DOPE AS USUAL: "Real Hitters w/ Pacman Jones"

Hosts: Thomas “Yola” Araujo & Marty O'Neill
Guest: Adam “Pacman” Jones
Release Date: January 20, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode features former NFL star, wrestling champion, musician, and charismatic personality, Adam “Pacman” Jones. The hosts dive deep into his football career, unfiltered athlete culture, his ventures in music and podcasting, family life, his brief but wild foray into professional wrestling, and his candid takes on everything from NFL locker room drama to strip club cuisine in Atlanta. With signature DOPE AS USUAL energy, it’s both raw and hilarious, blending sports wisdom and personal stories with authentic, outspoken commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction & Setting the Vibe

• Thomas and Marty banter about exclusive boxers and photo shoots, setting a relaxed, behind-the-scenes mood.
• Adam “Pacman” Jones joins, immediately jumping into his branded catchphrase “smell me”—“We spell that a little different when I patent that. It's S, C, H, M, E, L.” (01:53)

Cannabis & Athlete Wellness

• Pacman is on a tolerance break, but shares his cannabis ritual as a pro and retiree.
• Edibles on gameday: “The one edible that I advise nobody to take before a game is the drinks...I couldn’t even figure out the formation of the other team during the game.” (04:00)
• Notable nugget: He and a dozen teammates would get high together before games, renting weed-friendly hotel suites—even when illegal.
• “After I retired, I smoke. I’ve been retired, what, six years now. Didn’t miss not a day off the calendar...” (03:23)

NFL Player Mentality & Team Culture

• Real talk on accountability for kickers and locker room life:
  • “You got one job to do, bro...I feel bad one time, like, Nugent missed a pivotal kick...I just couldn’t hold it...That’s a nice PG version.” (05:46)
• On hardest NFL positions:
  • “Cornerback and quarterback are the hardest…But being a field goal kicker, more stress.” (06:36)
• Racial realities in positions:
  • “I don’t mean this in no racist way, but that’s why there’s no white cornerbacks in…” (07:15)

NFL Evolution: Fullbacks, Old School vs. New

• Explains the disappearance of fullbacks:
  • “The game now…everything is 3 wide. Only a couple teams really going up on the center now...It’s passionate football.” (09:08)
• Praises coaches like Shanahan for maximizing fullbacks’ utility.

The Speed & Physicality of Past and Present

• “If you go back and look, when I first came in the league in 2005, it was power football. Now these fools are so fast right now…” (10:05)
• “Jerry Rice would not have been as good in our era than he was in his era...He ran 4.5. I’m retired, on a tolerance break, smoking a Black & Mild, I'll run a 4.5.” (10:27)

Football Wins, Losses, and “Business Decisions”

• Admits to “business decisions” in tackling massive running backs:
  • “I had a chance to hit Ricky Williams…I went to the sideline right after, like, yo if it make it to me again, I will olay his ass.” (11:49)
• Describes the toll of monster hits and NFL violence, shouting out teammate Vontaze Burfict:
  • “Nicest guy out of uniform. But once he put on the pads, he is not to be fucked with—like hired assassin.” (13:19)

Separation of Pros and Joes

• On how regular folks fare against pros:
  • “‘Joe’s vs Pros’ really showed you—do you really want to do this?” (15:06)

All-Time Greats & Playoff Takes

• “Who’s the best receiver of all time?” Pacman: “Randy Moss.” (15:59)
• NFL Playoffs hot takes:
  • On Josh Allen: “Josh Allen was not better than Cam Newton. Cam went to the Super Bowl with nobody.” (18:28)
  • “He [Josh Allen] have had four receivers, tight ends, a good running game…still didn’t get over the hump.” (19:03)
• Talks up McCaffrey’s all-purpose production: “I was looking at the stat the other day...I don’t think it’s been a year he haven’t had more than 1500 all-purpose yards.” (25:31)

Wrestling Career & Childhood Dream

• How Pacman became a tag team champ:
  • “They gave me a million dollars to win the championship and not even get touched…one on one marketing.” (28:25)
  • “To get to see Papa Punk, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy...I was in kid mode.” (29:17)
• Prepares for wrestling like NFL, with a ring in his yard; wasn’t allowed to get hit due to NFL clauses.
• “A lot of people think wrestling that you don’t have to be in shape. That’s cap as fuck…You really get hurt.” (30:38)
• Shares wrestling stories—preparation, in-ring injury, and real barbed wire mayhem.

NFL Pain, Recovery, and CTE

• Describes NFL as “a car wreck every play.”
  • “Take your head and run into that wall 85 times and see how you feel after…” (35:11)
• Pileup stories: "I've grabbed nuts...poking, spitting—did a whole bunch of dirty shit. If the ball is loose, you do whatever you can." (35:38)
• Personal perspective on CTE:
  • “I’ll be lying saying I don’t have times where my shit just go...I went to McLean Hospital, the best mental hospital there is…thank God I have a support system.” (50:50)
• Critiques “guardian cap” helmets: “There’s nothing that says a guardian cap is more safer than a regular helmet...Looks dumb.” (53:12)

Family & Upbringing

• On growing up in Atlanta projects, groomed early to become a star:
  • “Everybody in the projects knew too...I had 34 touchdowns in 10 games [as a kid].” (39:04)
• His kids are all multi-sport standouts; one’s the #1 receiver in the country going to Ohio State; daughters are top sprinters.
  • “I’m gonna be rich forever. That’s all I heard right now.” (47:00)
• On handling athletic parenting: “You know what you got…you can tell by the work. I have to tell my son, ‘Yo, chill the fuck out’...I want him to be a kid too.” (48:16)

