We’re waiting to hear what kind of discipline Broncos front office executives Tom Heckert and Matt Russell face for their recent DUI arrests and some have wondered if the Broncos could suffer if two of their top personnel men are suspended at the same time.
Others might reply that such is the nature of punishment for breaking the law, but one Broncos player doesn’t see there being much impact on the team when and if the two execs are penalized. Wide receiver Eric Decker, who said that coach John Fox’s last advice for his players at the end of spring workouts was to “be smart and don’t get your name in the future,” said that he trusted the organization to handle things the right way while players paid attention to on-field matters.
“I don’t think so,” Decker said, via Mike Klis of the Denver Post. “This is a great organization. They’ll find the right manner to handle it. As players, our focus is on getting ourselves ready for a great season. Whatever action they’re taking, John Elway and Mr. (Pat) Bowlen will find the necessary discipline. As far as me, I stay out of that. My job as a football player is to come to practice and make this organization better.”
You wouldn’t expect to hear anything different from a player. Football is their concern, and, as a Broncos spokesman said earlier this week, the pair of arrests are “bigger than football.” They might have some impact on the team’s personnel department, though it is hard to know just how much without knowing the specific penalties and it’s hard to put that ahead of the need to control the problem of drunk driving among those working in every part of the NFL.
