The Fine Line Between "Character Issues" and Youthful Indiscretions

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 21, 2009 5:54 PM EDT

I've read a lot of mock drafts in the last few weeks, and one thing continuously stands out to me as I read all of them. The term character issues is used so much now I think all of us are beginning to grow used to seeing it on a lot of player profiles. I think it's time to take a good look at the facts of the case before we jump on a guy for being a low character individual when in reality some of these cases are really not much more than mistakes made by young men, most age 18 to 21, at a time when for most is thought of as a time to "sew ones wild oats".

I'm 22 years old, I did not go to college, instead took the other route and worked right out of high school. But I've spent my share of time on college campuses, big and small, in the last few years. The things that are being thought of as real character concerns are becoming common place in academic institutions, at least from what I've seen, right or wrong.

Don't get me wrong, crimes are crimes for a reason, and the law should be followed to the best of everyone's abilities. I come from a family of a few police officers, I have friends that work in law enforcement throughout the state of New York, and admire the work they do in keeping us safe.

That being said, I'm 100% sure that quite a few of us when we were in the same place made regretable decisions, odviously some more than others.

I guess the point of my whole post is to point out that not every guy who has had a run in with the law is a character issue type person. Although I'm aware of the trend so many have taken I think it's important to point out that one run in with Johnny Law does not make the man. It's the repeated mistakes and the inability to learn from them and not to make them again that does. Just because someone got caught with a little bud, or drinking a few beers when they shouldn't of, or had a traffic incident (within reason of course) does not mean that this person is automatically going to do it again.

While there are several examples of players just being low life individuals its crucial that we recognize that not all of those who fault are doomed. It is the job of the Kevin Colbert's of the world to understand the problem, and figure out the chances of this person making it again. Just because a player has made one mistake does not mean they are completely hopeless. If we avoided all players with past legal issues we would not have our Defensive Player of the Year, who himself made a SERIOUS mistake in bringing a fake gun to school his senior year of high school.

One legal problem does not warrant the "character issues" label, when in reality for all we know any of these problems could be one time only problems, or youthful indiscretions.

I'm not saying turn your team into recidivists, like one divisional opponent I can think of, but don't totally discount a player for one mistake made at a time in a persons life where mistakes are most commonly overlooked... college.

With all that said, a person who has made mistakes in the past should odviously be given a shorter leash than those who do not. And the ones who make no attempt to correct past mistakes should be looked at in the light they are, as low life, go nowhere idiots, who couldn't man up and get themselves out of a bad situation when the world was presented to them on a silver platter, and given the punishment, by league or court, they fully deserve.

*This post does not condone the use of illegal drugs, breaking the law in any way, or any other improper inferences that you may of thought of. Drink your milk, eat your vegetables and vitamins and stay in school. *

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Yeah it's a long post...

But I hope the true point wasn’t lost, and that no one gets the wrong idea.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 21, 2009 5:57 PM EDT reply actions

Great Observations, NY

“Character issues” has become an over-reaching metaphor that can ask too much of an athlete who will be watched by millions of people drinking alcohol, betting on the athlete’s play, or cursing the creator-of-their-choice when said athlete drops the football.

These athletes are the best in the world at something that’s of no real use to anybody. That’s a Vonnegut quote I slightly mangled, but if an NFL player mows down fifty souls in a DUI rampage on Tuesday, he’d still be a technically sound ball player come Sunday.

Why the superfluous moral obligation? Are we prudes?

At the same time, there are jobs that drug test before hiring and pay a lot less than $1,000,000 per year, and these guys can’t stop smoking weed a couple months before going to a new job?!

It shows obvious lack of respect for life on a silver platter, and there’s too much unemployment going around to feel sorry for someone paying the consequences for their actions (like everyone else) when the result is the player gets six figures instead of seven.

Disclaimer: Taking charge of one’s own personal freedom in spite of the rules is always a euphoric endeavor. And reporting from age 33, that hasn’t changed yet. “When the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy….” —Prince

by betelgeuse on Apr 21, 2009 10:20 PM EDT reply actions

My take on this

To me, I want a team member first, and a player second.

