Suspended Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones has been reinstated by the NFL for week 1, according to league sources. Jones had been suspended in April 2007 by Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, due to a rash or arrests and legal problems that were culminated by an arrest at a Las Vegas strip club in connection with a fatal shooting.

Since his trade to the Cowboys, Jones has made a concerted effort to surround himself with a better support system and to behave overall. He sent a letter to the commissioner earlier this month asking Goodell to allow him to play. Jones received partial reinstatement and had been practicing with the Cowboys. Pending a formal announcement scheduled for later today (Thursday), it appears Jones will play week 1 against Cleveland.

In other news, injured San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawn Merrimen has opted to ignore the advice of four of his doctors, and his general manager, and will play this season. Merrimen, who has torn ligaments in his LCL and PCL, will forgo surgery and attempt to play on the unstable knee using a brace. Merrimen’s contract is up after 2009 which makes the decision a particularly big head scratcher. While you must admire the man’s moxy, it is a stupid decision for him, and may only yield marginal benefits for his team, depending on how effectively he can play on the weakened knee.

Lastly, pro-bowl center Jeff Saturday will miss six weeks after injuring the medial collateral ligament of his right knee. Saturday has started 59 straight games for the Indianapolis Colts since 2004, and his loss will be significant.