At what point does a star athlete’s constant desire for attention and bad decision making in their personal life become a distraction and liability to a team?
This weekend, Braylon Edwards, the 6-foot-3 215 pound wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns gained more unwanted attention when he punched 5-foot-7 135 pound Edward Givens (one of Lebron James’ business partners) in the face during a verbal disagreement.
The immensely talented Edwards, who is in the final year of his contract with Cleveland, has been a headache for much of his time with the Browns. While already recovering from a foot injury last year, he cut his heel running in his socks after practice, he was pulled over in his Bentley for driving 120 mph in a 65 mph zone.
He has dropped passes, criticized Cleveland's play-calling, argued with teammates and famously took a helicopter to the Ohio State-Michigan game in 2006 despite being told not to go.
Edwards was also out partying in March with teammate Donte' Stallworth, who later that night struck and killed a a 59-year-old pedestrian while driving drunk in Miami. Stallworth has been suspended for the season.
Browns coach Eric Mangini Mangini wants his players to be accountable on and off the field.
"Personal conduct is very important to me," said Mangini. "I always want our players to put themselves in the most positive positions.”
As a sidenote, for all his worldwide attention, Lebron James has managed to keep a squeaky clean image. When asked about the latest incident, without naming Edwards, he said he wished others would follow suit.
"I know how to handle myself as a professional athlete," James said. "It's unfortunate that some guys don't understand you're a role model to kids and you should carry [yourself] that way, on and off the court, on and off the field."
"I'm one of the guys that looks at being a professional athlete as more than just being out on the court."
- ESPN
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