FORT WORTH, Texas — Adam "Pacman" Jones does not do ambivalence.

Disgust or intrigue usually follows whenever his name is mentioned; whether your team desperately needs a cornerback likely determines which one.

Did I mention the Cowboys desperately need a cornerback? And that Pacman's name is on a lot of lips at Valley Ranch? They do. And it is.

The needy part became painfully obvious at about halftime of the Giants game. Watching Eli Manning and Co. march down the field using the very popular "Throw It to Whoever Jacques Reeves Is Covering" play had a way of turning corner into necessity. It became even bigger once Reeves and Nate Jones exited via free agency.

Even bad cornerbacks are better than no cornerbacks.

Which brings us to Pacman, who is bad in the whole "can be trusted with wide receivers, not with strippers, in Vegas, with bags of cash, or really in any situation" kind of way.

Pacman actually jumpstarted speculation with his "I'd love to play for the Cowboys, America's Team" declaration during a radio interview a week or so ago. Of course, he'd love to play for anybody who would pay him in real American dollars.

Lest anybody worry, Pacman promised to keep any future bags of money away from strip clubs, which is what landed him in trouble with Commissioner Rog.

"I've got a (stripper) pole in my house now," he noted.

Who says people can not change?

There have been no "hell, no's" leaking from Valley Ranch, rather quiet admissions his name has been discussed. Is still being discussed. As one Cowboys type noted, Pacman's name will go away for a while, then spring back up later in a different conversation, by a different person.

The word is intrigued, not necessarily interested.

Do not touch him — and not because he introduced "making it rain" to the middle-class, suburban-guy lexicon or because he's a world-class screw-up. He did, and he is.

The reason for the Cowboys to just say no is because you only take risks this big on really good to great players. And is anybody convinced Pacman will be able to return to that level after not playing for a significant period of time?

Tank Johnson certainly was not able to do so.

Now, obviously, Pacman has a stronger talent base to pull from than Tank. He also missed a lot more time and used his time off less wisely with his forays into pro wrestling.

And therein lies why Pacman is still a risk, despite bringing the pole and party to his house and his promise of being a changed man. He does not seem to understand the mess he's in, or how serious it is, no matter where he lands.

The problem is not necessarily with what he has done. Pacman would have to be the dumbest person in the universe to play rainmaker again, and he might indeed hold that title. What is risky about him is what he might do the next time. My feeling is the sky is the limit with this guy, especially once he's liquid again.

But the Cowboys desperately need a cornerback.

And this is why Pacman is currently more intriguing than disgusting for now.