Todd Archer, another sharp NFL reporter at ESPN, reminds us that this is the very first time Jadeveon Clowney has been arrested. As one of the league’s top defensive ends, Clowney’s news alone would be major. The encounter started in a South Carolina parking lot. Last summer, Clowney ran into a big problem in what all of Mississippi dubbed the parking debacle. Archer has reported on the NFL since 1997 and the Dallas Cowboys since 2003. In 2010, he moved to ESPN, where he continues to be the first to break important news out of the league.
In his coverage, Archer didn’t shy away from Clowney’s past but painted a picture that contextualized the arrest. He stressed the unconventional circumstances that often come into play in a state like South Carolina, where he and Clowney hail from. Clowney expressed his thoughts on the incident, stating, “If you know anything about South Carolina, where I’m from, you know how that can go left very fast and that kind of went left.” This comment speaks to the unpredictable twists and turns that can happen in everyday, less-than-exciting settings.
Despite Tuesday’s incident, Archer said Wednesday that he was unsure if Clowney would play in an upcoming game with the Chicago Bears. A team spokesman later confirmed, calming concerned fans, that the arrest would not affect Clowney’s participation in the big Saturday night game. Clowney himself mentioned his physical readiness, stating, “physically ready to go. I just got to wait and see what the coaches want, decide and see how they’re going to use me.” To me, this tweet shows his excitement about getting back on the field and getting out there while he’s waiting to hear from the coaching staff.
Archer’s observations on this unfolding drama are invaluable, especially when considering the man’s vast experience covering the front lines of the baseball beat. Since coming on board at ESPN, he has earned a well-deserved reputation for delivering exhaustive and unparalleled coverage of the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL. His knowledge of the league and its players gives him a novelistic ability to put something like Clowney’s recent arrest in context.
Leave a Reply