Another scar on the Public Relations image of the NFL, not just the Kansas City Chiefs. At some point the league and the players are going to need to look inward at the bullsh*t they have created and continue to perpetuate.
In nearly any other vocation, the following charges:
· solicitation of illegal services or substances
· sale and distribution of illegal services or substances
all would typically lead to the termination of your job, and likely your career in that field…but not the NFL.
We have seen film of Ray Rice, assaulting his fiancé. Suspended, but not signed again despite rallying for a chance. Blackballed even, but not banned.
We have audio of Tyreek Hill and his fiancé discussing the CONSPIRACY to hide his abusive behavior. Suspended from team activities, but not banned despite medical evidence of a child’s broken arm and other abuse, including spousal abuse.
We have pictures of Adrian Peterson’s child, beaten and scarred. Suspended, the reinstated. He had 1000 yards last season in Washington.
We have photos of Greg Hardy’s girlfriend…beaten and scarred and bruised. Suspended, reinstated, suspended.
Them, we have the ridiculous saga of Aldon Smith:
On January 28, 2012, Smith was arrested for driving under the influence in Miami Beach, Florida.
On June 30, 2012, Smith was believed to have suffered stab wounds when attempting to break up a fight at a party at his Santa Clara county residence. Two other people were shot in the incident. On October 9, 2013, Smith was charged with "three felony counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon" relating to the stabbing incident. The charges were later reduced to misdemeanors.
On September 20, 2013, Smith was involved in a single vehicle accident in San Jose, California. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana. After the loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the third week of the football season, he voluntarily entered a rehabilitation facility, to be put onto the non-football injury list with an indefinite leave of absence.
On April 13, 2014, Smith was detained and arrested following an incident at the Los Angeles International Airport in which Smith became belligerent and uncooperative with a TSA agent, who alleged Smith claimed he was carrying a bomb. After interviews revealed that Smith did not clearly state he was carrying a bomb, the Los Angeles City Attorney decided to drop the charges. Smith was suspended for nine games for the 2014 season.
On August 6, 2015, Smith was arrested in Santa Clara, California, for an alleged hit and run after driving under the influence, and vandalism charges. He was released by the 49ers the next day as a result.
On March 9, 2017, Smith was a passenger with a friend driving to Smith's house at 12:00 AM, when San Francisco police department found out both Smith and the driver were under the influence. Even though Smith was not the driver, both Smith and his friend were detained by San Francisco Police Department for questioning. On March 10, Smith and his friend were released. No arrests were made.
On September 23, 2017, it was announced that Smith had agreed to plead No Contest to Hit and Run in the 2015 incident in exchange for the DUI charges being dropped. He was sentenced to 20 days in jail. During his sentence, he was ordered to attend a treatment facility, and undergo anger management classes. After his release, he was disallowed from entering any bars or other establishments where alcohol is the primary commodity being sold.
On March 3, 2018, someone called the police from Smith's home and reported that he had consumed multiple bottles of tequila and then bit her wrists. Smith reportedly fled the home before police arrived. San Francisco police did not comment on the specifics, but did state that domestic violence of a "non-lethal" nature had occurred and they were seeking out Smith for questioning about the incident.
On March 23, 2018, Smith was arrested for violation of court order, where he was ordered to stay away from a woman he assaulted earlier in the month. The woman was revealed to be Smith's fiancee. This picked up from a previous incident that occurred on March 3, where Smith pleaded not guilty on four misdemeanor counts,including domestic violence, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, false imprisonment, and vandalism.
On April 8, 2018, Smith was arrested for violations in conditions to his bail.
Suspended, and reinstated, several times.
This is just a small sampling.
Then, what’s the solution?
A Zero (0%) tolerance policy. It’s essentially what every person working for a normal institution must endure to collect paychecks and build a career. The earnings potential of professional sports should not play any part in the decision making to whether a player, coach, administrator or team staff member will be retained after significant legal accusations and or convictions.
I have managed to live to 47 years of age without being arrested, much less cuffed and detained in a holding cell. I have managed to not abuse, victimize or injure anyone else. I have managed to not drive drunk, sell illegal substances or commit fraud. I have managed to not conspire or attempt to murder someone.
I came from an environment where alcohol abuse and drug abuse is rampant (including in my own Family), where property crime and child abuse are above average statistically and where gang activity and inter-state crime is prominent. None of that determined my behavior, my opinion on how to treat women and children, nor prompted me to seek illegal enterprise or actions.
Simply said, to be an athlete, you need to be skilled enough to earn a scholarship.
Theoretically, you need to maintain grades to compete and meet the conditions of the scholarship.
Next, you need to excel in your sport enough to warrant consideration to be drafted or signed.
Next, you need to make the team…and stay healthy enough to compete.
So, for NCAA FBS programs, here is the numbers involved:
130 Programs x 100 average player roster = 13,000 players on average a season.
A quick check of the rosters shows that each team has between ten and twenty seniors, so let's say that each team has an average of fifteen seniors. That makes for a total of 12,650 players, with 1,725 seniors.
Seniors and juniors who have met certain criteria only are eligible to be drafted.
KEY STATISTIC: ONLY 7% of eligible players get drafted IN ANY YEAR.
The National Football League employs 32 teams, with 53 active players and an eight-man practice squad.
Long story short, there are a lot of talented young men who will gladly work hard and take one of the 1,952 spots of a player who cannot embrace the gift of talent they were given and act responsibly. Being a professional athlete is more than playing the game and putting on the uniform.
We are doing greater harm by continuing to condone bad behavior, criminal acts and abusive people in our sports institutions.
Being paid to play a children’s sport professional is a privilege.
Being paid to represent a branded league, branded team and endorse products associated with it is a privilege.
One’s ability to play faster, stronger and as a champion should not win over that same person’s inability to exercise self-control, live an honorable existence and show true citizenship.
You are paid to be a professional.
You have a higher standard.
Despite Charles Barkley’s denial 20-some years ago, YOU ARE A ROLE MODEL.
As soon as you pose for that first picture at the Draft. As soon as you practice in front of camera, make that winning free-throw, strike out the last batter or cross the finish line.
It is time the professional sports organizations in this country took a stand and pick being role models and defending their image and honor by excluding the cancers that belie these great institutions.
It would hurt a lot of players and fans, but that’s the price they pay when they abuse, kill, cheat, lie, commit fraud, or anything that would get the average person fired and likely blacklisted from their chosen profession.
Here’s a small sample of who would have had their careers shortened if implemented.
knowledge of deflated game balls and failure to cooperate. NEVER BANNED
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witness/accessory to double murder, failure to cooperate, plea deal to avoid charges.
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Illegal dog-fighting, cruelty to animals, illegal gambling, racketeering. NEVER BANNED
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four murders, fighting, spousal abuse, drugs and weapons charges. NEVER BANNED
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illegal solicitation of sexual acts in massage parlor – caught on film. NEVER BANNED
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domestic violence – not banned, suspended, waived and signed by Cleveland. NEVER BANNED
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domestic violence – not banned, blackballed, not resigned. NEVER BANNED
Question 1: Is money really so important that you would tolerate a horrible human who is capable of abuse, murder, cheating, lying, fraud, illegal or immoral activities as an owner, coach, teammate or staff member to get it?
Question 2: is a championship ring so important that you would tolerate a horrible human who is capable of abuse, murder, cheating, lying, fraud illegal or immoral activities as an owner, coach, teammate or staff member to get it?
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