And by that I mean I want somebody dependable and considerate and smart. I have no problem with kids getting their drink on. Or even smoking pot. Whatever go ahead. But the bottom line is, this is your job, football. You have to act like a grown up if you want to keep it.

Saying a player made a mistake getting a DUI or something is true, but that player can certainly afford a cab ride. Or get a friend to pick him up. He makes that bad decision, and maybe he cant play in a critical game, or maybe he cant help the team.

I would clearly give my player a second chance if he was already on the team, but after that, enough is enough. And I would be very very hesitant to take a guy with known mistakes in recent history.

by Mechem on Apr 22, 2009 12:55 AM EDT reply actions

well said

"The grass may be greener on the other side, but it still has to be mowed"
-PsycoSalameh43

by PsycoSalameh on Apr 22, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

DUI's are serious problems...

That was not meant to be implied as one forgivable mistake.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 22, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

i agree

and especially enjoyed the disclaimer at the end. It takes more than a list of times a player got caught doing something wrong to make a character judgment on someone, especially when dealing with youngins. On top of that, it is even more likely for a football star, big man on campus type, to stay out of trouble, no doubt. (not to mention the fact that teams often only hear about indiscretions if the player is actually caught)
Combine psych evaluations are likewise too short and impersonal to get a great read on a player, unless your scouts/coaches have incredible character perception abilities.

by tkired on Apr 22, 2009 1:59 AM EDT reply actions

Depends on the Event

“One legal problem does not warrant the “character issues” label, when in reality for all we know any of these problems could be one time only problems, or youthful indiscretions."

Yes, but it isn’t really a quantity thing. For example, if someone had five warrants for his arrest, that might worry me — unless I found out it was always for unpaid parking tickets. Then the fact that there were five of them tells me he may be an airhead, but I’m probably not too worried.

One arrest for smacking his girlfriend around is enough for me, though.

My point is, sometimes it is “One Strike and You’re Out.”

Look at the two guys who failed the test for Marijuana at the combine. I mean, how stupid do you have to be? Or how much of an addict do you have to be? But it would be enough for me to pass on them

But, character shows up in ways that do not impact run-ins with the law.

Terrel Owens has never, that I can think of, had a run in with the law. But he has real character issues when it comes to being a team player.

Ray Lewis had a run in — and has been a borderline Gangsta early in his career, but has always been a team player…

It’s an interesting dilemma.

by MarkJoel66 on Apr 22, 2009 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

Definately...

One arrest for smacking his girlfriend around is enough for me, though.

Without a doubt. No excuses for this one.

Good points, there are things other than legal issues that warrant the character issue label. And as I said it is certainly a fine line. I just hate to see the guy who has done everything he can to correct his problems be downgraded because of one mistake.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 22, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting topic...

I thought that this would be an interesting topic. It’s evident that it’s a fine line, and the gray area is quickly disappearing. Odviously there are one time mistakes that are, I hate to say UNforgivable, but they are. You can’t get away with one mistake if that mistake is murder, or several other serious wrong doings. But some of the things that people are labelled as poor charectar guys for doing, are things that hundreds of thousands (I’d go millions) of people do everyday. Does that make them any less illegal… no. But it should make them slightly more understandable, once put into perspective and when looking at age and upbringing. Regardless of how we look at athletes, they are still people of course, and people make mistakes.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 22, 2009 4:05 PM EDT reply actions

i think you put it very well. i also agree that you have to look at the context of the situation where they got in trouble. for instance, if a player does a drug outlawed by the league right before a drug test they KNOW is coming up (granted they may not know how long whatever drug it is says in their system) brings up more issues than a player who is caught by a random drug test.

personally, i think the steelers do a pretty good job of keeping their players in line. they certainly give a little more slack to the better players (holmes being accused of domestic violence (which was probably true), caught smoking pot, and arrested in miami) than other players (cedrick wilson cut after he was arrested/accused…dont remember), but that is the world we live in. bottom line is, they arent afraid to cut ties with any player who shows serious character issues that may cause problems in the locker room or on the field. and no matter how good a player is, some punishment (maybe less for some) will be handed down no matter how good the player or important the game (ex. suspending holmes for the giants game). the steelers are far more respectable at this than most teams in the league.

by t1mmy10 on Apr 22, 2009 8:29 PM EDT reply actions