he drew praise from Kelly and the Eagles

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Bengals cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones punched a woman in the head after she poured beer on his shoulder to stop him from using profanity toward her and her friends, a prosecutor said Monday at the start of the players trial on an assault charge. Drew VerHagen Jersey . Jones is charged with misdemeanour assault stemming from the dispute outside a downtown Cincinnati bar on June 5. Jones attorney told the judge who will decide the case that the player was defending himself and that the woman struck first. Assistant City Prosecutor Christopher Ryan said 34-year-old Shannon Wesley poured the beer because she was not going to tolerate the insults being thrown at her and her friends by Jones. "The blow caused her head to snap back," he said, adding that the blow knocked Wesley to the ground. Ryan said Wesley suffered bruises, scrapes and a headache. But Jones attorney, Ralph Kohnen, told the judge that Jones was the victim. "The video says it all," Kohnen said. "She physically assaulted Mr. Jones." Brooke Boling, a friend who was with Wesley that night, testified that Jones came up to the rail on the patio outside the bar and was insulting her and her friends and calling them foul names. Boling said she did not know it was Jones at the time. "I thought it was some person, drunk," she said. She said Wesley poured the beer on Jones shoulder but did not touch him with the bottle. "When she poured it she got hit and went down, and I ran inside," Boling said. She described Jones as being angry and loud. In addition to the legal outcome, Jones could face discipline from the National Football League under its conduct policy. Jones has been in trouble previously, including pleading guilty to a misdemeanour charge of disorderly conduct stemming from a 2011 case. Matt Hall Jersey .com) - The Chicago Cubs reportedly signed recently-acquired outfielder Dexter Fowler to a one-year contract on Friday, avoiding arbitration. Brandon Dixon Jersey . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., who trains out of San Diego, will fight bantamweight champion (Rowdy) Ronda Rousey on July 5 in the co-main event of UFC 175 in Las Vegas. https://www.cheaptigers.com/ .The McLaren MP4-30 was launched on Thursday, with chief executive Ron Dennis saying it marks the start of a lengthy journey back to winning grands prix and eventually world championships.McLaren, which hasnt won a grand prix since 2012, will be using Honda engines for the first time since 1992, and has signed two-time world champion Fernando Alonso to partner Jenson Button for the upcoming season.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets open quarterback competition might already be case closed. At least, thats what Michael Vick thinks. As far as hes concerned, its very clearly Geno Smiths job to lose. "Im wishing the best for Geno," Vick said Thursday during the teams first open media session this off-season. "Im going to help him each and every day. Im going to help him get better. My thing is, when its my time to go out there and play, Ive got to be ready when my numbers called. And nothing can come in between that." Vick, who signed with New York in March, acknowledged this situation is different from last off-season with Philadelphia when he headed into workouts competing with Nick Foles for the starting job. "We knew, both of us coming in, that it was open competition, and the best guy was going to win the job," he said. "Whoever performed well throughout OTAs and preseason, thats just what it was. It was pretty much cut and dried. This situation ... its kind of unique. "But even though its not an open competition, were both competing every day and we both have to perform well each and every day." Coach Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik have said that Vicks presence is expected to help Smith with his development from his shaky rookie season. Idzik preaches competition at every position, although Ryan has said Smith will be tough to beat out. "Its not been made public that its an open competition," Vick said. "Chip Kelly made it known that it was an open competition (in Philadelphia). But were still not going to change our approach. This is the NFL. Youve got to perform. Youve got to be at your best each and every day." Vick still believes he can be a starter in the NFL, and was playing well in Kellys up-tempo offence before a hamstring injury sidelined him. Foles took over and started the rest of the season. Vick was forced into a mentors role, and he drew praise from Kelly and the Eagles for how he handled the situation. He could find himself in the same situation this season. "Its still tough right now, Ill admmit," Vick said. Tigers Jerseys China. "I wont lie. Because deep down, you always want to be a starter. You always feel like youre starting. Thats just the competitive nature in me. And hopefully, that opportunity will come again one day and Ive just got to keep working for it." Despite all that, both Vick and Smith will be closely watched from now through training camp. If the two perform at about the same level, Vick is fairly certain of the outcome. "Yeah, I would assume Geno would be the starter," he said. "Genos making great strides." Smith isnt taking anything for granted, even if Vick already sees him as No. 1. The second-year quarterback knows hes got a long way to go after a season in which he threw 12 touchdown passes and was intercepted 21 times. He finished with a flourish, though, helping the Jets win three of their last four games and going without a turnover in the final two. "Mentally, I wont change," Smith said. "Ill compete as if Im the last guy on the depth chart trying to make this team. I think thats what makes me better and thats the way I work, and Ive always done that. The biggest difference is my familiarity with the offence, knowing my protections, not trying to come in and learn everything on the go. "Having 16 games under my belt is really going to pay off for me." Smith entered last spring in a competition with Mark Sanchez, but was thrust into the starting job when Sanchez was lost to a season-ending shoulder injury in the preseason. It was on-the-job training for Smith, who flashed at times but often looked very much like an inexperienced rookie. He enters this years competition as the incumbent, which often means that player starts with the lead -- something Smith refuses to consider. "I dont put my mind in that position," he said. "I try to work as if Im the underdog. Whether Im named the starter or not, thats the way that I work. Like I said, thats something that helps me, having that constant edge, having that chip on my shoulder, just working extremely hard every single day to get better." ' ' '