It’s Time for Players to Man Up!

Posted by Mike Wendt on June 15, 2010   Jump To Comments

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m getting pretty fed up with all of these NFL players who think the law doesn’t apply to them. Ever since Mike Vick got busted for his role in a dog fighting ring, it seems like a new NFL player is in the news every week for a stupid crime. Plaxico Burress is still in prison, as he serves a two-year sentence for going Cheddar Bob on himself, and guys like Maurice Clarett and Pac-Man Jones had more run-ins with the law than you can count on one hand. These guys just don’t seem to understand, all they have to do is play football and not be an idiot. These guys make millions of dollars to play once a week for a quarter of the year, and the rest of the time all they need to do is practice, and relax. But that seems to be too hard for a lot of these chumps.

If players aren't careful, they'll end up like Plaxico

Look at what’s been in the news lately. By now everyone is familiar with Big Ben and what happened in Milledgeville, Georgia. He just recently was granted access to participate in Organized Team Activites, but Rodger Goddell has suspended him for the first 6 games of the season, and although he could see that number reduced to 4 games, he’s left his team in a hard position (no pun intended).

A Packer has also found his way onto the police blotter in the last week. Details are still emerging regarding Brandon Underwood and his Memorial Day visit to Lake Delton with some teammates and a couple of girls from Crusin’ Chubby’s Gentleman’s Club. For starters, I’ve been to Cruisin’ Chubby’s, not exactly your Grade A meat if you know what I mean. Anyways, so Underwood allegedly had two ladies come back to his rented condo that he and a few other Packers were sharing while they were in town for a charity golf tournament. Charity by day, strip club by night, way to set an example boys. Charges have yet to be filed, but money exchanged hands between Underwood and the ladies, so charges from sexual assault to soliciting prostitution could be on the table for Brandon. Come on Brandon! You are set to make $395,000 in 2010, and you are in the midst of a four-year deal that will pay you almost two million dollars. You don’t even start! Just work hard and do your job for a couple of years and you’re set for life. Underwood made more money per tackle last year than I have earned in 21 years. My last job had me priming and painting houses 30 feet up in the air on a flimsy ladder, and I’ll be damned if I didn’t earn minimum wage for that SOB. Underwood was paid $310,000 last year, and he made seven tackles. That’s $44,000 per tackle. I cannot reiterate it enough, these players have been given a special talent that allows them to make a large amount of money, all they have to do is not be a dumbass. Don’t be surprised if Brandon gets a suspension once more details about the incident become clear.

Lastly, on Monday Vince Young was cited for misdemeanor assault after getting into a fight at, wait for it, a strip club. A security camera caught the altercation on video, and you can check it out here. Apparently some guy made a downward “Hook ‘em Horns” hand gesture to the former Texas Longhorn and he took it personally. I’m guessing he won’t be suspended for the incident, but the Wonderlic Ace needs to brush off minor insults like that because it really shouldn’t be worth his time.

Basically all these players need to do is avoid strip clubs and people looking for their fifteen minutes of fame. Most of us would trade in our day jobs for theirs in a heartbeat. They get to play a game in front of thousands of screaming fans and get paid millions of dollars, is it that hard to manage your life off the field? Now I’m not saying I’m perfect, an underage drinking ticket my freshman year in college will prove that, but isn’t there a little voice in your head that says “Gee, I don’t think it’s a good idea to bring these strippers back to your condo Brandon”. These players need to hold themselves to a higher standard, because whether they like it or not, they are role models for millions of kids all across the country. These players need to man up and start acting like professionals both on and off the field.