It's very obvious that a double standard is taking place here with the media and the legal system in the Andy Reid situation. He's had admitted drug dealing going on from his home with drugs and guns available throughout the home.
Allen Iverson had a helicopter over his house for a few weeks during the break in and his court case.Terrell Owens was on the front page day after day and had helicopters over his house. With both of these cases nobody really knew all that was going on but that didn't stop every media person in the area from offering their opinion. Now everybody is dealing with this with kid gloves.
No longer does this situation just involve Andy's kids because the judge singled out Andy's house and his control of that home. This is without a doubt a double standard. The same media type who had no problem talling Donovan McNabb that he should tell his parents to shut up, but they don't want to offer an opinion on Andy and his out of control, drug dealing sons. Wilma writing that it was bittersweet to have her son hurt while the team was going on a winning streak was major news and criticized by nearly all of the local media.
If a player had his home singled out as a drug emporium, with drugs and guns available they would not be playing football. At the least they would have to miss some games and in all likelihood they would be suspended.
I counsel kids at the Youth Study Center who spend years in jail for doing far less than the Reid boys have admitted to. Garrett Reid admitted to being a drug dealer yet he's being treated like a kid with a drug problem. There are mandatory sentences for drug dealers. The court system and the media in Philadelphia would be going crazy if this situation had involved the Iverson family, Owens family or McNabb family. There's an obvious difference about the way things are covered depending on who the violiator happens to be.
From Leon, I couldn't agree with you more G about the Double Standard Issue with the media. You can even look at the over exposure of Austin Scott. With all the guns, drugs & steroids going through the Reid house, hes lucky Roget Goddell isn't looking into this matter. Also,Coach Reid is lucky his son Britt never got shot or killed with the murder rate in this city.
Leon – The fact that Roger Goodell who says he's protecting the league's name and image should be calling Andy Reid up to New York. The fact that he hasn't summoned Reid to New York is another double standard. If a player had drugs and guns in his home and was called on the carpet by a judge, he would have been called to New York. This situation has been going on for years, yet Andy and Tammy have put their foot down and cleared their home of drugs and guns. Remember Tammy knew that one of her drug-abusing and drug dealing kids had a gun.
From Bill, How can you say double standard? You are talking about AI and TO vs Andy Reid's kids. Of course there is going to be more coverage on the superstar athletes. This Reid story is barley nationally covered. Plus, the coverage on police officer Charles Cassidy being killed might of took away from the Reid story. I agree with you 99% of the time and know you are a straight shooter, but I have to disagree with you on this one.
Bill, I can understand you disagreeing but this story is no longer about Reid's kids, it's about Andy and Tammy Reid as parents. The judge said that he doesn't feel their home is fit for their own kids to live in. That's quite a shot at the Reids. He's calling them unfit parents. How many head coaches in the NFL have been called an unfit parent by a judge in a court of law? How many NFL head coaches have knowingly had drugs and guns all over their house?
I think this is one of the most amazing cases being that someone has a public personna but their private personna is just the opposite. Andy portrays himself as a guy who has everything under control when he home is totally out of control. Once all of these court cases started it was without a doubt his and his wife's responsibility to go home make sure he knew what was going on in his home.
From Charles,
Great points JR. I'll take it a little further even, and I hate to go there because it crosses racial lines. BUT, the city is taking a pass on Andy Reid, even after the Judge called his house a darn "CVS". All I can say is there is a double standard going on here and it's just not right. A.I. would've been crucified in this situation. I think Andy is actually being selfish in this situation. He needs to be home taking care of this family crisis… His boys really need him, way more than the Eagles do. I'm going to pray for the Reids…