The righteous anger is starting to make me angry. Maybe I'm just numb to all the arrests. Johnathan Joseph makes nine Bengals in the last year, if you're keeping score at home, which you most assuredly are.

 

After the first six, seven, eight, I started to glaze over.

 

The problem isn't so much that another Bengal was caught doing something stupid and illegal. Allegedly. It's that the knee-jerk moralizing has started up again. Nobody is crazy about players messing up, time after time. Nobody thinks nothing of it. People outside of our town are laughing at us, again. That's not unusual. That's only if they care, though.

 

Most don't.

 

But can we please stop with the indignation? My goodness, it's a misdemeanor dope possession charge, not stealing the Lindbergh baby. Another favor: Can we not knee-jerk blame Marvin Lewis for this latest grown-man Bengal charged with a crime? If the last 12 months have taught us anything - beyond a deeper appreciation for the phrases "police said'' and "declined to comment'' - it's that people who believe people who play games for a living are somehow smarter, more humble and more respectful than the rest of us need to put their toys away and smell the reality.

 

An ability to play football professionally does not confer upon a man an ability to make good choices. It does not make him an exceptional human being. It doesn't make him a "role model.'' It only makes him a good football player.

 

Whoop-de-do.

 

If we can get to the (admittedly cynical) point where we stop god-ding up jocks and start seeing them as overgrown kids making lots of money, we might lower our collective outrage meter when yet another one gets busted.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070123/COL03/701230377/1082/SPT

My favorite line:

 

What were you like at 22?

I find this interesting....." Is it Lewis' fault? Of course not. Is it his problem? Definitely."....thats a fine line to walk.....

Good atricle. Not many people would write an piece like that. He has a valid point, but they need to be smarter about what they are doing. What they do in there personal time is what it is. I honeslty don't care as long as they show up at practice a games and win.

Self righteous or not, there comes a bit of responsibility with the job. Just as it would with any job. If I were caught for the same offenses, I'd be denied licensure to practice in my field. They are not held to that extreme. So all the flack that comes along with the offenses is justified and if those close to the fire can't handle the flash, get your rearend out!

Self righteous or not, there comes a bit of responsibility with the job. Just as it would with any job. If I were caught for the same offenses, I'd be denied licensure to practice in my field. They are not held to that extreme. So all the flack that comes along with the offenses is justified and if those close to the fire can't handle the flash, get your rearend out!

If committed a crime that is a felony I also would lose my job.

If committed a crime that is a felony I also would lose my job.

Then, obviously not to risk revealing your identity, you nor I are a Bengal!

Of the 9 arrests how many are felonies, and how many are convictions...

Of the 9 arrests how many are felonies, and how many are convictions...

Pending........

Pending........

How many of the charges are felonies???

How many of the charges are felonies???

Since you're doing the leading, please run down Mr. Henry's varied and sundry charges.

How many of the charges are felonies???

 

 

I'll take 0 for a million Alex....... The felony charges on Henry were lowered. In Ohio possession of marijuana is a ticket.

I guess I am a high horse-er. This is rediculous. If I have a possession conviction, I loose my job, the same job I was doing when I was 22. I don't see 9 players from other teams getting arrested.

 

This man is a low horse-er, he would rather make excuses for these guys then to say there is a problem. I bet Marv Lewis and the Bengal orginization are not saying, "Oh boys will be boys". I bet they think this is a problem. Carson Palmer apparently sees this as a problem. But this sports writer doesn't.

 

Its only a possession charge, what kind of message does this send to the youth of America. Like it or not, if you are a public figure people look at you diffently, and hold you to a higher standered. If you choose public life, you have to know that.

Since you're doing the leading, please run down Mr. Henry's varied and sundry charges.

His only felony arrest is finished, and the charges were lowered...

I guess I am a high horse-er. This is rediculous. If I have a possession conviction, I loose my job, the same job I was doing when I was 22. I don't see 9 players from other teams getting arrested.

 

This man is a low horse-er, he would rather make excuses for these guys then to say there is a problem. I bet Marv Lewis and the Bengal orginization are not saying, "Oh boys will be boys". I bet they think this is a problem. Carson Palmer apparently sees this as a problem. But this sports writer doesn't.

 

Its only a possession charge, what kind of message does this send to the youth of America. Like it or not, if you are a public figure people look at you diffently, and hold you to a higher standered. If you choose public life, you have to know that.

 

 

I've decided I want to be an NFL QB. Where do I sign up?