Koren Robinson has already served an NFL suspension for three marijuana violations of the league's substance-abuse policy. He's been booted off two teams (Seattle & Minnesota) after drunk driving arrests. He still has charges pending in court for his latest brush with the law after reportedly leading police on a high speed chase at 104 miles per hour because he wanted to get back to Vikings training camp to beat curfew. Robinson took a field sobriety test and registered 0.11, above the legal limit. He's had some other smaller problems as well that all add up.
Now, in comes Ted Thompson, the Green Bay Packers General Manager, to vouch for Robinson's character and sign him to a two year minimum contract. Certainly Robinson can help the Packers on the field, but from a reputation standpoint, it's a huge risk off it. The troubled wide receiver has proven for the last 2+ years that he can't stay out of trouble.
Thompson is trying to sell the fact that Robinson is a good guy, a person that's well liked by his teammates. I don't know Robinson from Adam and I'm sure he is a nice guy. But he's also a guy with an alcohol problem and I don't think he deserves another chance. At the risk of sounding heartless, Robinson is lucky he hasn't killed somebody. Trying to elude police at 104 miles per hour. He's lucky to be alive himself. I bet Robinson would have rather paid the fine for missing curfew then having to deal with the mess he's in now.
Yet, there's the Packers, who are desperate for help at wide receiver and on their return units, willing to set aside all of the problems Robinson has had and take the gamble. For their sake, I hope Robinson can stay clean and be productive. But I've seen this before. He was given the Ed Bock Courage Award by his Minnesota teammates, traditionally given to players who overcome adversity on or off the field. He was awarded the Korey Stringer Good Guy Award by the local media in Minnesota. Yet he slipped back into trouble.
What a perfect time for the Packers to make a statement against drunk drivers and trouble makers in general. But now it's apparent that they've wasted that opportunity. Robinson has a special ability and that's why he continues to get chance after chance. At some point, somebody has to take a stand by not allowing him to once again have his way. Let's face it. The Packers weren't going anywhere without Robinson and he's not going to put them over the top either. I fear Robinson will sin again and the Packers may not be able to push this one under the rug.