[Edit -Released by Raiders] Henry Ruggs involved in a fatal car crash, "DUI resulting in death" charges expected

[DCOrange]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:26 PM, LABILLBACKER said:

I've lost 2 close family friends to drunk drivers in the last 18 months. If he is guilty I hope he gets the maximum sentence. I have no tolerance for these idiotic a ss holes. Like he didn't have the money for an uber. Let him run fly routes in prison.

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This doesn't make it any better, but I believe NFL players have access to ride share services free of charge anyways so he doesn't even need money for an Uber.

[Bferra13]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:16 PM, Warcodered said:

I am torn on this on the one hand he did do that, on the other he does literally no one any good being in prison the rest of his life, and intent is important.

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10 years should suffice 

[RoyBatty is alive]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:24 PM, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

If he maintains his skill level, you can count on it.  In my opinion.  Judging by past history, Chiefs would be all over it.

 

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Probably and imo, sadly correct,  yep the Chiefs.  Henry and Britt can hang out as drinking buds.

[TheBrownBear]

Also, for all of you on this board that occasionally drink and drive (and I know you're out there), remember that this could happen to you.

 

I have a cousin whose entire family (wife and 2 kids) was wiped out by a drunk driver.  Of course, the perp survived.

 

My rule is that if I take the car out of the house - I do not have a single drink.  If you intend to drink or think it's a possibility you might be tempted to, take an Uber or Lyft.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

 

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:25 PM, appoo said:

we'll have to see what "showed signs of impairment" means

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Yeah, I'm pretty much amazed at the speed of what's being reported.  Compare and contrast how long it took to file charges against Britt Reid.

[Warcodered]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:28 PM, Bferra13 said:

10 years should suffice 

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That's probably closer to right, especially if it includes therapy/treatment so he doesn't do something this stupid again.

[eSJayDee]

  On 11/2/2021 at 4:49 PM, JayBaller10 said:

Hopefully he’s not the one at fault, but a young athlete in a sports car usually suggests otherwise. Truly unfortunate.

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Wouldn't that make him the one that's dead?

[Hapless Bills Fan]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:28 PM, TheBrownBear said:

Also, for all of you on this board that occasionally drink and drive (and I know you're out there), remember that this could happen to you.

 

I have a cousin whose entire family (wife and 2 kids) was wiped out by a drunk driver.  Of course, the perp survived.

 

My rule is that if I take the car out of the house - I do not have a single drink.  If you intend to drink or think it's a possibility you might be tempted to, take an Uber or Lyft.

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This.  I spent my late teens/early 20s working in a pediatric ER.

 

I am speaking my personal moral judgement here, not the law which varies from state to state but IMHO if you drink over the limit (or use drugs) and get behind the wheel of a car, intentional murder is just what you've done. 

[Jauronimo]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:27 PM, DCOrange said:

This doesn't make it any better, but I believe NFL players have access to ride share services free of charge anyways so he doesn't even need money for an Uber.

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Pretty sure most teams offer concierge type ride share where someone gets you and your car home safely and its available 24/7 to avoid DUI/DWI.  I'm sure the players do not want anyone associated with the team to know about their party habits though.

Edited November 2, 2021 by Jauronimo

[Hapless Bills Fan]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:27 PM, Arkady Renko said:

That's because of all the extra rights of appeal and due process.  

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Correct.   But the point remains if wasting tax dollars is the concern.

[Warcodered]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:27 PM, Arkady Renko said:

 

That's because of all the extra rights of appeal and due process.  

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Which is inherently necessary when the end result is the state killing someone.

[Mark Vader]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:15 PM, Casey D said:

Why don't we just gouge his eyes out and stone him.  Then we could be Saudi Arabia,

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There are millions of people living here that already think we are.

[The Frankish Reich]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:27 PM, DCOrange said:

This doesn't make it any better, but I believe NFL players have access to ride share services free of charge anyways so he doesn't even need money for an Uber.

