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Document says Jones' appeal based on ban's severity

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Adam "Pacman" Jones, Tennessee's star cornerback, will meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on May 11 to appeal his season-long suspension.

Jones' appeal before Goodell will be based on the player's contention that the one-year suspension imposed on him is "unprecedented in its severity, given the League's historical treatment of offenses which are of similar or greater gravity," according to a document obtained by ESPN.

In the 24-page document, Jones' attorneys list 21 pages of incidents with the law involving NFL players from 2000-2007.

The document, which was sent to the NFL earlier in the week, also referred to four events that Goodell based his decision on to suspend Jones:

1) 2/6/06: Charged with Obstruction of Officers (pending)

2) 8/25/06: Charged with Disorderly Conduct and Public Intoxication (deferred)

3) 2/6/06: Failure to Report Charged with Obstruction of Officers (pending)

4) 3/23/06: Failure to Report Charged with Marijuana Possession (dismissed)

The document did not mention that Jones' off-field conduct has included 10 separate incidents where he was interviewed by police. The most recent took place in Las Vegas during the NBA All-Star weekend. Las Vegas police have recommended felony and misdemeanor charges against Jones after a fight and shooting at a strip club that paralyzed one man.

On April 10, Goodell suspended Jones for the 2007 season for conduct detrimental to the league on numerous occasions, with a chance to have his case reviewed after the Titans' 10th game. Goodell also suspended Cincinnati receiver Chris Henry for eight games.

Jones' appeal hearing is expected to take place in New York on Friday and Goodell is expected to make a decision within a week of the hearing.

The cornerback was Tennessee's best defensive player in 2006 with four interceptions, and he led the NFL in punt-return average with three touchdowns.

The Titans have said Jones must clean up his off-field behavior while they try to decide if they want to keep him. They used their top draft pick on Texas safety Michael Griffin last weekend, and he worked at cornerback Friday at rookie orientation.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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