If McNair can have his charges dismissed...

[Nick]

...are you any more optimistic that Little's charges may be dismissed as well?

From KFFL.com....

Titans | Judge Rules in Favor of McNair - from www.KFFL.com
Fri, 23 Jul 2004 10:09:35 -0700

The Tennessean reports the DUI charge against Tennessee Titans QB Steve McNair will be dismissed unless Davidson County district attorney general Torry Johnson elects to appeal a judge's decision to hold back evidence in the case. Prosecutors seeking the conviction were dealt a setback Thursday, July 22, when a judge ruled the arresting officer did not have "sufficient basis" to pull him over. The judge granted McNair's request to hold back all evidence involving to the reason for the stop in May 2003, saying officer Shawn Taylor's observations did not provide "specific and articulable facts that [the] defendant was driving under the influence."

Furthermore, if Little's charges were dismissed, would that affect how you see him and whether or not you'd want him on the team? After all, dismissal of the charges doesn't change the situation itself.

[general counsel]

Re: If McNair can have his charges dismissed...

Nick, i am not sure that little's situation is comporable to mcnairs, unless mcnair has a prior conviction involving a fatal accident of which i am unaware. I think if the charges are dropped, little will stay with the team. I also believe that to be the case if he is acquitted.

general counsel

[acer1240]

Re: If McNair can have his charges dismissed...

I'm still kinda lurking around as a Seahawks fan because this is one sweet board you all got here. Anyway, the only way I ever want to see Little play again, is if he is found 100% not guilty, and it was a big mistake by everybody involved. This is one of those things that is bigger than football. If one of my co-workers had done what he has and is accused of doing, I would be ashamed to know him and wouldn't want to be anywhere near him. I can't help but wonder if his teamates feel the same way. No flaming or bashing intended, I would say the exact same thing if it was Shaun Alexander in the same situation.

[Nick]

Re: If McNair can have his charges dismissed...

GC, I wasn't trying to suggest the situations were similar, but merely speculate as to whether or not Little might be found not guilty based on something similar. Perhaps Little was unjustly pulled over. We don't know yet.

But I remember during the draft when the news of Little came out, a lot of Rams fans I talked to were already throwing him to the wolves. So I'm curious how fans would feel if something like this happened to Little, where the charges are dismissed not because he wasn't drunk or dangerous on the road but because of a technicality in the legal system that would dismiss all evidence of him being drunk. Would fans still be upset at Little for his actions and want him off the team because of them, or does being proven innocent in a court of law stand alone as enough to welcome Little back, even if that verdict is based on a technicality and not actual innocence?

[general counsel]

Re: If McNair can have his charges dismissed...

Nick, you raise an outstanding point and something very worthy of discussion.

If little is found not guilty, that does not nessasarily mean he was found innocent. It means that the prosecution failed to prove his guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt," which is a very different thing in many cases from the jury, or for that matter the public, concluding that he was innocent. There could be a crucial item of evidence that was not admissable in court but was known by the public which could make a difference in the way jury vs. the public views the case.

If Little gets off on a legal technicality, ie the public believes that he was driving while intoxicated but "got away with it" legally, it will be very interesting to see how the public reacts. OJ was found not guilty, but he is an outcast in society. Part may depend on how he does on the football field this year. If he is a superstar again, i believe rightly or wrongly, more people, including the organization itself, will be inclined to give him a break. Part of it may depend on how the team does-ie are we heading into a rebuilding mode next year (which i hope is not the case).

As for the seahawks fan out there, everyone in this country is entitled to innocent until proven guilty. It makes no sense for the league or team to suspend him until he has his day in court. Would you like to be fired from your job based on an allegation that you did something wrong when you claimed you didnt do it and you had not had your day in court yet?

Love to hear how others think that they would view a Not Gulity verdict, but with a belief by a majority of the public that he actually did it based on the evidence.

general counsel

[acer1240]

Re: If McNair can have his charges dismissed...

GC, you are right of course. I guess my "knee jerk" reaction is similar to what most people felt when the story first came out. Regardless of his past he should have the same rights and innocent presumption as anyone else, the police are human and can and do make mistakes.
After thinking some more about it, I hate to see anyone have their life and reputation ruined and I hope for his sake that he his not guilty. I think that if he does "get by" due to a technicality, he will at the minimum, be forced into league madated rehab, which may be a good thing.

[HUbison]

Re: If McNair can have his charges dismissed...

If by some chance his charges are dropped, even on some legal technicality, this whole issue will be forgotten. Take for instance, Ray Lewis. This guy had knowledge of a murder and now it's as if nothing happened. He keeps playing top-tier football and Baltimore has moved on. At least Little didn't kill anybody...this time.

[Nick]

Re: If McNair can have his charges dismissed...

If by some chance his charges are dropped, even on some legal technicality, this whole issue will be forgotten. Take for instance, Ray Lewis. This guy had knowledge of a murder and now it's as if nothing happened. He keeps playing top-tier football and Baltimore has moved on. At least Little didn't kill anybody...this time.

Right, but will Rams fans and the community be so quick to forget? The vast majority of opinions I heard after the news was broken was of how disgusted everyone was with Little's behavior, regardless of anything relating to the court. If Little's charges are dismissed not because he in fact was innocent but because of a technicality like this, do you think Rams fans and the St. Louis community will be as forgiving? Will you personally?

[HUbison]

Re: If McNair can have his charges dismissed...

Right, but will Rams fans and the community be so quick to forget? The vast majority of opinions I heard after the news was broken was of how disgusted everyone was with Little's behavior, regardless of anything relating to the court. If Little's charges are dismissed not because he in fact was innocent but because of a technicality like this, do you think Rams fans and the St. Louis community will be as forgiving? Will you personally?

If he was driving drunk, then he has some serious flaws in his decision making process. He should at minimum have his licensed permanently revoked (if that's even possible) and at most face jail time. But if the court system finds him not guilty (note I didn't say innocent), then I don't think I am in any position to say they're wrong. If he's not guilty then there is nothing to forgive. If he is guilty, then he is probably done (at least in St. Louis), and forgiveness is irrelvant (not sure if my forgiveness really means anything to Little either way).