Four Down Territory: NFL Week 1

September 13, 2019
244

Kickoff 

NFL: “Welcome to week one of the season.”

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Me:

You know the drill, let’s get this thing started.

First Down

Antonio Brown has been accused of sexual assault and is being sued by his former trainer. The victim claims that the three incidents happened in 2017 and 2018. You can get more details about each incident here.

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Brown’s name has been in the news recently for hijinks that got him cut by the Raiders earlier this month. He then signed with the New England Patriots on a one year deal.

Brown denies all allegations; his lawyer released the following statement:

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As of now this is a civil case and criminal charges are not being pursued by the District Attorney. Obviously, that can change but as of now Brown is not in trouble with the law. He has given the NFL information as the league plans to interview both him and the victim soon.

The NFL, nor the Patriots, plan on taking any action right now. Brown is scheduled to suit up and play against the Dolphins on Sunday.

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If you haven’t figured out the victim is being blasted for suing Brown calling it a money grab and saying the usual mumbo jumbo sexual assault victims hear when they speak about their incident(s).

Since I have time let’s poke holes into the most popular claims, okay? Consent, money grab

  1. “Why did she wait so long to report it? If I were sexually assaulted I’d call the police IMMEDIATLEY!”
  • This is the most common thing victims have to hear and most of the time it comes from men. It’s an attempt to minimize the victim by saying if it were as serious as they claim then they wouldn’t wait to say something at a later date. Those of us who can run a simple Google search know that 80% of rapes and sexual assaults go unreported. Why? Because victims usually get blamed for being sexually assaulted and not the person who actually did the assaulting.

 

  1. “They have had sexual encounters before, it’s not rape then.”
  • This is just trash on so many levels. Consent is not a one-time thing, it’s an every single time thing. Just because you’ve had intercourse with someone does not mean you get a free pass forever. Husbands can rape wives and vice versa. How are grown people out here not understanding consent?

 

  1. “She’s just doing this for a money grab.”
  • This is popular when it comes to really rich people being sued for sexual assault. Have there been instances where people have consensual sex with a rich person then say they were assaulted for financial gain? Absolutely. Does that mean we should ignore allegations when rich people are involved? That’s rhetorical. For the sake of argument, let’s dissect this “money grab.”

AB was traded to Oakland back in March; part of that trade was Brown getting a brand new contract with $30 million guaranteed. If the incidents happened in 2017 and 2018 then why not sue him then? If it’s a money grab then why not strike after he’s signed such a massive contract? The lawsuit was filed after Brown agreed to a one-year deal with $9 million guaranteed with the Patriots. The timing just doesn’t add up if this is just a cash-in.

The NFL has a putrid history of investigating sexual assault and domestic violence but so far they’ve gotten it right. Commissioner Goodell chose not to place Brown on the Commissioner’s Exempt List (paid administrative leave) and will allow Brown to play during the process. The NFL is right this time. The allegations against Brown are just that; allegations. There is no evidence nor have charges been filed against him. Until that changes, or if the NFL finds something during their investigation, then Brown should be allowed to play.

With all that being true the main thing we need to take away from this incident is the language we use when talking to victims of sexual assaut. Over the past week many people have cloaked their trash takes with the “I have a daughter/wife/etc.” before saying something stupid. Take Brown’s agent, Drew Rousenhous for example:

I’m going to give you a peak behind the curtain: EVERY PERSON WHO HAS COMMITEDD SEXUAL ASSAULT KNOWS A WOMAN IN SOME FORM OR FASHION. THAT DOES NOT ABSOLVE THEM FROM COMMITTING THOSE CRIMES.

HARVEY WENSTEIN HAS A WIFE AND DAUGHTER. BILL COSBY HAS A WIFE AND DAUGHTER. LOUIS CK HAS A MOTHER. R. KELLY HAS A MOTHER. DONALD TRUMP HAS A WIFE, DAUGHTER, AND GRANDAUGHTER.

Get my point?

Brown is innocent until proven guilty. The victim should be treated with respect and heard and not be shunned for bringing this story to light.

Believe it or not; both can be true.

If you are a victim of sexual assault there are resources here.

Second Down

I would like to take this moment to apologize to Lamar Jackson. I slept on you this offseason and boy was I wrong. Check out his stats from Sunday’s 59-10 win against Miami.

17/20 (85%) 324 YDS 5 TDs 0 INT 99.4 QBR

That’s the kind of line you put up on Rookie mode during a game of Madden. Jackson has started his sophomore season with a bang and hopefully this continues. I’ve said that the Ravens offense will look like the veer or wishbone but, as you can see, I had no idea what I was talking about. Lamar Jackson being great is good for the league in an AFC North that appears to be pretty good. Lamar has another chance to put up big numbers this week as they Ravens invite the Cardinals to town for an early kickoff (west coast teams that have to travel east usually don’t do well, especially if kickoff is at 1:00PM EST.)

Check out Lamar’s monster game below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5hCu1E-C1Y

Third Down

Speaking of Miami; we knew you were tanking but damn. Giving up 59 points is making the tanking look reallllyyy obvious. So obvious that players have started calling their agents to start looking for trades.

Seriously, once you trade your star left tackle the only conclusion is you’re stockpiling assets for the future. As a guy who follows the Sixers I know the process when I see it.

I get it; this year the quarterback class could be legendary and the only way to get one is to lose. That’s the most important position in all of sports so if you think one is special you do whatever you can to get one. It’s week one though and fans are still hopeful that y’all can be a surprise team and actually win a few games. If you’re going to tank at least wait until week 9 to start getting blown out THEN fans will start buying into the process.

The real victim this year won’t be the fans or the staff, it’s Josh Rosen. All he’s received in his two years of professional football are really bad offensive lines. At this rate we’ll see him at a podium retiring from football because he’s tired of taking all these hits for teams that are just trying to get rid of him. He’s too rich for all that.

Next up? The Patriots are coming to town with AB in tow. Good luck with that.

Fourth Down

So about the Browns…

Last week I mentioned how Cleveland can start believing in their beloved football team. My bad.

The Browns were on the wrong side of a 43-13 L to the Titans. This included three interceptions by Baker Mayfied (one being a pick-six) and just a dominant performance by Tennessee. The offense looke sluggish after their first drive and, honestly, they just looked like the Browns of old.

Fun fact: the Browns have lost 16 straight home openers.

Cleveland losing should be the big story but it’s actually Odell Beckham’s choice or time keeper that has everyone buzzing.

 

For the record, I think it’s kind of cool and this is what you get with Beckham. Had he balled out we’d be saying how cool he is. Besides, Baker didn’t do him any favors Sunday. Let the man live.

Extra Points

Earlier I wrote the Josh Rosen will retire early because all of the punishment he’s taken in so little time. I think Deshuan Watson is also on that list. Monday night was a game for the ages but he won’t last long taking that kind of abuse weekly.

Jerry better pay Dak now; the price is only going up.

Gotta feel bad for Nick Foles. Sucks to see his season end like that. His replacement though looks like a 35 year old has been that would’ve been QB1 in college if coach liked him.

Saints fans are the corniest clowns on earth.

@madads14 if you want more heat.

As always, thanks for reading.

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September 13, 2019
244