How NFL Dreams Can Turn Into Nightmares

Almost every little kid who played or currently plays football had or has the dream of one day playing in the NFL.  Imagine working hard in high school, becoming a popular player in college and somehow being one of the lucky few to be drafted into the NFL.  Even if you were not drafted but selected as an NFL walk on would be a dream of dreams.

Jerry Brown (left) and Josh Brent (right)

Now imagine all of your hard work, sweat and tears washed away with one decision to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and drive after a night of drinking alcohol….
On Saturday December 8, 2012, the Dallas Cowboys were saddened to learn they lost their defensive teammate Jerry Brown to a tragic car accident.  According to ESPN.com, linebacker #53 Jerry Brown (passenger) and teammate #92 Josh Brent (driver) were driving at high speeds.  Brown was only 25 years of young when this fatal accident took place.  It was reported by ESPN that Josh Brent was charged with intoxicated manslaughter. 

J. Brown at Univ. of Illinois

According to the USA Today.com, the two players were college teammates at the University of Illinois and were Cowboys teammates.  Now, Brent awaits trial to see whether he will face 2 years or up to 20 years in prison for flipping his car and killing his best friend.

J. Brent at Univ. of Illinois

In the midst of everything is terrible about this whole thing are the decisions that many of us, who are not professional athletes, make everyday.  Those decisions are to drink and drive or the now negatively popular text and drive.  All of these are senseless acts that can be avoided.  These acts can especially be avoided if you are an NFL player.

There is every avenue set in place to make sure that any player that has been drinking can call an NFL car service and they will take you home.  There is absolutely no excuse for any NFL football player to not have a free ride home after a night of alcohol.

It may be very easy for me to sit here and write my blog and make armchair decisions, but it can happen to anyone.  We all wish it did not happen but it does.  We always hope and pray for those who drink and get behind the wheel of a vehicle. 

I only wish Jerry Brown did not get into the vehicle and I wish Josh Brent would have called a car service to get a FREE ride home courtesy of the NFL.  According to CBS Sports.com, the NFL provides a FREE car service for any player who believes he has been drinking too much.  Mike Freeman of the National NFL Insider states the program has been called, “the safe rides program”. 

Just like the Javon Belcher and Kasandra Perkins story, I can only pray for the families of Jerry Brown and Josh Brent.  Who can even image what they are going through?

Many people think one drink is alright and they can drive, but impaired judgment could be the difference in life and death.  I plead to all NFL players and people around the world who drink and drive….use the sense GOD gave you and call someone if you have been drinking.  Please.  You could save a life and it just may be your own!