This offseason has been a rough one for the New England Patriots, an organization usually held up as an example of what a sterling NFL franchise is supposed to look like.
Aaron Hernandez and Alfonzo Dennard, two of New England's recent draft picks whose draft stocks plummeted because of character concerns have not rewarded the team's faith in them.
Hernandez is currently in a Massachusetts prison awaiting trial for the murder of a 27-year-old semipro football player named Odin Lloyd, who was dating the sister of Hernandez's girlfriend. After more than a week of investigating, Hernandez was arrested in his home and released by the team hours later.
Now Dennard has been arrested on a less serious charge, driving under the influence. The problem is that in 2012 Dennard was arrested prior to the draft for assaulting a police officer. He was sentenced to two years probation regarding that incident, as well as a 30-day jail term that was set to begin in March of 2014, after the Patriots' season had concluded.
Like the Patriots, the courts showed faith in Dennard and he couldn't deliver. This puts New England in a tough position. They showed the fortitude to cut Hernandez before he was proven guilty in a court of law, despite his enormous talent and the key role he was supposed to play in their high-powered offense.
Dennard, although not the star Hernandez was, is one of New England's top defensive players. He emerged as their top defensive back last season until New England traded for another troubled player, cornerback Aqib Talib, and cutting him would hurt the defense in a big way.
These two cuts would hurt, should they release Dennard, but the Patriots might need to make a stand. The "Patriot Way" has come under fire, and owner Robert Kraft spoke last week about how Hernandez "duped" the organization, and how their player evaluations would undergo changes.
Dennard seems to have duped the Pats as well. It would not be a shock if he were sent packing.
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