I am all for giving a person a second chance. So too are the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. Believe me, the Lions have had it rough this past off-season with a handful of players arrested for off-field incidents.
The Lions are fed up with giving players too many chances. Don’t believe me, just ask cornerback Aaron Berry. As reported in sports.yahoo.com.
Berry was arrested for the second time in less than a month and charged with three counts of simple assault for allegedly pointing a gun at three people from a car. This happened less than one full day after Berry entered a diversion program for first-time offenders, based on a DUI arrest that happened after witnesses saw his BMW hit two parked cars.
Under the agreement, Berry was to perform 20-40 hours of community service in a six-month period and submit to an alcohol evaluation. What happens to that agreement after his most recent arrest is unclear, but one thing became very evident on Monday: Whatever Berry does from here on out, he won't be doing it as a member of the Lions, who cut him.
Berry's second arrest of the offseason was the seventh overall of a Lions player in the last few months, and came amidst growing. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley has been busted for DUI and marijuana possession in two separate incidents, running back Mikel Leshoure has two pot busts of his own, and offensive lineman Johnny Culbreath has one marijuana possession arrest of his own.
In a previous blog I stated and I repeat – the Lions should mandate Michigan alcohol awareness classes for all of its players every year! It appears an annual drug class could be used as well.