Leon Hall Reaction

It took about a year, but another Bengals player is in trouble with the law.  And once again, the Bengals blow their chance at making a strong public statement. 

Forget the fact that Leon Hall made the poor choice to drive intoxicated for a moment.  I'm not here to be self-righteous and say that I (or many of our loyal comrades out there) have never gotten behind the wheel when maybe they should have called a cab.  However, in the position that Leon Hall is in, with the ridiculous history Bengals players have created for themselves over the past three years, you would think an extremely intelligent guy like Hall would have better judgment. 

What I am most perplexed about was the statement from the Bengals.  I know that Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan is considered one of the best in the business, so this is not an indictment of him, but the message circulated by the Bengals is confusing to me. 

“We were aware of the charge,” Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said Wednesday. “Anybody can get charged with anything. We don’t feel it’s appropriate to comment on a legal matter that’s not resolved.”

Anybody can be charged with anything?  Is that a fact?  I've gone about a quarter-century without being charged for a crime, save for that midget prostitution charge a few years back, but we won't count that. 

I fully understand that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but why do the Bengals have to (again) directly contradict a police action?  If this was another team (Steelers), their quote on the subject would be something like this:

"We have been made aware of the disappointing charges against Mr. Hall.  DUI is an offense that we take quite seriously, and we absolutely do not condone this type of behavior from anyone in the organization.  However, we will refrain from further comment out of respect of Mr. Hall's rights so that the legal system can run its course."

Why is that so hard?  Was Brennan's little dig a nod to what happened to Houston Texans RB Ryan Moats in Dallas?  Back in 2007, after Chris Henry's traffic stop in Over-the-Rhine for failing to signal, Marvin Lewis made questionable comments (that he later retracted) about the Cincinnati Police Department.  Essentially, he said that the Bengals were being targeted and failing to signal was a BS offense. 

Look, I'm not looking to get into a big discussion over law enforcement.  I'm just saying that the Bengals did a poor job in addressing the situation and demanding that their players hold themselves to a higher standard.  In my opinion, it speaks volumes to how this organization is run.

(WLWT has the video of Hall's field sobriety test right here)

Comments

[Pablo Marrón]

'The Vu' is the only place to be traveling home from after 3 am in Clermont County. Hall's true colors may have been shown if he really did leave The Vu to go home to aid his pregnant wife who was going into labor, as Trooper Pabin wrote in his report. If that is the case and true, a big thanks to Trooper Pabin for not letting Hall turn 5 Mile Road into the back stretch of the Brickyard with his wife & child to be in his Mercedes, gunning for Mercy Anderson. Drunk, in The Vu, going home to get your pregnant wife to the hospital to deliver your kid....another class act in black & orange.

[Thom Tadsen]

I got to agree with The Bengals on this and that never happens. He has been convicted of shit yet. The cops haven't proven shit yet. Lets just wait for this to unfold before we go casting judgement on Leon.

[Eddie Falznutz]

I agree with the point that Hall has not been convicted in a court of law....yet. Odds are he will plead guilty without a trial and be sentenced to some sort of supervised release and alcohol treatment (not that he really needs alcohol treatment but it's a great way for the legislature of Ohio to say "at least we're trying”). His BAC was .149 and having prosecuted DUIs in Chicago for over 3 years it's hard to beat the breathalyzer absent some improper procedure by the officer.

Although not convicted in a court of law, he's already been skewered in the Court of Public Opinion. I’m not saying athletes aren’t human and I’m not saying that people don’t make mistakes – athlete or not – but when the “mistakes” add up and you’re constantly in the public eye then you have to be ready for the repercussions… And certainly the Bengals franchise has to be ready for any repercussions as a result of their players. If anyone has ever played high school or college football you know that coaches DO NOT and SHOULD NOT stand for this type of behavior even if it is “off the field” - just as any corporation should not stand for a certain type of behavior outside of work. Hey you may be a banker, a sales rep, a plumber, a doctor, a cop, or any other number of professions by day, but you get caught with kiddy porn, hooking, a ki of yay, or pick up even a DUI by night your employer can terminate you because many employers value the integrity of the company… and that what it really boils down to here.

[Clint]

"I fully understand that everyone is innocent until proven guilty"

Well except for King Goodell's NFL. He doesn't care about the court process especially if a Bengal is involved.

