National Felon League
So much has been made over the past few weeks of now Ex-Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez, recently its boiled over. In what appeared to be a media hype train with helicopters and car chases taking a page from OJ and a white bronco, Hernandez was arraigned on 1st degree murder and weapons charges today.
Now there is a bigger story here for football fans, this was the 29th arrest since the Superbowl, meaning roughly 1% of NFL players were arrested this off-season. A number I'm sure Roger Goodell shutters to think about. The popularity of the league has sky rocketed over other sports in the past decade, and the spotlight focused on players and franchises is higher than ever. Yet that hasn't prevented NFL players from dragging themselves and their teams through the mud time after time. Crimes ranging from domestic abuse and dwi's to weapons and murder, this isn't an NHL player drunk at a bachelor party or Josh Hamilton at a bar these are serious illegal activities. The product on the field is better than ever yet the image and role models were presenting to our kids and all sports fans are unacceptable. While this isn't the first time an NFL player has been the focus of a homicide case, cue Ray Lewis and Donte Stallworth, it is at a time where the league is at a new height of popularity. The Patriots knew Hernandez had lifestyle issues as did every NFL team, which is why 1st round talent fell down to the 4th round of the 2010 draft. Hernandez was on his first year of a contract that would of seen him make around 40 million dollars, including a 12 million dollar signing bonus, big money for a tight end with lifestyle issues. The NFL pays out over 3 Billion in salaries to players, and as fans of the sport who buy over priced merchandise and jacked up ticket prices are supporting the system. Who are we giving our money too? Think about that the next time you buy a jersey or go to game and spend $300 on tickets and pretzel.
