Falcons WR Eric Weems Arrested For DUI In November
by Dave Choate on Dec 16, 2009 8:50 PM EST
in Falcons News
61 comments
Hat tip to acie4mvp, who put up a FanShot on this very topic a little bit earlier tonight. Kudos to everyone who keeps us informed of breaking news as it happens.
That said, I found out about five minutes before I got on the site via a co-worker. With editing for language, here's more or less our exact exchange:
Him: Did you see that Eric Weems got arrested?
Me: Wait, who?
Him: Eric Weems.
Me: Are you bleeping kidding me? What the bleep. Bleep! Bleep! Bleep.
I haven't cooled down in the slightest bit in the short time since then, so you're going to get me at my angriest here. We're going to forge ahead realizing that this is an allegation, and that the Falcons just found out about it after it happened back in November. I am cognizant of that.
But seriously, what the hell?
What is going on with this team? A staggering spate of injuries, a handful of which were season-ending. Play and play-calling that seems to get worse by the week. And now, notification of two arrests of two of our more valuable players this season, in the form of top defensive tackle Jon Babineaux and now special teams asset Eric Weems. I don't buy the notion of a curse for one second, but if we hadn't just slogged and suffered through 2007 I would swear that we've just hit bottom.
Now you have two guys who could potentially be facing NFL suspensions by early next season and we're one loss away from blowing our most recent chance to have winning seasons in back-to-back years. It makes me froth at the mouth like a rabid badger to see this happening. Something besides mere bad luck, you would think, must be in effect for all of this to come together at the same time. Something evil.
I have no idea what the team will do with Weems, though I doubt it'll be anything for this weekend. But for a guy who has clawed his way onto the roster and then done enough damage to be considered for a bigger role next season, Weems putting himself in a situation where he could even potentially be arrested like this is incredibly bad. Maybe this is the break Troy Bergeron has been looking for all season, particularly if it turns out that Weems withheld the information of his arrest from the team. Ironically, allegedly driving drunk won't get you anything immediate from the team, but lying about it certainly would. We'll have to see how this plays out in the days ahead.
Your thoughts, level-headed readers?
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We cut MeAngelo and Vick...
We can cut Weems, or at least trade him. Off the field distractions are not what this team needs right now. After the season, find some other team willing to take him. I’ll take Harry Douglas over Weems any day. If we want to be successful in the future, it looks like we’ll have to do some house cleaning…
Its true. I'm a Falcoholic! I just can't live without Falcohol!
by phoenix falcoholic on Dec 16, 2009 9:12 PM EST reply actions
At this point
We have gone past the point of making sure our team is great off the field too. With all the injuries we’ve been facing, the best thing is to keep Weems and hope for the best. Once Douglas and Finneran are back, we might be able to cut him, but for now we’ll just have to put up with the distractions.
Man, the thing was I loved Weems.
Seemd like one of those guys who did what he was asked, when he asked, and did it how he was asked to do it…
He still does, from a football perspective
But his off-the-field judgment is a different issue at this point.
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this season is crawling on the ground in misery
and this is just another kick in the gut. sigh!
Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that. - Bill Shankly
by armchair quarterback on Dec 16, 2009 9:48 PM EST reply actions
Wow the last thing this team needed
Another f*cking arrest like if things were not bad enough for the Falcons and us as fans. These players should not go around doing what the hell they want just because of their status of profesional football players. I mean they are role models to children everywhere. When you see a football player getting arrested for smoking weed or getting a D.U.I its just despicable.
by !AtlFalcons-fan! on Dec 16, 2009 9:53 PM EST reply actions
It's the role model issue
But it’s also the fact that you want to grab them by the shoulders, shake them like a rag doll and yell “YOU’RE MAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS! HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY GET CAUGHT DOING THIS?!”
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by Dave Choate on Dec 16, 2009 10:11 PM EST up reply actions
funny you say that
it’s the same way he was tackle by New Orleans Sunday in that Double Reverse Gadget Play
by brotherbrown on Dec 18, 2009 1:28 AM EST up reply actions
...
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F—k.
You have opinions. We all do. Some of yours may have to do with the Falcons. Sign up today and share them.
Such language, sir!
My bleeps were “oh, sugar plums!” and “dandelions!”
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by Dave Choate on Dec 16, 2009 10:10 PM EST up reply actions
Professional athlete DUI's
I can’t understand how any professional athlete gets a DUI EVER! The lowest paid players make eight to ten times more than what the average person brings in annually. GET A DRIVER IF YOU ARE GOING OUT DRINKING OR DRUGGING! I am not one to judge what another person does, but when it comes to a persons’ judgement; I am a critic to the fullest. For $150 to $200 for the night, you could avoid paying an $1,100 bond and more importantly, you could spare yourself the humiliation. But most important of all…. You don’t risk your privileged career. Unreal
by LK2121 on Dec 16, 2009 10:39 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
Rec'd
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by Dave Choate on Dec 16, 2009 10:40 PM EST up reply actions
these people think
they’re immune from normal life situations. didn’t they say Babineaux told the cops who pulled him over that he was with the Falcons? probably hoping this alone could get him go free.
