Aaron Hernandez had the world in his hands, a 23 year old burgeoning superstar, playing alongside Tom Brady, on the New England Patriots. Include the pay raise that Hernandez inked with the Patriots last summer, around $40 million, and you could say that very little was going wrong in Hernandez’ world.
So you’d think.
Courtesy: CNN
The image flashing on the television and social media sites of the University of Florida product has nothing to do with his accomplishments in the football world, but what he’s been up to off of the field. The perception is of a glum Hernandez, being escorted from his home with two members of law enforcement with handcuffs around his wrists. The implications began when a body was found a mile from Hernandez’ home in North Attleboro. The body that was found was identified as Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old semiprofessional football player that had ties to Hernandez.
Leading up to his arrest law enforcement has been a mainstay at his home; officials searched for anything that could implicate Hernandez to the homicide of Lloyd. The tight end was connected in part, because of a rental car registered to Hernandez was found near Lloyd’s body. The evidence seemed to stack higher-and-higher, as reports stated that he destroyed his cell phone and video surveillance system at his home; also having his home professionally cleaned the day Lloyd’s body was found.
The Patriots have been an organization that refrains from bad publicity. Over the past they have taken “troubled” players, such as Randy Moss and Chad Johnson, but kept those individuals in line by living the “Patriots Way.” It shouldn’t come as a shocker then to hear the hastily decision from the organization, who have announced yesterday morning that they have cut ties with Hernandez. This verdict from the Patriots leaves me to believe that the evidence against Hernandez is severely damaging. And I stand corrected, as reports are flashing across the screen showing that the 23-year-old is being charged with first degree murder.
Down the drain, that’s the best way to summarize this situation. Lloyd’s death and Hernandez facing the possibility of an elongated sentence behind bars has created the likelihood of two lives squandered for such juvenile reasons. Lloyd’s life being lost at such a young age is heartbreaking, while an individual who had everything going for him made such a drastic decision that has affected so many lives while ruining his own and his inner circle. Similar to the Jovan Belcher case, we must remember that there was a life lost here, an actual victim. Lloyd’s family will have to face the fact that there son, brother, was left in an industrial park alone, shot dead. Cold and alone, that sight will forever be imprinted in the minds of Lloyd’s mother and family members.
With the rookie symposium currently taking place, this incident should be highlighted for the naïve former college standouts that will soon take on the responsibility of being an NFL player. The promise that once surrounded Hernandez has now gone by the wayside. Those rookies attending the symposium shouldn’t take for granted the life of a professional athlete. For all of the gassers, 100-yard sprints and squats that these athletes endured to get to their peak condition; one inept decision could end it all.
Hernandez has a tough task ahead of him, tougher than double-coverage or blocking a feisty defensive end. His athletic prowess won’t help in this ordeal, his character will judged and the past mistakes will be highlighted. Lloyd’s death cannot be undone, Hernandez owes it to his family and Lloyd’s to take ownership of his wrongdoing. Professional athletes are not above the law. Hernandez will have to cope with the cold hard fact that he dismantled his entire life because of one mistake-filled night.
