This post highlights why that is, as well as the reasons why I think, if nothing else, the "optics" might be too toxic for the Patriots as an organization -- provided Meriweather was, in fact, involved. (Which is also why, like a good doobie, I used the word 'alleged' where necessary.)
Thus, I am going to leave this post up for now, but with this update, and follow up again when things settle.
Before he was even drafted, there was this.
I know I was concerned, anyway, when he was drafted by the Patriots in the first round in 2007, because of Meriweather's role in that Miami vs. Florida International brawl, about whether he'd be bringing that kind of behavior to his career in New England. People have a lot of sour grapes about the Patriots organization as it is; the last thing we need is a Mike Vick or a Ben Roethlisberger situation.
That worry about Meriweather, and where his head is at, has continued for me as he has played for the Pats. He hasn't been awful, but the times he has really stood out, it has been for things like his absolutely disgusting helmet-to-helmet on Todd Heap last season, which, even as a passionate Patriots fan, I still will not and cannot defend.
In that moment, in fact, seeing Meriweather deliberately turn, ignore the ball, and launch himself into Heap, leading with his helmet, and then, worse, seeing him making a palms-up, arms-outstretched, "Who, me?" gesture at a clearly nonplussed Bill Belichick on the sidelines afterward, my heart froze. He was bringing both stupidity and hyper-aggression to the field again, this time while wearing my team's uniform.
And then, this morning, a friend sent me a link to this report, which summarizes a Deadspin post that appears to have broken a new and devastating story about Meriweather.
Here's the relevant portion of the Deadspin post:
The trouble started at the Blue Jeans Lounge in Apokpa when a friend of Meriweather's allegedly beat up a woman, according to Morgan. The woman's brother arrived later with his own friend, and the conflagration shifted to a nearby party, where the brother soon got the better of Meriweather's friend in a fight. That's when Meriweather allegedly pulled out his gun and fired at the brother, grazing the man's face and hitting the other victim in the head...
So, let's make sure we have this totally straight. In an off-season in which the young core of the new-look Patriots needs to continue maturing and focusing on preparation, the better to properly avenge the 2010 season, one of our starting safeties is now alleged to have:
1. Shot two people
2. Shot two people because he missed the guy he was trying to shoot.
3. Shot two people because he was defending a friend who had beat up a woman on the street outside a bar. You can't even defend Meriweather on this by pointing out he wasn't there when this beatdown occurred. In fact, that only makes it worse.
Say what you will about the Patriots winning too much or whatever and about Bill Belichick's personality and don't even TALK to me about Brady's goddamn hair at this point, because at the very least, there is a lot I will accept about, or on behalf of, my team.
But I also mean this with the utmost sincerity: there can be absolutely no place for this, even if it is only alleged to have occurred, in the New England Patriots organization.
Or, more to the point: there MUST be no place for this in the Patriots organization. As a Pats fan, I'm already tired of defending them at every turn. They have to know that the "off-field conduct policy" is the last thing they want to be hearing from the commissioner's office about at this point. And if they could get rid of Randy Moss just to prove a point, even with a young, relatively thin secondary, they can get rid of this miscreant, too, and find someone more in keeping with finer Patriots traditions, of smart football and selfless teamwork.
amen sister. there are enough distractions without his jackass being one of them. he has at times played inspired football, but has also inspired the phrase "what the hell is he thinking?" It's too bad he has apparently taken that approach in his personal life as well. There are so many things I want to bring into play here, but when it comes down to it it's fairly simple. If these allegations are true, Meriweather belongs in jail. All other discussions about his future are moot.
Posted by: Vickie | March 10, 2011 at 11:43
Nice post. Meriweather is a punk. He has played well at times, but I'd rather the Patriots build a team around players that aren't repeatedly getting themselves into situations like these.
I'm curious what Goodell will do, considering that Roethlisberger was suspended four games for being accused, but not charged, of sexually assaulting someone. Goodell's punishments are often so inconsistent.
Posted by: Mark | March 10, 2011 at 12:53
No excuse for Meriweather in this situation. Clearly, by the reports, there is no "self-defense' here. Now he might, in fact, the innocent of all these charges. But just being in that situation show very bad judgement. "Nothing good happens after midnight!" Brandon--learn from this and grow-up.
Posted by: RJP | March 10, 2011 at 15:29
There shouldn't be places for people like this in the NFL, period. The gift of being able to play a game for millions of dollars is a ridiculous luxury in and of itself. It's unfortunate that incidents like this seem to happen over and over again in the NFL. I understand that athletes are human and they do have normal problems like we, the common folk, do. I mean, who isn't guilty of having affairs with supermodels or drinking and doing 100 mph on a motorcycle without a helmet, or even sending pictures of our happy areas to a reporter via text messages? This stuff happens. But violent actions like these are inexcusable. I don't care if he was the best player on the team. I also would like to get back a little of the Patriot way again. I miss those days.
Posted by: Dave | March 11, 2011 at 21:43