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
yea
If I made that much money i would atleast have a cab drive me when I was messed up.
by bhochstetler6 on Dec 16, 2009 11:41 PM EST up reply actions
Rec'd
I said this to my friends a million times. With all that money why wouldn’t you hire a driver?
by Erich Vowell on Dec 17, 2009 4:10 AM EST up reply actions
something to add...
And you don’t risk killing yourself or anyone else by driving drunk. I lost a friend I was in the Marines with. He died on Christmas Eve in the mid 90’s while on leave. He was the designated driver and just dropped off his brother when he was t-boned on the drivers side by a drunk driver. Left behind a young daughter who was about to celebrate her first Christmas. Merry Christmas.
Thats why I dont care the reason nor do I feel any slack should be given to a drunk driver.
It is about time the owners start writing it into a players contract: If you commit a crime of some sort you will be fined $xxxxxxxxx and/or released from the team. And if the player doesnt want to sign that contract, make it public that this player refuses to and on what grounds. Before someone whines about a “player’s right” to play in the NFL lets remember it isnt a right. It is a privilege and if they dont like it than go play elsewhere.
Spread the wealth
Yeah let guys like me that need money drive you guys around!
by brotherbrown on Dec 18, 2009 1:29 AM EST up reply actions
Sorry
Yes; I am a total SAINTS fan……living in Atlanta….but after forty odd years of losing seasons….I do understand how this is a heart ache for the Fans of the Falcons. I do believe that if you commit a felony…..you should never have a chance to play in the NFL again. It may sound harsh….but at least FAIR for all. Best wishes for your remaining season.
WHODAT
Oh Man, I want to be in that number; when the SAINTS go marching in. (To Miami) WHODAT
Babs and Weems committed misdemeanors, not felonies.
Misdemeanors – punishable by less than a year in prison
Felony- punishable by more than a year in prison
Either way this just plain sucks. It really makes me believe in curses, because what else could be causing anything and everything to go wrong this year.
by Whyte Bler 000 on Dec 17, 2009 12:01 AM EST up reply actions
Babs
Babs got felony possession (more than 1 ounce) of marijuana
Maybe there is no Heaven. Or maybe this is all pure gibberish — a product of the demented imagination of a lazy drunken hillbilly with a heart full of hate who has found a way to live out where the real winds blow — to sleep late, have fun, get wild, drink whisky, and drive fast on empty streets with nothing in mind except falling in love and not getting arrested...Res ipsa loquitur. Let the good times roll.
by iRonin on Dec 17, 2009 1:24 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
curse?
A curse does not make one carry dope or drive drunk. Thats called stupidity.
No level headed readers here.
Been a fan since before I was born and it is hard to watch this team with so much promise get crippled with injuries and now arrests. Still have a chance to have a wining season. If we play like we did last week I think we have a good chance.
WB 000
Yes; I do know the difference between a felonie and a misdemeanor….I was thinking of you other team mate Vic. Or anyother player that does commit and is convicted of a felony. I think if all the fans got together and insist that be the rule of the NFL we all would never have to have this conversation again. The PLAYERS would KNOW that had to be good citizens and role models.
Oh Man, I want to be in that number; when the SAINTS go marching in. (To Miami) WHODAT
Agree.
Remember the Charles Barkely syndrome? “I am not a role model.” WRONG! Everyone is a role model. Now, you choose the role model you wanna be and live that way. Every minute you might be exposed as the lower life form you really are, now act ike the man you want to be remembered as!
How many more days, Lord, must I walk through the wilderness?
GO FALCONS!!!
Maybe this team really is cursed.
Still, in Weems’s defense, all it takes is one time.
If he did it one time and was caught, well, it happens. If he was being an R-tard, well, this team really is the incarnation of the Bengals of years past.
What can you really say to this? We don’t get ANY good news, anymore. This is like a nightmare that you can’t wake up from.
I think this must literally be……hell itself.
"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, time on his side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham
Also wik
If Bergeron plays (which I think he deserves) and he ends up like the next Miles Austin, could we have comeback player of the year award locked down?
"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, time on his side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham
Also also wik
Has he played enough downs to be anything but a rookie?
How many more days, Lord, must I walk through the wilderness?
GO FALCONS!!!
He was a freak in the Arena leagues
maybe that should count for something, i don’t know.
