Stunningly, New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum says on a radio show this morning: "We felt he didn't deserve to start based on the fact that ... not for the arrest as much as going out and being out until 5 in the morning," Jets play at Miami tonight.
Braylon Edwards as he was arraigned on charges of driving while intoxicated on Tuesday.Cleveland, Ohio -- Wide receivers Braylon Edwards of the New York Jets and Donte' Stallworth of the Baltimore Ravens were Cleveland Browns teammates when they were drinking together the night of March 13, 2009.
Early the next morning, Stallworth was driving in Miami Beach when his Bentley hit and killed a pedestrian. Stallworth later pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter.
Edwards was arrested this Tuesday on drunken driving charges. The Jets are "punishing" him by not starting him in their game tonight against the Dolphins in Miami. He is expected to play.
Apparently, the Jets' biggest problem with Edwards' behavior isn't that his drunken driving could have put the safety of not only himself, but others, too, in jeopardy.
The Jets -- if general manager Mike Tannenbaum's thoughts are representative of the team -- are more bothered that the controversial Edwards wasn't getting his proper rest.
Rich Cimini writes for ESPNNewYork.com:
Embattled wide receiver Braylon Edwards won't start for the New York Jets Sunday night against the Miami Dolphins, but not because of his drunken-driving arrest.
It's because of when he was arrested, according to Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum.
"We felt he didn't deserve to start based on the fact that ... not for the arrest as much as going out and being out until 5 in the morning," Tannenbaum said Sunday morning as a guest of Ian O'Connor on 1050 ESPN Radio.
Tannenbaum's comment could add more fuel to the firestorm that has developed in the aftermath of Edwards' Tuesday-morning arrest on the West Side of Manhattan. The Jets have been widely criticized for not taking a harsher stance with Edwards, whose blood-alcohol level registered .16 -- twice the legal limit.
The players with Edwards at the time of his arrest -- offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and defensive end Vernon Gholston -- will not face any team discipline, the Jets have said.
Tannenbaum offers some weak "other guys have played...," and "it's a legal matter..." excuses in defense of the Jets' handling of the matter. Maybe it will sit well with some people, but probably not with those whose loved ones have been harmed by drunk drivers.
Cimini writes:
Explaining the decision not to deactivate Edwards as punishment, Tannenbaum cited precedent, claiming no team over the last two seasons unilaterally benched or deactivated a player after a drunken-driving arrest.
"It's a pending legal matter," Tannenbaum said. "When that case is adjudicated, he'll be held to a standard established by the CBA. Clearly, that's how other teams have handled it over the past couple of years."
If convicted, Edwards faces a maximum fine of $50,000. Because of a previous violation of the league's personal-conduct policy, he also could be suspended.