Lions DB Aaron Berry was arrested over the weekend for suspicion of DUI becoming the 4th different Lion to be arrested this offseason.
But it’s actually worse than that.
Berry’s arrest is the sixth separate Lions arrest this offseason that included one from Johnny Culbreath and a pair from Mikel Leshoure and Nick Fairley. This also comes on the heels of a season where the Lions granted were seen as a young, exciting upcoming team but also a team that had some major discipline issues on the field.
This offseason has revealed even more troubling character issues with the Lions where the immaturity didn’t stay just on the field but resonated off the field as well.
Now the Lions have some very real decisions to make on the image of their team moving forward and one of those decisions that needs to be made is cutting Aaron Berry.
Yes, Berry is probably the favorite to start opposite of Chris Houston at corner but what may be a perfect opportunity has presented itself to the Lions to really set an example in the locker room.
Why you ask?
Because Aaron Berry was given the ample opportunity (among the rest of the Lions players) to keep his nose clean throughout the rest of the offseason, into training camp and into the regular season.
Second he’s also a player that the Lions probably won’t miss too much if they severed ties with him. You let go of Mikel Leshoure, who has a very concrete role within the offense or Nick Fairley a top draft pick there’s probably a good chance they go to another team and have success. However he is a player that has a chance at getting a starting role on the team which could help in sending the message that no one from this point forward is safe for the most part.
Lastly the effects of Berry being cut may be felt in a defensive backfield that has zero depth but what kind of affect will no action have on a roster that has it’s character issues?
It’s now on Jim Schwartz and Martin Mayhew to address these issues now saving the Lions of further embarrassment and maybe wins in 2012.
