Any trial could be 6 months or more from now. I just don't see Les playing a possible felon. If any get charged with misdemeanors, I suspect suspensions for Oregon and then the team will move on. If anyone gets charged with a felony, . . . I suspect a quick dismissal and the team will move on. Les can't let this hang around LSU's neck like a millstone all season. The reputation of the team is at stake and playing an accused felon would be negative PR in each and every game, might harden the referees against the team, alienate the bowls, and damage recruiting. It all pretty much depends on whether the police can actually identify a perpetrator and whether the DA thinks the case will hold water. If no charges at all come out of this (unlikely), then Les will be able to handle it with team punishments . . . which may still include suspensions. You can bet that Les knows the deal by now.
No charges, but the BRPD sad charges were still very much a possibility. I think they are playing it safe to avoid bad PR themselves.
I would think the proper thing would be to allow jj to practice with the team but not play until after he is cleared by police. If the police say no charges a perticular player , then he can play. If the cops arrest the player then he doesn't play until found innocent. If a player gets a simple battery charge he is suspended for the season. If a felony charge is proven and the player is found guilty then he's gone. Jj could be caught with a Live boy in bed and a dead woman under the bed and miles still plays him. My gut feeling is jj plays all year with jl coming off the bench. Jj could stink it up and still play. Miles has shown that jj can play as bad as a high school qb on the field and still start every game. I am ready for a qb change but it's not going to happen. I will still cheer for jj to win. I hope he plays like the cotton bowl jj all year. I think if jl is given the team and knows he is the man he will be stellar. Jl will be the story of the year. He would take his place with the two Matts.
Fight was 6 days ago, and it may be another 10 before the police can figure out what to do. 16 days to figure out what happened in a bar brawl. No wonder the crime rate is so high in Baton Rouge.
We're really talking about JJ here, anyway, as far as playing time is concerned; the other three weren't projected to start, right? How pissed do you think Miles is after JJ crapped on him? If I'm Miles, JJ sits. Period. No matter the outcome of the investigation. Miles placed a lot trust in JJ, and has stood by JJ after piss poor performances and pouty faces. Running wind sprints or grass drills or whatever physical punishment the coaching staff comes up with isn't enough. Leadership isn't physical toughness, effective leadership is mental toughness. And JJ won't get that with sprints. I've always been a proponent of trusting subordinates until they prove me wrong. I think JJ has done that with Miles. Just my thoughts on it.
For me, personally, here goes: First and foremorst, every one of the players (about 50, right?) that broke curfew would be required to remain after practice for additional wind sprints. For the 4 that are under investigation: Yes, innocent until proven guilty is the American way, BUT they all not only broke the rules by breaking curfew, but used poor judgment by being anywhere NEAR a situation that results in a brawl. So, all 4 of them, from now until the investigation is completed, is demoted to the practice squad. Once the investigation is completed there are different protocols I would follow depending on the results: If all 4 arrested: Indefinate suspension. Definately for the Oregon game but beyond that, it's a "wait and see". Level of involvement for each offender will weigh as to how many games they each serve. Minimum suspension is 1 game. All 4 subsequently go to the bottom of the depth chart at their respective positions and must work their way back up. Period. Whichever player is charged with 2nd degree felony: Suspended from the team until trial is complete. If it's JJ, then, sorry fella, your career at LSU might very well be over so you better just hope for a speedy trial to clear your name.
So what if he is found innocent? You want to throw away his career because an ambulance chaser filed trumped up charges?
No one threw away his career. HE DID. Let me repeat that so that even the strongest JJ appologist can understand: His career would VERY much be alive, well and strong had HE not used piss poor judgement by: 1.) breaking curfew (you're a Senior and the starting QB for a national title contender. Act like it) 2.) being anywhere near a situation that could result even in somebody SAYING he committed a 2nd degree felony. 3.) JJ has a redshirt year left. This trial goes for an extended period of time, and JJ can take a redshirt. 4.) If he's not the one charged with 2nd degree felony, then he doesn't have to worry about a trial now does he?
