica Simpson, quarterback Tony Romo has several golf outings on his agenda.

Meanwhile, cornerback Adam Jones — the player formerly known as Pacman — has remained in Dallas. He was spotted in the equipment room Tuesday and exchanged pleasantries with a reporter on his way to the locker room.

Jones' whereabouts are notable because he remains under league suspension for repeated violations of the league's personal conduct policy. If he stays out of trouble, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to reinstate him fully for the 2008 season on Sept. 1, five days before the Cowboys' season opener against the Cleveland Browns.

Owner Jerry Jones, who took a chance on Jones because he believes he can be the difference in what is potentially a Super Bowl season in Dallas, acknowledges there are no guarantees. But he said he likes what he has seen from Adam Jones so far.

"Yes," Jerry Jones said emphatically when asked if Adam Jones has done everything right up to this point.

"He is very committed. He is very committed physically and mentally. He is smart. He recognizes his challenge and he is really doing well."

Adam Jones recently announced he no longer wants to be called "Pacman" because of the negativity associated with the moniker. His mother gave him the nickname when he was an infant. Jerry Jones knows that the nickname did not cause Adam Jones to get arrested six times since 2005. He also knows that distancing himself from the name won't keep Adam Jones out of trouble in Dallas.

But he said it's another example of the suspended cornerback having his heart and mind in the right place.

"He has thought it out," Jerry Jones said. "It's meaningful to him to talk about it. The fact that he is addressing things like that is a step, a sign. For him to address it shows me he's thinking about it. When you are trying real hard and see things as issues, our fans ought to look at that as a sign that he is thinking about it and getting it."

Jerry Jones said he is impressed the most by Adam Jones' competitiveness. He said Adam Jones wants to be the best on the football field as well as everything he does, which was exhibited in his attitude toward a fishing competition with former Cowboys cornerback and mentor Deion Sanders.

"He was telling me he was so tired of Deion catching more fish than him that he asked a friend of mine if he knew a pro fisherman who could give him some tips," Jerry Jones recalled fondly. "He was so proud that he called me and told me that he outfished Deion. He is a competitor. He caught a big fish in the deciding catch in the competition and called me to tell me about it. That was a big deal to him."

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