17. The number of estimated drinks Josh Brent consumed before getting in the driver’s seat and getting into an accident that killed his friend and Dallas Cowboys teammate Jerry Brown. 110. The speed at which Brent and Brown were travelling minutes before the accident. 180. The amount of days Brent was sentenced to for intoxication manslaughter (cbssports.com).
"Manslaughter” is a judicial term, synonymous with murder and homicide. Despite the verbiage, Brown was killed in an automobile accident caused by the blood toxicity of Brent. As Gil LeBreton from the Fort Worth Star-Telegramdiscussed, the drunken driving offense was not Brent’s first. He was arrested four years ago for drunken driving in Illinois.
What can be done to make sure that accidents—and truly—violations like this are not happening among NFL athletes? The truth is, measures have been taken. The NFL Players Association has actively sought avenues to keep its members out of situations like the one that killed Brown and incarcerated Brent. Uber, a car service company, recently entered a partnership with the NFLPA (forbes.com). Accessible by phone and through a downloadable app, Uber picks up players from any location to deliver them to their destination safely. What’s the reasoning behind partnerships like the one with Uber? The New York Times approximated that since 2006 more than $5 million in salary money has been lost in fines and penalties from drunken driving. More than any dollar amount, the implications of these poor decisions become tangible at the gravesite in St. Louis where Brown was laid to rest (kmov.com).
Undoubtedly, the NFLPA is trying to facilitate better options for its members than to endanger themselves and others while under the influence. Uber may be the best bet. In the meantime, decisions like Brent’s cannot be unmade, and the maximum 180 days he’ll spend in jail are six months his teammate will never see.
No comments:
Post a Comment