Sometimes honesty is not always the best policy, and I think Washington Redskins’ safety Brandon Meriweather needs to quickly learn it. Meriweather did not play on Sunday after being suspended for one game for multiple illegal hits in a game against the Chicago Bears. Multiple players came out and spoke against Meriweather’s style of play. Tight end Martellus Bennett said that there is no place in the NFL for players like that. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall echoed Bennett’s sentiments saying he should be suspended from the league for life.
Meriweather got wind of these comments and responded today in the Redskins’ locker room. After hearing about Marshall’s comment he said, “He feels like I need to be kicked out of the league. I feel like people who beat their girlfriends should be kicked out of the league, too. … You tell me who you’d rather have? Someone who plays aggressive on the field or someone who beat up their girlfriend?” Marshall has been arrested on domestic violence in the past. What a low blow! There are things that you do not bring up about a fellow athlete and that was definitely one of them. Marshall has had a lot of bumps in the road in the past, but he seems to have turned his life around. Too bad, that is not where it ended with Meriweather’s comments.
The NFL continues to try and make football a safer game. It is almost impossible to guarantee no one will get hurt in a sport that is very violent and aggressive. Meriweather is not helping the NFL’s cause and these comments did not make it any better. “I guess I just got to take people’s knees out,” Meriweather said. “That’s the only way. I would hate to end a guy’s career over a rule, but I guess it’s better other people than me getting suspended for longer. You just have to go low now, man. You’ve got to end people’s careers. You got to tear people’s ACLS and mess up people’s knees. You can’t hit them high anymore.” Why would you ever publicly admit that you are aiming to end receivers’ seasons and possibly careers? There is no way league officials will ever give him the benefit of the doubt now. He is a good player and he is hurting his teammates with these comments. There will be more flags for questionable hits which could cost Washington games in the long run. There will be a lot more suspensions and fines in his future. Now with these comments coming out, is Brandon Marshall right in saying he should be banned for life?
