Romanowski lawsuit to be heard in court

[paineinthearse]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/articles/2005/03/01/romanowski_lawsuit_to_be_heard_in_court/

Romanowski lawsuit to be heard in court
By Janie McCauley, AP Sports Writer | March 1, 2005

OAKLAND, Calif. --Former Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski ended Marcus Williams' NFL career two years ago when he ripped off his teammate's helmet and punched the second-year tight end in the face during a practice drill. Romanowski's long history of bad behavior on the field has landed him in a courtroom, where Williams is suing the linebacker.

Williams is seeking damages of $3.8 million for alleged battery, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The blow he took Aug. 24, 2003, broke a bone around his left eye and also injured his brain. His football career ended at age 27.

Romanowski, known for fanatical behavior during his 16 NFL seasons, apologized publicly several days after the altercation. "I hold myself accountable," Romanowski said afterward. "It was a classless move by me."

Williams wasn't satisfied and filed the civil lawsuit. The case, which begins Tuesday in Alameda County Superior Court and could last several weeks, will focus on the consequences of Romanowksi's actions on Williams' career. Potential witnesses include Romanowski's former teammates, Jerry Rice and Ronnie Lott, former Raiders coach Bill Callahan, and Williams' agent, Lee Kolligian.

more....

[joeybee12]

1. Well, a typical case of letting someone be an ass until it went

too far...lock him up! Oh wait, it's a civil suit--take him to the cleaners!

[ProfessorGAC]

2. Thought The Same Thing

They let him get away with it until he really hurt somebody. Actually, this suit seems like fairly small change, given what a football could possibly make. I realize the guy wasn't a star player, but it would only take a few years to make half that, and there has to be something for permanent disfigurement and blindness, right?

Romanowski was a jerk that nobody stopped until it went too far, like you said.
The Professor

[joeybee12]

3. Yup, and he wasn't the first, and he won't be the last...

...as long as he's a valuable player, they look the other way. When he starts going downhill, they take notice at the antics.

And I guess great minds think alike!;-)

[ProfessorGAC]

4. As A Matter Of Fact. . .

. . .in today's (Wed.) Chicago Tribune, Rick Morrissey has a column that covers exactly what you said. It's about David Tyrell's release from the Bears, but it basically says if this guy had caught touchdowns and 80 passes a year, his antics would have been accepted.

Rick's main point is that Tyrell wasn't released because he's a pain off the field and committed taunting penalties, but because he wasn't good enough to get away with that behavior. Had he been a stud wide receiver, Rick would have had to find something else to write about today, because David will still be a Bear.

Almost exactly what you and i mentioned yesterday.
The Professor

[joeybee12]

5. Interesting...I can think of quite a few people who get away with that...

...on the top of the list is Jeremy Schokey of the NY Giants. Let's see if he can get away with that s**t 6-7 years from now!