A Bounty out on DUI's - jmik58's Blog

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jmik58's Blog

A Bounty out on DUI's Stuck

Posted on July 24, 2012 at 10:13 AM.

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I'm tired of judgement and consequences being tied to results.

A great decision is a great decision regardless of the outcome. The same goes for a poor choice. Yet our culture doesn't see it that way.

Coaching decisions are questioned throughout nearly every game, especially football. However, the men behind the headsets have spent scores of hours game-planning and know exactly why they call what they do in each instance. The information they have at their disposal is what qualifies their decisions as educated -- or good. When the fan criticizes, they do so without the benefit of information at the disposal of the coach.

On the flip side, consider the difference between a murder charge and an attempted-murder indictment. The gap is a matter of failure (or success) on the part of the offender. The motives are practically the same, but the outcome can be the difference between life behind bars or a few years in jail.

But the one who commits murder is also the one who attempted it -- albeit, completely. Just as the coach whose team fails on the 4th-and-one attempt can't be accurately judged as making a poor decision simply because the try was successful or not.

The NFL has followed society on a similar issue and it bothers me to the core. On one hand we have the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal. Complete with alleged top-down financial tags being hung on the heads of opponents should an injury be inflicted during a game. The fallout has been suspensions ranging from a few games for some players, to a full season for others, and indefinitely for the supposed mastermind behind it all.

The problem: Granted, the penalties handed down were compounded by the cover-up and lying of the franchise but we're talking about a risk of injury. An attempt to injure. We're not guaranteeing injury, only acknowledging the intent and increased potential.

Flash forward to the 2012 NFL off-season and a general problem throughout all of America -- alcohol related driving arrests.

The issue: Drunk Driving. A severe risk-taking decision that puts lives in danger. Once again, not a guarantee of injury or death, but a proclaimed increase in the potential.

Kenny Britt, Corey Williams, Brandon Mariweather, Eric Wright, Robert Quinn, Darrius Heyward-Bay, Jerome Felton, Nick Fairley, Johnny Culbreath, David Diehl, Donald Washington, Aaron Berry, Justin Blackmon (DUI Arrest Video), and Marshawn Lynch have all mistaken their driver seat for the back of a taxi when over-served this off-season.

During the 2011 regular season we had Antonio Bryant, B.J. Sams, Marcus Coleman, Khalif Barnes, Chris Henry, and Cletis Gordon. That's during the regular season.

And even more ridiculous is the fact that most -- if not all -- NFL teams offer a free, -- FREE -- I said free taxi service for players in need of a responsible ride.

But either way, I'm not here to point out how ridiculous that growing list has become. Instead, it's time for the NFL to do something about it. It's time for Roger Goodell to show how much he really cares about the safety of humans regardless of the financial implications it has on his league.

No doubt, the commissioner has gone to great lengths to protect the financial viability of the NFL in the era of the concussion-centered lawsuit. Inaction on bounty-gate would have been a sure-fire lawsuit waiting to happen -- so he and the league acted fast.

But at what point is the NFL responsible for the actions of it's employees -- it's players? Someone or somebodies will be killed. Don't think it can happen? It has, just ask Dante Stallworth.

But why should the players even care? Unless they kill someone, society will likely slap them on the wrist. And the NFL?

According to NFL policy:

Quote:


	The Commissioner will review and may impose a fine, suspension, or other appropriate discipline if a player is convicted of or admits to a violation of the law...If the Commissioner finds that there were aggravating circumstances, including but not limited to felonious conduct or serious injury or death of third parties, and/or if the player has had prior drug or alcohol-related misconduct, increased discipline up to and including suspension may be imposed. Discipline for a second or subsequent offense is likely to be a suspension, the duration of which may escalate for repeat offenses.

You hear that? The NFL might suspend you. Maybe.

Take a shot at paralyzing an opponent? Risk losing a year of your career.

Chance it behind the wheel with lives of innocent civilians on the line? A slap on the wrist and the possibility of a fine.

Maybe it's time for the NFL (and society) to get serious about cracking down on DUI's. Surely the NFL can understand that way of thinking. Maybe.

What should be the penalty for DUI-related convictions for NFL players?

Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter @long_snapper.