Stupidity knows no seasons

You've heard of the silly season in sports, the time when rumors run wild, players jump around from one team to the next via free agency and there's far more talk than action.

This is not football's silly season. It's the stupid season.

Don't believe me? Check out the police blotter -- err, sports sections -- from the past week or so.

Early Saturday morning, three Alabama football players were arrested following an altercation outside a bar, The Legacy, in Tuscaloosa.`

On Monday, two Miami (Fla.) football players -- each of whom had committed to Alabama at one point -- were involved in a one-car accident after the driver, wide receiver Jermaine McKenzie, fell asleep at the wheel.

Also on Monday, a Georgia defensive lineman and a Murray State player were charged with assault for their roles in a fight in late May.

Later that night, Georgia freshman running back Caleb King, one of the Bulldogs' more heralded newcomers, was arrested after being pulled over for driving the wrong way down a one-way street. It turns out he was also driving with a suspended license.

On Tuesday, a Minnesota cornerback was charged with third-degree sexual assault after being accused of raping a drunk woman. Investigators said the whole thing was recorded on a cell phone camera.

That same day -- and at least this is a break from it being the players doing stupid (and/or terrible) things -- Rutgers assistant football coach Chris Demarest was charged with assault after an altercation in a bar.

Then there are the ongoing sagas of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and Tennessee Titans cornerback Pacman Jones.

Those two, along with the Minnesota cornerback, Dominic Jones, if they're all guilty as charged, are beyond stupid.

As for the others -- and the list here is far from complete -- they simply have to know better. They have to know there are things you can do and things you can't do.

More specifically, there are things you can do in public (like going out to a bar when you're over 21) and things you can't (like getting in fights in bars).

During the Q&A portion of his appearance at Deshler last week, Alabama coach Nick Saban was asked about how he will deal with disciplinary issues.

Saban said he believes in second chances, as long as the players demonstrate that they've learned from their mistakes.

Now, we'll get to see if Saban's actions follow his words. Brandon Fanney, Brandon Deaderick and Roy Upchurch are the first Crimson Tide players arrested since Saban was hired.

How he handles their cases will give an indication on how Saban will handle others. And there will, eventually, be others down the road.

After all, the stupid season never really ends.

John C. Frierson can be reached at 740-5730 or john.frierson@timesdaily.com.