I Guess It Was In The Past

Jerramy Stevens addressed the media yesterday and, much to Steve Duemig's disappointment, no one was raped during the interview.

"This is all in my past. None of it is new, and a lot of it is false. It came out, but it's not a new issue, the issue has been addressed when I got drafted, all of that was addressed then. This isn't anything new to me. I don't know what caused all this to get dug up, but it's all things in my past and that's where I'm going to keep it."

That's pretty much the answer to every question he was asked, just re-arrange the words a little each time. And that's what you'd expect. I don't blame him for repeating that line because the more you address the situation, the more credibility you give it. He's not going to change anyone's mind at this point with anything he can say. Although why he would say something like this, I have no idea:

"I don't think I've ever been involved in anything that's factual that was hurting another person," said Stevens.

Actually, that's a lie. His first conviction was for assault when he stomped on some dude's face when he was 18. He plead guilty, so, you know... kind of hard to take that one back. Maybe he forgot or maybe he's rationalized it away in his mind, but he shouldn't be making statements that he never hurt anyone. That's just silly.

The best thing he can do now is to not talk about the Seattle Times article, let whatever assholes like Duemig and John Romano have to say roll off his back and do his job. Then maybe he'll have a job in the NFL for the minimum salary, which is all he can expect at this stage. But sometimes guys fuck up and they know it and all they want is for a chance to set things straight and move forward with their lives. I'm glad the Bucs are giving him that chance. Derrick Brooks, the pillar of the Buccaneers, is on board.

"Jerramy, in terms of his character on this football team, has really been special for us and it's something we welcome. He was a part of our chemistry. Now things outside of here - we don't judge anybody. We keep an open-arm policy. We don't focus on the negative, we focus on the positive. He's been a positive teammate and I'm looking forward to his second year here with me."

If Brooks, who has to see him every day, doesn't have a problem with him, maybe everyone who is bitching about him but has never met him can cut him at least a little slack.