Before you declare JJ guilty.....

Duke Lacrosse Players and Nancy Grace--Daily Show

I'm not saying this applies to JJ, but to convict him without knowing all the facts is just a betrayal of the justice system.

Many people have made the argument that he should be suspended based on the logic that "everyone in major sports is suspended when they are arrested for a felony."

I say: that is a fricking stupid argument. Just because it's the default in modern day "guilty until proven innocent" and "convict them in the media before all the facts are known" law doesn't make it right.

IMO, if a coach suspends an arrested player, it should be so that player can focus solely on his defense . It should be for the benefit of the PLAYER only, not because he got arrested.

That is how it should be in all life, whether that be a job, congressional seat, or sports: at any level.

Just because "the national media would crucify us" if we didn't suspend him doesn't make it the right decision.

If a person maintains their innocense after being arrested, they shouldn't suffer any consequences until they are PROVEN GUILTY in a court of law.

Have people forgotten this concept? We're all innocent until proven guilty in America?

Now I'm not saying JJ is innocent. I'm not saying JJ is guilty. I'm saying everyone should reserve judgement until all the facts are known.

The only valid reason to suspend JJ would be for one of just a few reasons:
1) he broke curfew (in that case you better suspend everyone who broke it)

OR

2) so JJ can focus on his defense without the distraction of being the QB of a major division 1 college football team.

But being arrested should never be an "automatic suspension." And that goes for everything in life.

:getsoffsoapbox: