Malfunctioning Safety Valve? Hello, Damien Robinson!

Ryan Gray

Recalling the words uttered by big mouth ex-coach and current television commentator Jerry Glanville, the NFL stands for "not for long" in the case of New York Jets defensive back Damien Robinson. After drawing the ire of his coach and the league, he doesn't have many chances remaining to salvage his reputation or career. Meanwhile, fans are afforded another opportunity to aid and abet behavior problems.

Sure, Damien Robinson looks nice on the surface. But he's a neck-breaker underneath! (AP Photo/File)

If you weren't watching last Sunday night's NFL contest pitting the New York Jets against the New Orleans Saints on ESPN, and you have been immune to the resulting media blitz regarding one particularly ugly play that occurred late in the game, you missed just the latest incidence of brutal, barbarian sportsmanship that defines our new national pastime.

With just over a minute remaining in a tight 16-9 ballgame that was eventually won by the Jets, the Saints were driving for a go-ahead touchdown when quarterback Aaron Brooks was stopped on a run at the 5-yard line. New York safety Damien Robinson promptly grabbed the already grossly contorted Brooks by the facemask and proceeded to twist his neck backwards. Irate New Orleans offensive tackle Kyle Turley, the team's enforcer, jumped into the fray, removed Robinson's helmet with one swipe of his monstrous hands and hurled it about 50 yards down the field.

The game officials quickly levied off-setting personal fouls, but also ejected the "intense" 6-5, 300-pound Turley after he flipped the bird, moving the Saints back another 15 yards and out of range for the game-winning score.

Opinions on who was more at fault and why have been littered in sports pages nationwide ever since. New Orleans coach Jim Haslett admitted he considered cutting Turley, but later rescinded after speaking with the fourth-year player out of San Diego State and watching the game film. The organization instead fined Turley $25,000, or one game's pay, for "conduct detrimental to the team," as his offense quite frankly cost the Saints the game.

In Turley's defense, he said he thought Robinson, whom the NFL fined $20,000 on Wednesday, was about to break his quarterback's neck, a theory that TV replays appear to support. Brooks himself has said he thought his playing days, and perhaps his life, were over. Robinson, of course, was quick to point out what good "friends" he is with Brooks and that he absolutely meant no harm.

Excuse me for not quite believing him.

Just last month, prior to the Jets game at the New York Giants, beefed-up security confiscated a rifle and ammunition from the back of Robinson's truck. A "model citizen," as his coach Herman Edwards called him at the time, Robinson pleaded the "I didn't know" case and apologized profusely, saying it would never happen again. It was merely an oversight. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, who hadn't thought about packing their vehicle with enough firepower to put a dent in the Taliban's forces?

For a player whose name was more synonymous with interceptions than with appearances on the police blotter, sports fans and the media deservedly gave him the benefit of the doubt. With pariahs like O.J. Simpson and, to a lesser degree, Ray Lewis, still walking the streets, we had bigger fish to fry. Well Damien, like your coach said this week, "They say everything in life comes in threes. It better not. If it comes in threes, we have issues."

Clearly Robinson is troubled, or really stupid. Forget the fact that he is an extremely well paid athlete, already firmly planted in the national limelight. One would think following the incident in the Meadowlands parking lot, Robinson would go out of his way to steer clear of controversy. That is obviously not the case. Coach Edwards brought him over from Tampa Bay, where the former served as defensive backfield coach, because of his leadership and sure play. Glad to see Robinson isn't disappointing.

In a season rife with drama, the Robinson-Turley incident is only the latest eye-popping event. First there was Minnesota Vikings wide receiver and future Hall of Famer Cris Carter lambasting teammates publicly and throwing hissy fits on the sidelines. And this comes after we had seemingly seen it all with not one but two murder trials involving star players and an irate lineman shoving a little old referee into the ground after a penalty flag hit him in the eye.

I have to ask, what is next, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Warren Sapp, who happens to be a former teammate of Robinson, blowing his nose on Detroit Lions quarterback Charlie Batch's jersey? San Diego Charger quarterback Doug Flutie aiming a pass right into Denver Bronco linebacker Bill Romanowski's groin? I'd actually like to see the latter.

True, football is a violent sport ruled by behemoths that take their profession way too seriously, and pump up their bodies to gross proportions to reflect their desire to win. But take away the athletic skill and many could very well form the chain gang of the penal code variety rather than that, which marks first downs on the sideline. I'd like to see you walk into your co-worker's cubicle, overturn his desk and pile drive him into this month's financial reports. But then again you don't make $1.5 million dollars for 16 weeks of work, either.

But we must remember that rules as we the average citizen know them don't apply to high-priced athletes, entertainers, musicians, politicians and actors. They're not only meant to be broken, they're for sale. Until we the public take a stand and refuse to accept this type of behavior, it will only worsen.

Now hand me that sports page so I can see the spread of that Raiders-Seahawks game this Sunday and check the injury reports for my fantasy team.

Ryan Gray is a writer, musician, beach bum and recent casualty of a dotcom failure. He currently writes a weekly art and culture review for a Los Angeles newspaper.