The NFL draft highlighted for me an issue that I feel some of my cohorts in the media have purposely gotten wrong. The fact that the accusations against some of these young men are treated as facts. For example, let’s look at the case of La’el Collins. A projected top 15 talent, bonafide first round pick. A woman that he had a previous relationship with is murdered, Collins has no involvement in the case, but because the media picked up the story and spread half truths, this young man saw his life’s dream and goals nearly disappeared before his eyes. Collins was found to to be not guilty of anything and his name was completely exonerated.
He was eventually picked up by the Dallas Cowboys and paid a salary of 1.51 million over 3 years with a $21,000 signing bonus. He was due to make at least 10.4 million dollars over 4 years with a signing of at least 6 million! Who’s is going to replace that money that would position his family for the next few generations. There have been no public apologies or money from the media outlets that ran with the story that ultimately caused his fall in the draft.
So as a relatively new member to mass media, I’m trying my best to not focus on being FIRST, but instead I want to be accurate. Let’s alow the facts come out about the NFL draftees who have some questions marks in their past before we wave our fingers at them in disgust.