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On Thursday, July 19, KSDK reported that St. Louis Rams defensive end Robert Quinn was charged with DWI. The Florissant Police Department stated that Quinn “cooperated fully” and posted bond the day of his arrest.
It’s a bit personal
I’m not sure how to deal with this news. I interviewed Quinn for a set of articles a couple of months ago, and I was impressed by his outstanding attitude and laid-back personality. Quinn noted that he was a homebody who enjoyed simple things such as listening to music and watching movies. He came across as just a normal guy, and that’s how I’m going to treat him now as he faces these charges.
Not judging
I’m saddened by this news, but I also know that Quinn is human. I refuse to pass judgment on him for possibly committing this crime. Drunk driving is one of the worst mistakes a person can make, but far too many people have done it for me to look down on him. I hope that other Rams fans choose to support him instead of asking for his head on a platter.
The truth is we don’t know what happened that night. While I can’t think of many reasons for being out Interstate 270 at 5:38 a.m., I wasn’t sitting next to him in the car. I have no idea what Quinn was thinking or if there was something going on in his life that would cause him to stay out that late. Maybe he was partying or maybe something happened that upset him. We just don’t know.
Regardless, if Quinn was under the influence that night, then he deserves to be punished like any other offender. He should pay the fine, do the community service or jail time, and move on with his life. That’s what being a responsible member of society should do.
No insurance?
There is another detail about Quinn’s arrest that bothers me: he was also charged with having no insurance. Does this literally mean that he had no insurance or that he couldn’t prove that he was insured? That particular charge is minor in comparison to the DWI, but it surprises me that an NFL player wouldn’t have insurance. I think that more details are likely to come out soon.
What about the Rams?
It’s hard to think about football in this situation, but I have to ask how this affects the Rams. With James Hall no longer with the team, Quinn is expected to produce a breakout season at defensive end. Now I have to wonder what’s going to happen with him. I doubt that he’ll be suspended for a first-time offense, but you never know what’s going to happen under NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. I also wonder if he’ll be able to focus on playing football with the DWI charges hanging over his head. I guess we’ll find out in September.
Derek Ciapala has been a Rams fan since he was a child and the team was in Los Angeles. His favorite Rams moments include Flipper Anderson’s 336-yard receiving night against the Saints in 1989, and their miracle 1999 run to their first Super Bowl victory. You can follow him on Twitter @dciapala and Facebook.
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On Thursday, July 19, KSDK reported that St. Louis Rams defensive end Robert Quinn was charged with DWI. The Florissant Police Department stated that Quinn “cooperated fully” and posted bond the day of his arrest.
It’s a bit personal
I’m not sure how to deal with this news. I interviewed Quinn for a set of articles a couple of months ago, and I was impressed by his outstanding attitude and laid-back personality. Quinn noted that he was a homebody who enjoyed simple things such as listening to music and watching movies. He came across as just a normal guy, and that’s how I’m going to treat him now as he faces these charges.
Not judging
I’m saddened by this news, but I also know that Quinn is human. I refuse to pass judgment on him for possibly committing this crime. Drunk driving is one of the worst mistakes a person can make, but far too many people have done it for me to look down on him. I hope that other Rams fans choose to support him instead of asking for his head on a platter.
The truth is we don’t know what happened that night. While I can’t think of many reasons for being out Interstate 270 at 5:38 a.m., I wasn’t sitting next to him in the car. I have no idea what Quinn was thinking or if there was something going on in his life that would cause him to stay out that late. Maybe he was partying or maybe something happened that upset him. We just don’t know.
Regardless, if Quinn was under the influence that night, then he deserves to be punished like any other offender. He should pay the fine, do the community service or jail time, and move on with his life. That’s what being a responsible member of society should do.
No insurance?
There is another detail about Quinn’s arrest that bothers me: he was also charged with having no insurance. Does this literally mean that he had no insurance or that he couldn’t prove that he was insured? That particular charge is minor in comparison to the DWI, but it surprises me that an NFL player wouldn’t have insurance. I think that more details are likely to come out soon.
What about the Rams?
It’s hard to think about football in this situation, but I have to ask how this affects the Rams. With James Hall no longer with the team, Quinn is expected to produce a breakout season at defensive end. Now I have to wonder what’s going to happen with him. I doubt that he’ll be suspended for a first-time offense, but you never know what’s going to happen under NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. I also wonder if he’ll be able to focus on playing football with the DWI charges hanging over his head. I guess we’ll find out in September.
Derek Ciapala has been a Rams fan since he was a child and the team was in Los Angeles. His favorite Rams moments include Flipper Anderson’s 336-yard receiving night against the Saints in 1989, and their miracle 1999 run to their first Super Bowl victory. You can follow him on Twitter @dciapala and Facebook.
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