FoxSports Czar on character issue players

[dbair1967]

not the entire article, but a summary:

In this draft, the at-risk players most mentioned by teams are Miami safety Brandon Meriweather, UNLV cornerback Eric Wright, a transfer from USC, Florida defensive end Jarvis Moss, Texas cornerback Tarell Brown, and Florida defensive tackle Marcus Thomas. One team also told me they had Florida State linebacker Lawrence Timmons off their board, but declined to give a reason.

Moss, Brown and Thomas have marijuana possession or a failed drug test in their background. Thomas was suspended for two games for a positive test for marijuana. Meriweather was involved in and suspended for that ugly bench-clearing brawl during last season's Florida International game. In addition, Meriweather, police said, used his gun legally to return fire after a teammate was shot by an assailant.

David

 

[Danny White]

The gun issue doesn't bother me with Meriweather... I'd have done the same thing in his situation there, and I'd bet many others here would have as well. That is a complete non-issue as far as I'm concerned.

But I am bothered by his behavior in the brawl. I don't think it was quite in the Marcus Vick or Haynesworth category, but it ws definitely troubling.

 

[joseephuss]

In addition, Meriweather, police said, used his gun legally to return fire after a teammate was shot by an assailant.

Isn't that the key word? Seems like it isn't worth mentioning since it was legal and what most people would do if in a similar situation. I guess the only question is why he feels the need to carry a gun legally.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

In addition, Meriweather, police said, used his gun legally to return fire after a teammate was shot by an assailant.

It's legal to shoot at someone in a situation that isn't immediate self-defense?

Not familiar with the whole situation, but that sounds crazy...

 

[joseephuss]

It's legal to shoot at someone in a situation that isn't immediate self-defense?

Not familiar with the whole situation, but that sounds crazy...

Sounded like immediate self defense.

SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. -- Miami Hurricanes reserve safety Willie Cooper was shot in the buttocks when confronted in his yard Friday morning by an unknown person who fled after another player returned gunfire.

Police said Cooper was able to walk after being shot and the injury wasn't believed to be serious, but he was taken to a hospital for treatment.

After Cooper was shot, teammate and roommate Brandon Meriweather pulled a pistol from his pants pocket and fired three times at the person, who jumped a fence and fled with another person in a car, police said. It was unclear if the assailant was hit.

Police said Meriweather used his gun legally.

Cooper and Meriweather told police they noticed a suspicious car parked outside their home near campus shortly after 6:30 a.m. When they went outside to investigate, a person crouched next to the house jumped up and shot Cooper.

The Miami athletic department released a statement saying it was cooperating with the police investigation.

"Until the investigation is complete, we will not have any additional comment," the statement said.

The house is owned by Hurricanes defensive backs coach Tim Walton and rented to players with approval from the school's compliance office.

Cooper, a junior, has played mostly on special teams for three years. He is listed as a second-team safety on the spring depth chart.

Meriweather is a standout safety for the Hurricanes.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2526104

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Cool, I wasn't familiar with what happened... I thought I'd heard it said that Merriweather went and got a gun from somewhere and then shot at the guy he thought did it.

The whole thing still sounds a little too Sean Taylor-ish for me, though...

 

[Danny White]

Honestly, Meriweather probably saved his friend's life (and possibly his own) because he had a gun on him.

 

[Angus]

It's legal to shoot at someone in a situation that isn't immediate self-defense?

Not familiar with the whole situation, but that sounds crazy...

Yes, I believe, in Florida, and now Texas.

 

[YosemiteSam]

The gun issue doesn't bother me with Meriweather...

Any schmuck that carries a gun around with him for no good reason has no business in the NFL or on the street for that matter.

 

[Danny White]

Any schmuck that carries a gun around with him for no good reason has no business in the NFL or on the street for that matter.

Are you having reading comprehension problems?

He wasn't "carrying a gun around with him." He was at his home and (correctly) believed his house was about to be broken into.

An armed gunman was hiding in his backyard, and when confronted, shot his friend in the arse.

Seeing that the assailant was armed, I guess he DID have a "good reason" to have the gun with him, didn't he?

So answer me this... in such a situation, what would you do? Curl into a ball and start crying? Offer the crook some cookies? I'm sure that would distract him until the cops arrive.

 

[joseephuss]

Are you having reading comprehension problems?

He wasn't "carrying a gun around with him." He was at his home and (correctly) believed his house was about to be broken into.

An armed gunman was hiding in his backyard, and when confronted, shot his friend in the arse.

Seeing that the assailant was armed, I guess he DID have a "good reason" to have the gun with him, didn't he?

So answer me this... in such a situation, what would you do? Curl into a ball and start crying? Offer the crook some cookies? I'm sure that would distract him until the cops arrive.

Do you have a reading comprehension problem? Just kidding. The article that I linked said it was Cooper's home, not Meriweather's.

Miami Hurricanes reserve safety Willie Cooper was shot in the buttocks when confronted in his yard Friday morning by an unknown person who fled after another player returned gunfire.​

Meriweather did the right thing at the time. He, Cooper and everyone in that house were fortunate that he was armed at the time. I don't have a problem if a person wants to be armed or not as long as they do it legally. I just figure that is a question that some teams will ask and I know lots of fans will ask. Why was he armed in the first place? That is a general question even though in this specific case, it was a good thing.

 

[Danny White]

Right back atcha...

After Cooper was shot, teammate and roommate Brandon Meriweather pulled a pistol from his pants pocket and fired three times at the person, who jumped a fence and fled with another person in a car, police said. It was unclear if the assailant was hit.

And as for WHY he was armed in the first place... I think the whole incident answers that question.

 

[joseephuss]

Right back atcha...



And as for WHY he was armed in the first place... I think the whole incident answers that question.

Duh!

 

[jimmy40]

not the entire article, but a summary:

In this draft, the at-risk players most mentioned by teams are Miami safety Brandon Meriweather, UNLV cornerback Eric Wright, a transfer from USC, Florida defensive end Jarvis Moss, Texas cornerback Tarell Brown, and Florida defensive tackle Marcus Thomas. One team also told me they had Florida State linebacker Lawrence Timmons off their board, but declined to give a reason.

Moss, Brown and Thomas have marijuana possession or a failed drug test in their background. Thomas was suspended for two games for a positive test for marijuana. Meriweather was involved in and suspended for that ugly bench-clearing brawl during last season's Florida International game. In addition, Meriweather, police said, used his gun legally to return fire after a teammate was shot by an assailant.

David

Tarrell Brown could have the character of Billy Graham and I wouldn't want him. The guy sucks.

 

[jobberone]

Right back atcha...



And as for WHY he was armed in the first place... I think the whole incident answers that question.

You and I don't know. In fact it may be he got his gun from under the bed upon seeing someone creepy about. If that's all there is to it then ok.

If I put myself in that situation I'd call the police if someone creepy was about. I'd probably get my gun but I wouldn't go outside in the early hours of the day with someone creepy around. That's the part that bothers me. I also wouldn't miss.

In fact I'd been fairly open-minded about this but I'm very reserved now.

 

[burmafrd]

Depends on how close the guy was when Merriweather fired back. Unless you practice a whole lot and are very good you are not going to hit someone with a pistol at more then 30-40 feet. Its real easy to say I would call the police- do you know how long it took the police to get there? meanwhile someone is RIGHT THERE, and as it turned out armed and willing to fire.

 

[Alexander]

One team also told me they had Florida State linebacker Lawrence Timmons off their board, but declined to give a reason.

This is the first time I have heard this.