DALLAS — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is not planning his off-season around Pacman Jones. He said that in deciding whether to acquire him, he does not need to know if the suspended Tennessee Titans defensive back will be reinstated before the NFL Draft.

Although the potential deal does not appear to be dead, Jones said yesterday the momentum for it is dying.

He was optimistic something could be completed at the NFL owners meeting last week, but said, "I think the longer that it goes, the less likely (it will be done)."

"It's just me trying to be realistic about it," Jones said. "I don't have a feel for it right now."

Jones was in Dallas yesterday as the keynote speaker at the Texas Tech University College of Mass Communications Scholarship luncheon.

Pacman Jones is expected to apply for reinstatement to the NFL after his yearlong suspension. He has said he will clear any contractual problems that could hold up a deal.

According to a source, the Titans and Pacman Jones are talking about a settlement.

How the Cowboys approach the draft April 26-27 will not be affected by Pacman Jones. At this point, the Cowboys view the defensive back as gravy.

Jerry Jones said it would be a "luxury" to include Pacman in assessing personnel.

"As you make decisions regarding personnel, that might be very risky relative to the circumstances to factor that in one way or the other."

Chris Henry `unlikely'

Jerry Jones said that acquiring recently released Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, who was a college teammate of Pacman Jones' at West Virginia, is "unlikely."

Henry has been arrested five times since December 2005 on charges that include misdemeanor assault, possession of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon and drunken driving.

He was cut by the Bengals last week after an alleged assault. Henry, 24, could face a seasonlong suspension by the NFL.

But Henry apparently is trying to go the "Pacman" route, too.

He has contacted former Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin about appearing on his Arlington-based radio show on ESPN/103.3 FM.

Pacman Jones made a nearly three-hour appearance on the Irvin show March 25 to talk about his off-the-field troubles.