The start of the 2012 NFL season needs to hurry up and get here already. It's not a good thing that players need the stability of the training camps and regular season to ... get arrested less, but it's now getting to that point where one has to feel it'll help this time around. For the Detroit Lions, there were a few arrests throughout the process, and they have had particular problems with repeat offenders.
They took a stand on that early Monday, releasing cornerback Aaron Berry after his second arrest in a month on Saturday. The move was made official on the Lions' team website on Monday, with some quotes from team president Tom Lewand:
"We have repeatedly stressed to everyone in our organization that there will be appropriate consequences when an expected standard of behavior is not upheld," Lions president Tom Lewand said in a statement.
It's a tough loss for the Lions, which were essentially forced into making a move. It's clear the statement from Lewand will hold true for future offenders, given the relative weakness the team has at the CB position. Prior to the 2012 NFL Draft, they didn't really have anybody to play the position, and they have now terminated the contract of one who could have been a big help just prior to the start of training camps and the preseason.
Officially, Berry was released due to "personal conduct which adversely affects the club." The arrest came on Saturday, when Berry allegedly pointed a firearm at three people in his hometown of Harrisburg. This comes on top of an arrest last month where he was charged with DUI, two counts of accidents involving unattended vehicles and two counts of failure to stop and give information. If he is picked up by another team in 2012, it's likely they'll have to deal with Berry missing time due to NFL disciplinary action ... provided he's not in prison.
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