NFL must address law-breaking players

NFL must addresslaw-breaking players
Fanfare:
The recent arrests of four Cleveland Browns players and former Dallas Cowboys Pro-Bowl offensive lineman Nate Newton continue a string of run-ins with the law by current and former NFL players. The NFL has had a number of confrontations with the law in recent years. The most prominent of these cases include the Ray Lewis trial, the Mark Chmura trial, and the Rae Carruth conviction. Browns rookie DT Gerard Warren was arrested on November 20 in Pittsburgh on an unlicensed firearm charge, while former FB Mike Sellers and teammate Lamar Chapman were arrested on felony drug possession charges in Cleveland. In addition to these instances, TE O.J. Santiago was arrested on a warrant for marijuana possession this past week. The Cleveland Browns coaching staff responded with adequate measures, handing the three players involved in the November arrests suspensions and eventually releasing Sellers. They are holding out on a decision until more information comes out in the Santiago case.
Although the Browns countered these arrests with fair punishments, the NFL has got to adopt tougher league-wide mandates on players receiving drug or weapons charges. With all of the recent problems, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue should have initiated new guidelines. However, he has fervently supported the players and claimed that MOST of the players are law-abiding. Even if MOST of these professional athletes are following the law, they are under constant media spotlight and are looked up to as role models to the younger generations. Therefore, tougher rules would only help to show these athletes that they will be responsible to suffer the consequences of any poor decisions. If no changes transpire, the NFL may soon face more embarrassments like the Lewis trial. Maybe Cleveland Browns head coach Butch Davis should be commissioner; he certainly deserves to be commended for disciplining his team.
David Fox
Struthers