When news broke more than a week ago that Massachusetts police were investigating New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez for the murder of Odin Lloyd, it was both shocking and unbelievable.
When details first emerged of the investigation, many people speculated that police were questioning Hernandez not as a potential alleged murderer, but as a person who knew of the crime and might be protecting the real killers.
As the days passed, it became more apparent that police think Hernandez is much more involved with the murder. News broke that Hernandez hired a cleaning company to scrub his home only days after a jogger discovered Lloyd’s body. Then police discovered that Hernandez destroyed his home security system, which shows him exiting his car with a gun only five minutes after witnesses say they heard gunshots in the industrial park only miles from Hernandez’s house where Lloyd’s body was discovered. Police also reported that Hernandez gave them a broken cellphone and that witnesses saw the victim leave a nightclub with Hernandez and two other people the night of the murder.
The evidence is circumstantial and Hernandez is innocent until proven guilty, but if he is found guilty of this crime, the 23-year-old budding National Football League star will probably spend the rest of his life in jail instead of living a life of decadence.
It’s incomprehensible as to why anyone who just signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the New England Patriots would even put himself in a situation that makes him a suspect in a murder. Hernandez was living a fantasy life: A rich, young man with more money than he can spend, a mansion, nice cars, women fauning over him and fame.
Why would he throw it all away? As the police investigation continues, police have discovered that a man in Florida is suing Hernandez, saying that Hernandez allegedly shot him outside of a Florida strip club in February. The gun shot hit the victim’s shoulder and ricocheted to his eye, causing him to lose his vision. Police are also investigating Hernandez for his alleged involvement in a double homicide committed last year. Last week, police arrested him and charged him with first-degree murder for Lloyd’s murder, only months after Hernandez had signed his large contract.
When he inked his deal, he donated $50,000 to the Myra Kraft Foundation and oozed praise for the Patriots organization saying how he was proud to be a part of it and was going to live his life based on the organization’s philosophy of integrity and hard work.
If it is proven that Hernandez committed murder, then Hernandez appears to have fallen into the trap of thinking he is invincible because he is rich and famous. The reality is, however, that money and fame cannot always prevent one from the law’s long reach, as no person is above it when it comes to capitol crimes.
Hernandez is one of 28 NFL players who have been arrested since the Super Bowl in early February. Does the league have a problem? We don’t think so, since the NFL has 1,696 players, which means only a small percentage have been arrested. It does make the league’s image take a hit, however, as these players fail to uphold that ideal of “integrity” that not only the Patriots, but all professional sports seek to espouse.
The New England Patriots made the right decision to release Hernandez after his arrest. The organization lives by the saying of “The Patriot Way,” which entails living with self-worth and integrity, so it’s no surprise that the team released him.
It is shocking, however, and disappointing that Hernandez went from golden boy for the Patriots and budding NFL star, to sitting in a jail cell as he awaits trial for first-degree murder.
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Today’s editorial was written by Sports Editor Al Edwards on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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