The Nebraska Way

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For the people who think Osborne kept LP around solely for selfish reasons, you're not recalling just how incredibly deep and talented our RB roster was back on the 1995 team. The four guys behind Phillips[SIZE=12pt]—[/SIZE]Clinton Childs, Damon Benning, James Sims and Ahman Green[SIZE=12pt]—[/SIZE]would have started on most teams in the nation that year. Ahman Green was All Big Eight and honorable mention All American in 1995, so there were only a couple of RBs in the whole nation better than him.

Tom Osborne kept Lawrence Phillips on the team and played him in the Fiesta Bowl to help get him into the NFL in the upcoming 1996 draft. He was just trying to help the guy along to his next stage in life. Osborne didn't need Lawrence Phillips to win the national championship in 1995. Heck, we beat #2 Florida by nearly 40 points. Do you think Phillips really made that much difference?
Osborne's decision was not SOLELY for the benefit of Lawrence Phillips. Yes, Ahman was amazing and no, it turns out we didn't really need Lawrence to beat Florida. But that game was supposed to be more competitive, and the smart move is to get your Heisman candidate running back on the field (purely from a football perspective).

Putting Lawrence Phillips back on the team and on the field to "help him" implies there weren't other ways to help him, including counseling, incarceration, etc. Football was not the only way to help him. It just so happened that football also greatly benefited Tom Osborne.
And you know that he didn't receive counseling during the months he was suspended? I'd bet dollars to donuts that he *did* receive counseling. As for incarceration, really? You'd send a 20 year old kid to jail for a domestic squabble?

I suspect that even ex-girlfriend Kate McEwen was glad that Lawrence played in the Fiesta Bowl. She sued him in civil court and settled for a stake of his NFL earnings. Not a bad payday for a bump on the head and some heated words. (Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing that LP did no wrong. What he did is considered a crime. But I am saying that stuff like this happens all the time[SIZE=12pt]—[/SIZE]except nothing comes of it when they're poor.)
I really wanted to stay out of this conversation anymore. But you are so out of line it's beyond words.

And for the record-When poor people commit crimes-THEY GO TO f'ing JAIL

 
I'm interested in knowing how many times judges have sentenced people to football after they've been involved in domestic violence disputes, and the success rates of rehabilitation vs. recidivism of the football-for-assault program.

To answer NUance above:

1. I know for a fact that he received counseling during his suspension.

2. Incarceration for domestic violence is common. I don't see why Lawrence Phillips should be any different.

I suspect that even ex-girlfriend Kate McEwen was glad that Lawrence played in the Fiesta Bowl. She sued him in civil court and settled for a stake of his NFL earnings. Not a bad payday for a bump on the head and some heated words.
This just makes me sad. It's hard to believe this was put out there for people to read.
and someone else +1 it.

I'll take a leap that they would both also say that a rape victim asked for it because of what she was wearing and how she was drinking.

 
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Wow, get off the soap opera. LP was an asshat for what he did, no-one is condoning his behavior here. I do not believe NUance was attempting to legitimize LPs actions.

For Fuk sake, know your posters before you call them on the carpet!

 
He would have been drafted even if he had never played past the Michigan State game. He was a generational talent.
Very possible, but certainly not nearly as high as he did at 6th overall IMO. The Fiesta Bowl put LP back on the radar for teams as a top draft pick as he struggled a bit in the few games he played after coming off of suspension. That being said, if getting drafted was something TO felt was important for LP and his rehabilitation then no he didn't need to let him play. Knowing how LP eventually turned out taints the thought, but I could see an argument at the time for letting LP get drafted much lower and having to work to stay out of trouble to earn that big payday.
 
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Can't wait for the documentary to come out this fall. A mod should pin this thread to keep it fresh until then.

 
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guys. guys. did anyone even read what I said? I already explained all this. Jeebus.

The only thing TO is guilty of is careing for his players to much. He had Scott Baldwin living with him and his family.
I care for my own kids too. Doesnt mean i havent, and wont, make mistakes in raising them. Simply caring doesnt absolve wrongdoing. That's really the whole point of the Phillips discussion. You got some who think he did what he did wrongly to simply win games. You got others on the other extreme, who thinks he did it with literally only Phillip's best interest in mind, and nothing about the team's performance was taken into account, when in fact-like everything else in life-the answer is actually somewhere in the middle. All factors probably considered.
 
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I don't think it's fair to jump all over Nuance. McEwen's own attorney stated they wanted him reinstated because it would make the civil judgment meaningful (because there would actually be funds to compensate McEwen).

 
He would have been drafted even if he had never played past the Michigan State game. He was a generational talent.
Maybe.....but pretty much not playing his senior year along with the reasoning for him not playing (legal problems) would have put him possibly on the bubble of not being drafted. No doubt someone would have at the very least given him a shot as a free agent. But, nothing is guaranteed.

 
guys. guys. did anyone even read what I said? I already explained all this. Jeebus.

The only thing TO is guilty of is careing for his players to much. He had Scott Baldwin living with him and his family.
I care for my own kids too. Doesnt mean i havent, and wont, make mistakes in raising them. Simply caring doesnt absolve wrongdoing. That's really the whole point of the Phillips discussion. You got some who think he did what he did wrongly to simply win games. You got others on the other extreme, who thinks he did it with literally only Phillip's best interest in mind, and nothing about the team's performance was taken into account, when in fact-like everything else in life-the answer is actually somewhere in the middle. All factors probably considered.
I beat you to this sentiment yesterday.

The world is hardly ever black and white.
 
I suspect that even ex-girlfriend Kate McEwen was glad that Lawrence played in the Fiesta Bowl. She sued him in civil court and settled for a stake of his NFL earnings. Not a bad payday for a bump on the head and some heated words.
 
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