Would you sign Henry Ruggs?

I would pass on him! He's getting his second chance with getting out.
These professional athletes only have a certain window of time they can play at a really high level in the NFL. He's been out of the game for too long and wasn't in the NFL long enough to see if he was any good. The Cowboys have enough issues and distractions without bringing in a guy out of prison.
 
Hawkeye0202 said:
Yes, I would.......he's paid his debt. Everyone deserves a 2nd chance.






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camp body perhaps. he is 4 years removed. football is a funny thing. I can't recall anyone stepping away for that long and coming back and doing anything. people remember his draft status and whatever else. its 4 years in the rear view mirror. people think too much like fantasy football. or Madden NFL

I pass
 
NotaCowboysFan said:
Brother making bad decisions is separate from the results of those decisions. He could have done 4 years for his decision to commit those acts, not even the end result and loss of life.

We've all made dumb decisions growing up and if you are fortunate enough to not get caught consider yourself lucky, but laws are there to be enforced and be used as a DETERRENT.

People saying he's paid his due and he's only 26 is mind boggling to me. It's not even about him but being a public figure and influence, kids are gonna see a pro athlete do everything wrong in a car and the worst possible outcome leads to 4 years in prison?

He relinquished his rights with those decisions after he took her life, he's the last person anyone should care about and if, given enough time her family decided to forgive then and only then you should turn your attention to him and what future he may have left.
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Respect your opinion, but it sounds like your issue is more with the legal system than it is with Ruggs. Personally I don't think he has paid his due, nor will he ever be able to do that. There is no time in prison that equates to the loss of an innocent life, so to me I can't use that as the measuring stick for a non violent crime. Is 4 years enough? I guess it just depends. You're right that laws are in place to be a deterrent, but prison is also an opportunity for rehabilitation. If a parole board feels that Ruggs is ready to be a productive member of society I'm perfectly fine with him getting a chance. Granted I would expect any team interested in him to do their homework, and I would have very high expectations (off the field) of Ruggs in order to continue to support him. Despite the history I would have no issues cheering for a humbled and vulnerable version of Ruggs.
 
CowboysFaninHouston said:
camp body perhaps. he is 4 years removed. football is a funny thing. I can't recall anyone stepping away for that long and coming back and doing anything. people remember his draft status and whatever else. its 4 years in the rear view mirror. people think too much like fantasy football. or Madden NFL

I pass
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Yeah this is a huge issue. I think about the Mike Vicks or Rolando McClains, but even those guys missed just a couple seasons. Plus 900 career yards in 20 games isnt exactly suggesting he was a great player before the incident.
 
thunderpimp91 said:
Yeah this is a huge issue. I think about the Mike Vicks or Rolando McClains, but even those guys missed just a couple seasons. Plus 900 career yards in 20 games isnt exactly suggesting he was a great player before the incident.
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" but but but he ran a 4.27!!! people argue...."

I agree. football is such a game of percision and timing that 4 years of no football is like retirement. you can't come back.
 
CowboysFaninHouston said:
" but but but he ran a 4.27!!! people argue...."

I agree. football is such a game of percision and timing that 4 years of no football is like retirement. you can't come back.
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I could see him competing for an end of roster job, maybe a return specialist if the speed is mostly still there.

I would agree though the odds of him being able to truly contribute in a major capacity for a team seems very low. Always possible he needs a full year once out of prison just to train to even consider a comeback.
 
As others have pointed out, there's too much we don't know about Ruggs personally to make a call.

In a vacuum, I support him getting another chance at the NFL. He has paid his debt to society, or will have it paid next year. Like some other posters, I'm surprised how small that debt was compared to the sheer amount of recklessness he showed and the harm he did, but it was never supposed to be a life sentence.
 
And honestly, if Ruggs has lost his juice, or can't keep up with NFL timing after five years away, and his career is over? That's fine with me. Losing that time is part of his punishment.
 
I'd certainly kick the tires. Like someone already said, he not only paid his debt to society, he even humbly apologized to the victim's family.

If he has something, sign him. I'd look to trade Brooks and even Fluornoy (both of which I see as practice squadsters at best).
 
Purely speaking from a football stance, I wouldn't sign him. Not sure he's a fit. Maybe some other team.
 
Hilarious.

I see when other teams, especially Wash, Giants, or Philly sign a guy with some legal background leas than this, everyone in here is all on their high horse calling those guys criminals. "TYPICAL GIANT/PHILLY/SanFran TRASH MOVE!!!

LOL

But if we sign THIS guy....then it's "well, he's paid his debt to society"

There was a team a whole back that signed or drafted *can't remember team or player* but he was just racing a friend of his, and the friend wrecked and died. People in here were literally calling this player a murderer.... and he was just driving a car alongside the person who wrecked. Didn't cause it to wreck or anything...it was just the other driver's own fault. MURDERER the Zaney Zoners cried!

THIS guy literally ran into the back of a woman, at 160 mph, DRUNK, causing her car to crumple, trap her, and ignited her car in flames. Bystanders watched, and listened helplessly, as the woman screamed in agony as she burned alive, and died. Her dog was in the car too, and was burned alive. Ruggs fled the scene with his girlfriend ... but was seen running back to his car real quick to grab some valuables before trying to escape. In court, before he realized this would affect his career to this extent, he was nonchalant, unmoved, just worrying about "catching a case"...looking like the typical "cool thug"

It's now...that he "feels remorseful", as he tries to spin control and somehow salvage his career. Wonder how long he was coached by people on how to act like he cared? "Henry....pretend instead of this woman and her dog burned to death, pretend that you had to work at Home Depot for 10 years, so that you'll appear sad to that family"

Zaney Zoners: "well guys, he's served his sentence, lets give him a 2nd chance! (Unless some other team signs him....then he'll be a murderer again. LOL. Hypocrisy is crazy.
 
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Aliencowboy said:
He will absolutely get a chance in the NFL. There have been much worse cases.
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Really? Have you read the full details of what actually happened?

I mean....if I was that woman, I'd FAR rather he just picked up a gun and shot me dead, that what he actually caused her to suffer through before dying. And the poor dog too.

At least Ray Lewis went after other thugs.
 
thunderpimp91 said:
I could see him competing for an end of roster job, maybe a return specialist if the speed is mostly still there.

I would agree though the odds of him being able to truly contribute in a major capacity for a team seems very low. Always possible he needs a full year once out of prison just to train to even consider a comeback.
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- Has Ruggs had any experience as a punt returner ?

- i say yes ,..sounds like the man is sorrowful about that night, very apologetic to the victim's family, and he's paid his debts to society with acrrued jail time
and it would not be the first time that a player for the Cowboys has had manslaughter type charges and the club decided to be committed to him (ala Josh Brent)

- And i agree that's low risk - high reward bottom of the roster try out for the 53 roster,.than making it an instant guarantee roster spot/.
 
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