Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Kick him to the curb


It's becoming almost commonplace, but Steelers management is being given another chance to show fans whether the team has any serious standards for player behavior off the field. The person in the unwanted spotlight this time is kicker Jeff Reed, who appears to have transformed over the past few years from humble free-agent signee to out-of-control celebrity party animal. For those who missed it, Reed, who just recently pleaded guilty to charges stemming for his assault on a paper towel dispenser at a Westmoreland County Sheetz store, had a run-in with police on the North Side just hours after Sunday's victory over the Browns. Police tell it like this: Officers were responding to an unrelated call when they spotted Reed's teammate Matt Spaeth peeing in a parking lot. As police were taking information from Spaeth in order to cite him for watering the lot, Reed exited a vehicle and confronted the officers, putting up his fists and, according to a police affidavit, getting into a "fighter's stance." Perhaps Reed was still basking in the afterglow of his knockout victory over the paper towel dispenser, but he soon found out that police will fight back. He ended up being taken to the ground and handcuffed. His agent, of course, claims Reed was attacked by the cops. Don Henderson told the Post-Gazette that Reed got out of the car "to help." Right. Now the kicker faces charges of assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. Are the Steelers OK with that? The team has shown a willingness to cut players who become unwelcome distractions - Bam Morris and Najeh Davenport come to mind - but that applies only if the player can be easily replaced. By essentially ignoring the transgressions of star players such as Santonio Holmes and James Harrison, the team has made it clear that there is one standard for so-so players and another for stars. One can understand if classy Mr. Spaeth's incident is overlooked, even though most folks who are approaching their 26th birthday have gained the maturity to rely exclusively on indoor plumbing. But Reed's case is another matter entirely. If what police say is true, that makes him a repeat offender, and also stupid as a box of rocks. And when someone starts wrestling with cops, they need to go. Of course, there will be some, perhaps many, Steelers fans who will dismiss this as nothing more than boys being boys. Of course, some of those fans would stand by their "Stillers" in the face of any accusation short of rape and murder. And a few, no doubt, would say the rape victim must've been asking for it and the murder victim provoked the dear Steeler involved in the homicide. My guess is that the Steelers will fall back on the old "let the case take its course through the criminal justice system" position, rather than switch kickers in midseason. Reed's contract is up this year, so he's probably on his way out the door, but if the Steelers had any integrity and moral standards, he'd be booted today.

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21 Comments:

Anonymous x anonymous said...

Reed missing field goals is enough reason to replace him. I understand when you wear a uniform you represent that uniform. Take pride ect...

Spaeth, taking a leak in a parking lot is not a class act by any means, but who hasn't taken a leak in a parking lot at one time? It's not like he ran up to a group of old ladies and kids and took a leak.

Acting like you want to beat on a cop isn't smart thing to do. The cops today are not the cops from 15 years ago. Some cops today have ptsd from the wars. They are use to beating people, and nobody asking questions. Cops today treat people on the streets like scum. Not all cops are this way, but the trend is leaning that way. Reed is lucky they didn't tazer him to death. That also say's a lot about this. If Reed was being such an ass, why didn't they tazer him? Cops lie. A cop is nothing more than a paid witness for the state. I think Reed might be looking for a new job soon.

October 20, 2009 at 11:31 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why didn't Reed just back up three steps and try to kick the cops? Oh ... no one was holding them.

October 20, 2009 at 12:38 PM  
Blogger Lori said...

Flashback, when did the Steelers become the Dallas Cowboys?

October 20, 2009 at 1:25 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

I see now that Coach Tomlin is saying that Reed will play on Sunday. He says Santonio got benched for a game last year because his transgression occurred closer to game day and could have been a distraction, but since Reed's happened early in the week, it won't be, so he can stay on the active roster. I think Tomlin is great coach, but that's a major cop-out. Just come out and say that we are basically giving the guy a pass because we're not sure we can find a comparable kicker that quickly.

October 20, 2009 at 2:57 PM  
Blogger Dale Lolley said...

If they booted him today, Brant, they'd have a grievance filed on them by the NFLPA before he got out the door. There's that whole due process thing to worry about.

October 20, 2009 at 6:12 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

And by the time that grievance process played out through the courts, the season would probably be over. The worst you'd have to do is pay the guy what he's owed for the rest of the season.

October 20, 2009 at 6:18 PM  
Blogger MJ said...

Dale, did the NFLPA come to Cedrick "The Entertainer" Wilson's aid when he slapped his girlfriend in the face at a local bar? It comes down to productivity, and we all know James Harrison, Ben Roethlisberger and Jeff "Skippy" Reed have been pretty good players over the past few years.