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Unfortunately for someone who spends way, way too much on a tricked out green corvette, driving it - whether drunk or sober, and typically too fast - is the whole point. 
In the RB trade thread the name of Melvin Gordon came up. He signed a $16 million contract (almost all guaranteed) last year and then picked up a DUI pretty close to my home. If I had a spare 5 million or so you better believe I’d have a personal driver on call 24/7. But that’s not how young athletes think. It’s time they started. 
 

Edited November 2, 2021 by The Frankish Reich

[BillsShredder83]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:22 PM, RoyBatty is alive said:

If by some legal miracle he gets away with this, would an NFL team give him another chance?  I would hope not, if he is proven to have been drinking and the driver.

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is this a real question? not only 1st rd pick, but elite speed like that YES. 32 teams will have files with their own information on him, not one single team wouldnt... and if they dont, its because they believe the hip injury to be career ending

[Hapless Bills Fan]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:33 PM, Jauronimo said:

Pretty sure most teams offer concierge type ride share where someone gets you and your car home safely and its available 24/7 to avoid DUI/DWI.  I'm sure the payers do not want anyone associated with the team to know about their party habits though.

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I can't find recent confirmation, but back in 2012 there was this information:

 

  Quote

The NFL Players Association employs an independent safe-ride program for all its players. The program provides two services: pre-arranged transportation and an emergency response for intoxicated players with access to a vehicle. This service protects the anonymity of players, so teams aren't alerted when one of their players uses it.

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And of course, nowadays one need only have one's cell phone to access Uber, Lyft, now many local cab companies - not to mention I think most of these players have their "people" so there's "phone a friend"

 

[Mikie2times]

In all cases involving somebody who is deceased probably the number one factor in determining sentencing is intent. I doubt most drunk drivers have any intent to harm somebody, so in my mind that does make the person different than somebody who has intent to harm another. That said vehicular manslaughter is a very serious charge. Not murder one, but he's going away for awhile, certainly enough for his life to be all but destroyed. It's never worth it to risk this behavior. Not with Uber and all the options available today. Horrible decision, one I'm sure he has made dozens of times with no consequences until now.

 

If anything, I would be much more in favor of very strict penalties for drinking and driving. The way the crime is treated when it does or doesn't involve injury is essentially like playing Russian roulette. Any drunk driver could have just as easily had this become the outcome. Instead, for most, no outcome occurs or in the event of a DUI the penalty is not harsh enough. People don't think, "what if I get vehicular manslaughter tonight" they think, "I hope I don't get pulled over".  Until more severity is placed on making the decision at the start irresponsible people will roll the dice. 

[aristocrat]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:22 PM, RoyBatty is alive said:

If by some legal miracle he gets away with this, would an NFL team give him another chance?  I would hope not, if he is proven to have been drinking and the driver.

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It's probably pretty tough for him to get off. Warrant for his blood level, they haven't said anyone else was in his car etc.  Unless they screw up chain of evidence with the blood or something he's looking at some serious time. 

[BuffaloBills1998]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:18 PM, wjag said:

Interesting read here.  We don't even know if he was driving..

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They confirmed he was driving

[The Frankish Reich]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:42 PM, KzooMike said:

If anything, I would be much more in favor of very strict penalties for drinking and driving.

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It’s essential now. No one drinks more than the British yet they have a drunk driving rate that is negligible compared to us.  Why? The penalties are severe. We’ve made strides in the USA, but it’s still not enough. 

[RoyBatty is alive]

  On 11/2/2021 at 6:41 PM, BillsShredder83 said:

is this a real question? not only 1st rd pick, but elite speed like that YES. 32 teams will have files with their own information on him, not one single team wouldnt... and if they dont, its because they believe the hip injury to be career ending

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Is yours a real question? 

 

Yes it is a real question.  If he  gets off for by some legal maneuvering and everyone "knows" he killed someone due to drunk driving, i think there would be a lot of hesitancy on the past of NFL teams to use him.

 

And you are wrong, not all 32 teams would go for him,   I can promise you the Texans wouldn't.  I would bet the Bills wouldn't.

 

But some team probably would, they gave Vick another chance but that was a different world back then.