The Cincinnati Bengals have the biggest inferiority complex in the NFL. They hate the Pittsburgh Steelers so much that they must beat them in everything — including off-season trouble with the law. If one Steeler rookie gets charged, then a Bengal rookie must step up and get charged with more offenses. Team pride is everything, y’know.
Just a day after Santonio Holmes was charged in Columbus, Ohio, with two misdemeanor counts of domestic violence and simple assault, Bengals’ 3rd-round pick Frostee Rucker, a former USC defensive end, was charged in L.A. with four misdemeanors — two counts of spousal battery and two counts of vandalism. Rucker has an arraignment date on July 13, and a warrant for his arrest will be issued if he misses it.
If you’re keeping score, that’s three Bengals players in trouble with the law — Rucker, Chris Henry and A.J. Nicholson. Henry alone has three arrests since December. Bravo, Cincinnati. You really do lead the way in the AFC North.
By comparison, the Steelers have two players with legal trouble, if you count Ben Roethlisberger’s citation for riding a crotch rocket with an expired learner’s permit. (And I do, because Big Ben was a dumbass for not wearing a helmet.) Not to be forgotten, the Cleveland Browns have one — Reuben Droughns, whose reputation for being a “good character guy” went right out the window with assault and harassment charges against his wife. (To be fair, Droughns and Holmes have both apologized to their teams for their legal troubles.)
The Baltimore Ravens, meanwhile, have been relatively quiet this off-season. Boy, they really fell off in every category possible, didn’t they?
2 responses so far ↓
1 Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah // Jun 21, 2006 at 12:21 pm
Come on, Dave, give the Ravens some time. These guys have special criminal skills, not just driving without a license infractions, but major felony stuff. Have faith, I know they can pull this one out in the end.
I don’t mean to belittle the Bengals efforts, I’m just saying… they’ve got all those Lewissessess in Baltimore.
2 Steelertini // Jun 21, 2006 at 6:15 pm
That was one of the best and funniest blogs I’ve read in a long time! Kudos!! I’m a die hard Steelers fan and I count Big Ben right in there too.
As far as the Rookie Holmes? Kick his ass to the curb. We haven’t seen his potential … on the field anyway. He’s making a name for himself off of it!
The Ravens are the “Good Boys” for now. Hell, they’ve had so much trouble over the years that they DESERVE to off the “Law Breakers R Us” radar for a bit!
At least the Bengals can brag about beating us at something. Although we won in the apology category.
Again … great blog!