[whymikeywhy]

I'm sorry, but Brennan's comment is ridiculous, and Jason showed what a more thoughtful and appropriate response would have been. Yes, "anybody can be charged with anything" in the most technical sense. Was anyone disputing that? No, but thanks for using straw-man arguments anyways, Captain Obvious. What's more concerning is the likelihood that someone is charged with something and the likelihood the person is guilty or innocent of the charge. Obviously, we should hold off on a final judgement until we know all the details, but so far things aren't looking good for Hall. If we later see evidence to suggest he's innocent, then great.

[Hofbraunow]

If a person starts drinking, *logic/reason* says that they plan on staying put for a while (depending on how much they've already drunk, or plan to drink)

Specifically, if she already being taken care of, I don't know if speeding, to be with your wife who has gone into labor, is a viable excuse for breaking the speed limit laws

(I'm not saying I wouldn't do it---what's a ticket compared to once-in-a-lifetime memories, i.e. if you don't get into, or cause an accident first---just considering how the law looks at it).

If it is confirmed that he was legally drunk, then I wonder, did he start drinking before or after he was aware of his wife going into labor?

[Hofbraunow]

Edit correction: the phrase

"Specifically, if she already being taken care of"

should read,

"Specifically, if *she's* already being taken care of",

or "Specifically, if *she is* already being taken care of"...

[ the asterisks are used for lack of other text-highlighting funtions, as I do not have a Typepad or TypeKey account ]

Because I appreciate good grammar at least as much as I appreciate athletic talent.

[Hofbraunow]

That is, not to mention poetic license (such as the use of prose), such as capitalizing the "b" in the word "because", in the above post (as opposed to "the post above", which would be grammatically incorrect, since a sentence should not be ended with a preposition, such as "above").

:)

[5chw4r7z]

Because the Steeler's statement acknowledges a responsibility to do something when the facts do come to light.
Something the Bengals would never do.

[bengalssocal]

If Leon Hall plays well this season and gets some interceptions, all of you holier than thou's will have forgotten this by September.

[bucksbrownstribe]

The Bengals should draft Beanie Wells. He would make a great combo with Ced Benson and be a consistent producer for the next 5-7 years.

[PAl]

bengalassocal,

Not sure what you are supporting. Are you saying that it is OK to drive drunk because everybody else does it? Suppose good old drunk Leon runs a red light and you or your loved ones are killed. Is that OK? I've never driven drunk. I guess that qualifies me(makes me holier) to say that I won't forget this even if he does makes "some" interceptions. Also, any of you morons who think that the Bengals are right on this one because the cops haven't "proven shit" are pathetic. You would not be considered holier than thou.

[steelernation14]

LOL! you Bungal fans are funny!

[Hofbraunow]

Go back to your "nation"

[me]

Whats funnier? Bengals fans talking about a bengal player in a bengals forum

OR

An idiot inbred steeler fan at midnight on a friday night trolling the Bengals sites just to point out how big of an Ahole he and all of steeler "nation" can be?

[WCH]

Jason,

Do yourself a favor and stay away from the legal side of things.

[notaloyal reader]

Yes, you are being self righteous. You get to set the standard for Hall? Because of the position he's in and his team has been in shouldn't have any bearing on this sort of decision to drink and drive. You don't drink and drive, period.

Quit being sensitive to your readers and post your feelings. If you feel you might shun some readers because of your opinion I would urge you to start not caring and just continue to write. Stop trying to be the cool guy. It just comes off making you look like your trying too hard and are desperate to be something you're not.

[Jennifer Zappatelli]

I have heard from several sources that Nathan Pabin is a homosexual. I met him once at Mt. Adams Bar & Grill, he consumed 4 drinks and drove home immediately afterward, I remember feeling shocked especially since I knew his profession.

[Steelr4evr]

I remember that evening at the Mt. Adams Bar and Grill. The trooper was there. I recall asking him about Leon. He briefly stated that Leon was a good guy and that everyone makes mistakes. He then quickly changed the subject. Jennifer was there also. I remember "her" walking around with two young boys of apparent Thai descent. It was a fun evening until someone came up with the idea of playing strip poker. Seven hands later, we were all made aware of two disturbing truths : Jennifer Zappatelli was both a lousy poker player and a hermaphrodite. I don't believe that anyone had much alcohol, or food for that matter, left in their system when the night ended; most of it was vomited onto the floor of the Mt. Adams Grill and Bar

[UGG Boots On Sale]

For most it is difficult to understand why Iraq is such an important place.

[steven]

Really like the blog, appreciate the share!