This is not up for debate. Not after you read this piece in the Seattle Times. It is tremendous journalism – in fact, it is the best piece of sports journalism we have read in a newspaper in 2008.

The story, however, is vile. It may make you sick to your stomach. You are likely to wonder why Tampa Bay would bother having an alcoholic alleged rapist such as Stevens on the roster. We use the word alleged, but after reading the article, you’ll know that’s only because the football program protected Stevens and saved him from going to court, where evidence would have done him in. How can that Seattle-based lawyer live with himself for defending these criminals, all in the name of a (crappy) football program?

And UCLA – if you knew then what you knew now about Rick Neuheisel, would you have hired the guy?

Convicted of assault and accused of rape, star player received raft of second chances (Seattle Times)

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