Roddy White wants to see how NFL punishes Irsay

Roddy White wonders how the NFL will handle the Jim Irsay situation. (USATSI)

More NFL offseason: Mock Drafts | Prospect Rankings | Pro Days | Top free agents

Most of the conversation in the wake of Colts owner Jim Irsay's arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, along with four felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, has been about a man struggling with drugs and how he "desperately needs help."

But if this had been an NFL player instead of the man who pays them, the media and fan reaction would've been predictably different (see here, here, here and here, for examples).

And the double-standard was enough to make Falcons wide receiver Roddy White tweet about it.

I want to see what the NFL does about this Jim Irsay situation if a player loses a game check no matter the amount he should lose a game day

— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) March 17, 2014

I'm guessing a million dollar fine will come which is nothing to a man that makes billions

— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) March 17, 2014

And in response to a tweet that noted, "Odd that when players do it people call them stupid for not calling a cab with all their money ... haven't seen it with Irsay," White wrote "So true," before adding, "I don't think Irsay is a bad guy I actually like him as an owner but it was a bad mistake."

According to the NFL's personal conduct policy, Irsay isn't immune to punishment.

“All persons associated with the NFL are required to avoid ‘conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League,'” the policy states. “This requirement applies to players, coaches, other team employees, owners, game officials, and all others privileged to work in the National Football League.”

Ultimately, it will be up to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to determine what discipline Irsay will face.

NFL Hot News

Ravens RB Ray Rice is looking to be leaner in 2014



I don't think this qualifies as "Best Shape of His Life" territory, but Ravens running back Ray Rice will definitely be in better shape this season. His trainer, Kyle Jakobe, recently told the Carroll County Times that Rice has already lost 15 pounds in the two months since the season ended, is down to about 210 pounds and wants to drop a few more."He was definitely too heavy last year," Jakobe said of Rice. "He definitely came back this year and said, 'I feel heavy. I feel bloated. I don't feel like I'm moving as well. I could feel it in my body. I felt like my body was working too hard to make the same movements it made in previous years.'"Jakobe also talked about how the hip flexor injury that Rice suffered in Week 2 put him in a lot of pain for the rest of the season. That injury and the weight ostensibly played a major role in Rice recording a career low of 3.1 per carry. Excluding Rice's 2008 rookie year, he put career worsts across the board in 2013.



The last sentence of that quote catches my eye:"I felt like my body was working too hard to make the same movements in previous years."I'm sure the reduced weight can help in that area, but you know what that can also be attributed to? Old age. Now, Rice is just 27 years old, so he's nowhere near being technically old. But he doesn't exactly have a normal job; the NFL and the punishment it unleashes upon running backs have a ruthless way of accelerating anyone's physical clock. So, pardon me if I don't believe that we will see the fantasy-studly Ray Rice of old return in 2014 just because he's cut some fat and his hip has healed. Rice has averaged 332 touches per year since the start of 2009. Maybe he is just simply beginning to wear down.