Now, the explanation for why Tomlin suspended Holmes but not Reed is pretty weak. That's what doesn't makes no sense.

October 20, 2009 at 6:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

He is a kicker. They would have another kicker tomorrow if they needed one. If a plane crashed with every NFL kicker on it there would be no problem finding kickers the next Sunday.

October 20, 2009 at 8:01 PM  
Blogger Dale Lolley said...

They would have to do that anyway. He's a vested veteran. There would be other possible repercussions as well.

October 21, 2009 at 12:50 AM  
Anonymous x anonymous said...

Really, that theme of that photo should be "chicks with tools".

they should cut him just cause he plays 8 secs a game and acts and looks like a total tool.

other themes could be:

1: Andrew Dice Clay coughed up a hair ball.....

2. fill in the blank ___________

October 21, 2009 at 5:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Man you people are harsh. I agree with x-anonymous's comments that cops lie. But missing two field goals out of 24 is reason to use this as an excuse to fire him? Give Reed a break..he didn't hurt anyone, unlike Vic who is back on a football team. Cruelty to animals and slapping women around are reasons for dismissal, but not for getting drunk after a game and celebrating. If what he did was so terrible, let's have due process and find out the truth instead of rushing to the nearest hanging tree like most of you want. I'd sure hate to have any of you on my jury if I was accused of a crime. We've become such a rigid, no tolerant society.

October 22, 2009 at 2:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

anon - wasn't that 2 in 1 game? I can't remember.. but I think it was.

if i missed two days of work without a doctors note, I can kiss my job goodbye!

October 22, 2009 at 4:54 PM  
Blogger MJ said...

With the way the economy is, you could miss NO days in a YEAR and still lose your job!

October 22, 2009 at 10:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To anon at 2:30 p.m. Oct 22. There is no need to rush to judgment. His apology yesterday left no doubt about his involvement and misconduct. Clearly Jeff Reed and his agent were working from two different books. The agent said the incident was not as reported, but Reed offered the apology to what was reported. His agent must have blown his top when Reed made the apology. It was a clear and direct contradiction to the words of the agent. Reed didn't dismiss or cover anything. He just needs to keep his apology script handy, as undoubtedly he will need it again soon.

The NFL condones this behavior, hires Vick, makes a huge living on those who sire children without any parental responsibility, keep domestic violence offenders up and front on the rosters, and then have the gall to suggest Limbaugh is unworthy to be an owner. They made themselves look foolish. How could Goodell keep a straight face when he voiced negative comments about Limbaugh, "... we have high standards." Ha, ha.

October 22, 2009 at 11:08 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

I'm not a fan of Limbaugh, but you make an excellent point. The NFL is very selective, and random, about its application of morality.

October 23, 2009 at 8:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

the Limbaugh bit... I think it was a stunt to get more liberals to listen to his show. he knew a liberal organization like the nfl would never have him. yet he is going to make bank off of his failure.

follow the ball!

October 23, 2009 at 3:54 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

I don't know that I would consider the NFL a "liberal organization." I'm guessing that a lot of the owners, being very wealthy people, agree with Limbaugh more often than not. They're just not interested in damaging the goose that lays the golden egg by hitching their wagon to someone who has so many negatives attached to him, i.e. half of the population thinking he's a vile horse's behind.

October 23, 2009 at 4:09 PM  
Blogger Dale Lolley said...

Would that be any different than, say, Al Davis, Jerry Jones or Daniel Snyder. Probably half the population - or more - think those guys are horse's behinds.

October 23, 2009 at 5:04 PM  
Blogger Brant said...

They are, indeed, jackasses. I think most folks are simply thankful that those boobs don't own their teams, and they think Jerry, Al and Dan are idiots, but those owners aren't reviled by a large segment of the population, as Limbaugh is, and they haven't made it a habit of repeatedly denigrating an entire race of people in our country, as Limbaugh has done, that being a race that is highly represented among NFL players.

October 23, 2009 at 6:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

considering 70% of the players are minorities, and minorities favor with the liberals 90% of the time. I would have to say the NFL is very much a liberal group. Wonder who the Rooneys voted for.

I never really looked at all the team owners, maybe I should. Most large cities are very liberal and cave to the unions. I'm going to take a risk here... and stick with VERY LIBERAL!

October 23, 2009 at 7:32 PM  
Anonymous CHUCK said...

70% being minorities

Then why is the fan base only 13% minorities? You know the people that buy the tickets and NFL GAME DAY?

Why isn't Jessie Jackson out there protesting the NFL. They should have more white guys on the field. I demand affirmative action!

October 23, 2009 at 8:45 PM  

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