The Pacman Jones incident in a Las Vegas strip club is just one of many recent episodes of athletes behaving badly. I’m not sure when or how this outlaw mentality started, but many of today’s top-performers in the NFL are nothing more than glorified thugs.
This isn’t the first time Jones has gotten into trouble with the law. In fact, this is the fifth time in four years he has been connected to criminal misconduct. Yet inexplicably, he is still employed with the Tennessee Titans. How is this possible? If you or I were arrested multiple times, surely it would be safe to assume that our jobs would be in jeopardy, don’t you think?
It’s troubling how the NFL, with its modern-day gladiators, is a hotbed for thuggish behavior. Along with Jones’ foolishness, many other NFL players have had run-ins with the law. Most notably: Chicago Bears' Tank Johnson has been arrested three times in 18 months and nine members of the Cincinnati Bengals have been arrested in the past 14 months.
Part of the problem is that many athletes are ego-maniacs as a result of being praised all their lives. Many do not know how to behave in the real world because much of their youth was spent honing in on one skill instead of learning how to deal with people in social settings. Athletes are used to getting their own way, so when someone has the audacity to disagree, a problem occurs. But it seems more and more these days that hip-hop influenced athletes are using firearms to end their disputes.
The recent trend of criminal behavior in the NFL has got to stop. Athletes should be held accountable for their actions and punished accordingly when they misbehave. Commissioner Roger Goodell has got to stake a firm stand and end all the pampering. But I doubt he will, mainly because he doesn’t have to. The NFL is a multi-billion dollar industry and the most beloved sport in this country.
