The NFL has been a place of second chances. Once upon a time, players would receive suspensions for various offenses but eventually return to take advantage of a second chance.
While it remains an ugly fact that athletes enjoy chances that ordinary people do not, it doesn’t make the league immune to the same practices or similar criticism, and one NFL analyst and former Pro Bowler is not buying Henry Ruggs III’s apology — and he’s not alone.
Former Raiders WR Henry Ruggs III’s Apology Doesn’t Move Former DPOY
On Nov. 2, 2021, Ruggs killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor in Spring Valley, Nev., outside of Las Vegas. Driving 156 miles per hour, Ruggs, in a Chevrolet Corvette, rear-ended Tintor’s car. Authorities believe the ensuing fire and not the impact ended Tintor’s life, along with her dog. Blood tests showed the former Alabama wideout’s blood alcohol level registered 0.16%, twice Nevada’s legal limit.
Eighteen months later, Ruggs pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and one count of felony driving under the influence, resulting in death, originally sentenced to between 3-10 years in prison. Ruggs will be eligible for parole in 2026.
On the “Nightcap” podcast, former Cincinnati Bengals wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh and former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison discussed whether Ruggs deserves a second chance in the NFL. Harrison did not hesitate to articulate his clear opinion.
“Everyone’s remorseful when you get caught. You didn’t purposefully do this. If I go out and do something because I made an immature decision and do something that causes me to take someone’s life, yes, I would be very remorseful.”
“If I am him, yes, I want another chance. At the same time, if I am the parents over here, where’s my daughter’s second chance? Your second chance is you get an opportunity to live life. You don’t get an opportunity to play this game. It’s a privilege. Not a right.”
Unfortunately, the NFL has shown little effort in keeping players with serious run-ins with the law off the field. For example, in 1998, St. Louis Rams defensive end Leonard Little killed 47-year-old Susan Gutweiler while intoxicated behind the wheel. Little received four years of probation, 1,000 hours of community service, and a 90-day work release.
For their part, the league suspended him for eight games and fined Little $125,000. Less than six years later, Little was in handcuffs after being arrested for driving 23 miles per hour over the speed limit on the highway. Once again, he was under the influence.
In 2009, wide receiver Donté Stallworth killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes in Miami while under the influence. He served 30 days in county jail, 1,000 hours of community service, and eight years of probation for his DUI manslaughter conviction. In return, the NFL suspended him for the entirety of the 2009 season.
Whether Ruggs displays actual, heartfelt remorse is up to him. Tintor’s life, like Reyes’ and Gutweiler’s, ended because of poor decision-making. While Stallworth and Little enjoyed substantive careers after, the image of the NFL has changed since 2009, and the idea of Ruggs returning to the field seems highly unlikely.
His advocates will proclaim that he deserves a fresh start. If Ruggs desires to return to the league, how NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell handles his release will be one of the most significant moments in Goodell’s career.