Candid Life & Hustle Stories

• Fast food hustle as a teen: Gave out a thousand Crystal burgers to friends, then quit—“Depending on how you classify it...I thought I was being a smart businessman at that time.” (41:54)
• On working out, fighting, and always staying ready: “I still work out, I run miles, I lift weights, I’m in the sauna…stay ready so I don’t have to get ready.” (45:47)

Strip Club Culture: Atlanta vs. Vegas

• Magic City (his wife’s family owns it) is “the Lambo of strip clubs”—best food, clean, true party culture versus “cookie-cutter” Vegas.
  • “Bro, if you come with me to Magic City and eat this chicken...Best wings in the world.” (60:43)
  • “As soon as he picks up that sandwich, you stop twerking on him. It’s like a five-foot rule.” (61:34)
• “There’s a code in Atlanta...they will get your ass up out of there immediately if you break it.” (62:14)

Music Career & Creativity

• Founding National Street League Records; collaboration process.
• Balancing NFL rigor with music:
  • “Even right now my schedule’s packed, but I got a studio in the house…” (55:24)
• On daily NFL grind: “6am to 6pm—every day. And Tuesday’s your off day, but still—cold tub, jog-through, lift weights…” (56:01)
• “I’d be at Magic City in the strip club, then leave in a limo and go sleep outside the stadium to be the first one in there. My mind was a whole lot different.” (58:22)

Podcasting & Broadcasting

• Hosts his own show: Politely Raw with Pacman Jones
  • “Tuesday and Friday, 9am, all platforms...I talk about everything. Me being politely raw—critiquing in my way.” (68:00 - 68:52)
  • Guests from Shaq to Tom Segura; virtual format.
• Broadcasting goals:
  • “I really think in the next two, three years I’ll be top five when it comes to corresponding and shows.” (91:33)
  • “I don’t have a limit...If I feel like talking about it, I’m gonna talk about it.” (94:30)

Psychedelics, Mindset & Insights

• Pacman is skeptical about psychedelics: “I’m already fucked up, I want nothing that’s gonna make me think I’m seeing something and I don’t see it.” (79:01)
• Thomas advocates for microdosing and perspective shifts: “Mushrooms are a reset...I’ve only seen it do good in certain doses.” (81:32)
• On dreams and the supernatural: Pacman does not believe in ghosts—“See what you want to see…That’s fine with your brain.” (82:31)

Movie Debut

• Pacman stars in “Free Bird”, shot in Magic City; dropping Jan 22 on Netflix.
  • “Pretty cool. You gotta watch it…Right, Mike won the Emmy, that’s how funny this is.” (97:59; 98:09)
  • “First like, main character movie.” (98:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On NFL pressure:

  • “You got one job to do, bro...While you in here playing ping pong while everyone else in meetings.” (05:46)

• On big hits:

  • “Vontaze Burfict...nicest guy out of uniform. But once he put on the pads, he is not to be fucked with—like hired assassin.” (13:19)

• On kid stardom:

  • “Everybody in the projects knew too…You’re gonna be the one that makes it out of here for us.” (38:42)

• On team accountability:

  • “We on his ass. You got one job.” (05:45)

• On cannabis in the NFL:

  • “Didn’t miss not a day off the calendar from taking gummies, smoking weed.” (03:23)

• On working out after a strip club night:

  • “Lead the strip club in a limo and go sleep outside of the stadium and be the first one in there.” (58:22)

• On Atlanta strip club food code:

  • “As soon as he picks up that sandwich, you stop twerking on him.” (61:34)

• On real player commentary:

  • “Everyone’s like, I need to hear the genius talk about what the fuck he wants...As a sports fan, I’d like to see someone talk about what they’re talking about that knows.” (91:57)

Key Timestamps

• 01:51 — Pacman’s intro and patented catchphrase
• 03:23 — On cannabis ritual after retirement
• 04:00-04:21 — NFL stories: Edibles in the locker room
• 05:45 — Accountability for missed kicks
• 07:15 — Racial realities in NFL positions
• 09:08 — The vanishing fullback
• 10:05 — Speed/power transformations in NFL
• 15:59 — Greatest receiver: Moss vs. Rice
• 18:28 — Cam Newton > Josh Allen
• 25:31 — McCaffrey’s stats & impact
• 28:25 — Wrestling journey and kayfabe
• 35:11 — NFL as “a car wreck every play”
• 39:04 — Childhood football prodigy stats
• 46:11 — His athletic children, rising superstars
• 50:50 — Mental health, CTE, and vulnerability
• 55:24 — Balancing NFL, kids, music, other ventures
• 60:43 — Atlanta strip club food superiority
• 68:00 — Details on ‘Politely Raw’ podcast
• 91:33 — Broadcasting ambitions and unfiltered commentary
• 97:59 — Netflix movie "Free Bird" details
• 100:16 — Outro, links to music and show

Final Thoughts: Tone & Energy

This episode perfectly captures DOPE AS USUAL’s blend of unfiltered locker room humor, respectful debate, and friendly roasting—with Pacman dropping wisdom, wild stories, and career advice. The language remains raw, the jokes are quick, and the authenticity is felt throughout. Pacman’s switch-up from path-breaking athlete to music, movies, and podcasting reflects the multifaceted culture of modern sports figures and artists.

Listen if you want:

• Hilarious and honest NFL and wrestling stories
• Uncensored athlete culture and locker room dynamics
• Real advice on staying competitive—on and off the field
• Authentic takes on life, music, mental health, and raising sports superstars
• Strip club food debates you never knew you needed

Pacman’s new music, show, and movie:

• Music: “Drop It Like a Tailgate” (Jan 20)
• Podcast: Politely Raw (Tues & Fri, 9am – all platforms)
• Movie: “Free Bird” on Netflix (Jan 22)

Closing note:
“You smell me? Let’s go!” – Pacman Jones (100:26)