Dolphins must guard against lapses in judgment

By Hugo Guzman  |   Thursday, July 12, 2007  |  Comments( 17 )

Miami Dolphins
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If you ask the average ESPN junkie what the hottest topic in the NFL is these days, invariably, they will bring up the topic of arrests. Be it Michael Vick's doggone troubles, Tank Johnson's infamous "DWI," or the slew of legal transgressions perpetuated by the Cincinnati Bengals, the topic of criminal behavior is never far from the collective conscious of the league's fans.

And I didn't even mention rap-sheet prima donna Pacman Jones.

The topic of NFL players getting in trouble with the law is nothing new. However, the seemingly increasing rate at which players are finding themselves in these legal conundrums and the iron hand that new commissioner Roger Goodell is wielding in regards to suspensions make staying on the right side of the law more imperative than ever.

And the Miami Dolphins are no exception.

The team's top free-agent pickup, former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, managed to get himself into trouble in Las Vegas earlier this offseason, picking a fight with Cincinnati Bengals lineman Levi Jones at the famed Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. Porter has not been punished by either the Dolphins or the NFL, and it appears as if he will skate past the incident unscathed, but this type of nonsensical behavior is the kind of thing that could sabotage Miami's season before it even gets started.

Fortunately, many of team's key positions are manned by players with immaculate legal track records. Recently acquired quarterback Trent Green is as clean cut as it gets; running back Ronnie Brown comes off as more of a Mama's boy than a bad boy; and the defensive pillars of the team, Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor, are known for on-field leadership and production, not off-field shenanigans.

But let's not get too comfortable with the franchise's legal standing just yet. After all, it was only a few weeks ago that promising defensive lineman Fred Evans cost himself a roster spot and a chance at the starting rotation after getting into a physical altercation with several members of the Miami Beach Police Department.

Mind you, the cops who patrol South Beach do have a sordid reputation, but the foolish actions of potentially significant contributors like Evans could severely handicap the team in 2007. Losing Evans probably isn't a major issue, per se, but there are a host of other role players who would cause a major disruption if they were to incur Goodell's wrath at some point during the upcoming season.

Take, for example, up-and-coming linebacker Channing Crowder. The former Florida Gator had his fair share of run-ins with the law in Gainesville. Fortunately for both he and the franchise, Crowder has been nothing less than an exemplary citizen since joining the Dolphins, but if he were to suffer a relapse it would cost Miami dearly. Incidentally, Crowder's most notable offense while with the Gators was (you guessed it) getting into an altercation with local police.

For the sake of journalistic integrity, let me point out a few things:
- I don't expect Crowder to encounter any legal issues in the future.
- Both of Crowder's arrests occurred when he was an underclassman. He cleaned up his act by the time he finished his college career.
- The only reason I use Crowder as an example is because he has a history of trouble and because he is a very valuable contributor to the team.

The point here is not that I have some festering grudge against Crowder (for all of you conspiracy theorists out there), because the reality is that his zest for the game makes him one a player worth watching on Sundays. Instead, emphasis should be placed on what a detrimental effect suspensions for off-field issues could have on the Dolphins.

Thus, Miami fans, if you run into a Dolphins player at any point, remind him to stay out of trouble. It might seem rude or embarrassing at first, but it could turn out to be the difference between a good season and a bad one.

Get daily Miami Dolphins coverage at RealFootball365.com
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About Hugo Guzman

Trying to bring an objective approach to NFL analysis.
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