On the same day that receiver Dwayne Jarrett was arrested for driving while impaired, the Carolina Panthers have parted ways with the second-round pick from the 2007 draft.
The aggressive reaction will prompt many to wonder why the Jets didn’t take stronger action against receiver Braylon Edwards when he was arrested for DUI two weeks ago. But there are three big differences between the two cases.
First, it was Jarrett’s second DUI incident. Edwards has only one.
Second, Jarrett isn’t very good, making it far easier for a team to make an example of a guy.
Third, while the Jets insisted that they couldn’t discipline Edwards for behavior that falls within the jurisdiction of the league’s substance-abuse policy, the reality is that, while a player can’t be suspended by the team, he can be cut.
Paragraph 11 of the standard NFL player contract provides in part as follows: “If at any time, in the sole judgment of Club, Player’s skill or performance has been unsatisfactory as compared with that of other players competing for positions on Club’s roster, or if Player has engaged in personal conduct reasonably judged by Club to adversely affect or reflect on Club, then Club may terminate this contract.”
So that’s why the Colts were able to cut defensive tackle Ed Johnson in 2008, after he was arrested for marijuana possession. And it’s why the Panthers were able to cut Jarrett.
That said, Jarrett may be able to file a grievance against the Panthers, based on the discrepancy between the player contract and the CBA, which purports to prevent any team-imposed discipline in cases of this nature. Either way, he’s no longer a Panther.
Why do we have a feeling that his former coach at USC will come calling?