"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, time on his side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham
What's frustrating is that we've had problems this year
with some of our better players…
Maybe there’s a curse, maybe not. in any case, let’s find something positive here (I’m sure there must something positive, we can’t be hearing only bad news all the time):
1) Weems will be working his * off during the next game (if they let him play), trying to redeem himself. And this is the game where he might be one of the most important targets in our passing game, and in giving us good field position on kickoffs.
Let’s give him benefit of doubt – this might be just one incident from which he learns. Second incident like that, and we could talk about cutting him.
2) It sounds almost as inevitable that the league or the team will suspend him for some time. if that’s true, like Zippo mentioned, we’ll get a chance to see if Bergeron is a Miles Austin. and if the suspension is for the next season’s games, we’d have HD back.
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
really?
after everything else we have another player who doesnt have his head on straight. This guy has everything in front of him and then pulls this bone head move. im at a loss.
Life is a garden. Dig it!
by Hardcore Falcon on Dec 17, 2009 7:56 AM EST reply actions
Agreed!
I agree with Gemi-RU! This could help this week because Weems has to know he is on the hot seat… He deserves the benefit of the doubt but we don’t need distractions like this on our team. They are all human but have been pampered and given breaks all their lives. There’s no curse just bad judgment by people who feel entitled in life. If this isn’t his first charge for DUI the whole situation is different. Bergeron play high school ball here in Columbus, GA. He has slot of heart and hopefully he will take advantage of this situation. He has pass catching skills and he just needs a chance. We will see!
by Gjmoody on Dec 17, 2009 8:17 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Terrible news...
No denying this was a bad move on Weems’ part. However, I’m of the opinion that he should be given a second chance. While DUI is a terrible thing to do, it’s also incredibly easy to do. I think this is an experience that will teach Weems a valuable lesson, and I think he deserves a second chance.
All that said, I do wonder why this is just coming out now. The DUI offense was one thing, but withholding that from his team? He should have come clean right away. Also, if his agent knew about this, he should have told him to come clean. That might be the biggest issue here.
DUI - technical question
To be charged with DUI in the US – do you have to have ANY alcohol in your blood or is there any threshold?
But returning to the issue with these arrests, I am just wondering what are the odds that there are other people on the team doing something like that (DUI, smoking pot in a car with expired tag, etc.). I mean it’s scary when you think that these were two players who only GOT CAUGHT. After all, you can exceed the speed limit and not get caught, right? I am really hoping the morale in this team is still very high and they don’t make dumb decisions off the field.
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
Threshold
Statutorily set, varies state to state. GA’s is .08%
Maybe there is no Heaven. Or maybe this is all pure gibberish — a product of the demented imagination of a lazy drunken hillbilly with a heart full of hate who has found a way to live out where the real winds blow — to sleep late, have fun, get wild, drink whisky, and drive fast on empty streets with nothing in mind except falling in love and not getting arrested...Res ipsa loquitur. Let the good times roll.
by iRonin on Dec 17, 2009 10:11 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
well, then it could be anything
from drinking a can of beer and being only technically “drunk” to be actually drunk. but something tells me he must have been visibly drunk if they asked him to take blood tests.
in any case, this is just plain stupid (and I mean DUI and not him lying to the team), but it already happened. but like I said here before, there are people in this world who do stupid things but then make up for everything when they’re given a second chance.
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
I'm no expert
But I don’t think it’s possible to get drunk from “drinking a can of beer”. This BAC Calculator site says it would take at least 4 “drinks” to get a .08 at his weight (he’s listed at 191).
And I’d say technically drunk = actually drunk, at least when it comes to driving (IMO).
"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein
"Drunk" is subjective.
They adopted the .08% rule (or whatever, depending on the state) to eliminate subjectivity. .08% is “over the limit” and therefore subject to whatever penalty the law mandates.
I think this is a mistake by a man. There are legal ramifications. Give him whatever sanction the league has in their bylaws, let him serve whatever penalty the state mandates, and let him move on.
2nd offense is a completely different matter.
How many more days, Lord, must I walk through the wilderness?
GO FALCONS!!!
How is anybody surprised by this stuff?
I mean, the NFL in general, and the Falcons specifically have always had a preponderance of thugs. Men spoiled and coddled, cheered and excused because of their prowess on the football field. Many of them attended college only because of their athletic ability. Not because of their intelligence. So why is anyone surprised when they make poor decisions? If their athletic ability has always outpaced their intelligence, then wouldn’t it follow that revelations of poor choices be nearly as prevalent as physical injury?
I speak in generalities, obviously. A great many NFL players are intelligent, moral, hard-working men and role models. A great many aren’t. It doesn’t really matter to me either way. If Babs hits the quarterback as hard as he hit that blunt, then I’ll cheer. If I wanted to watch a sport known for role models, there’s always golf. Oh, wait… If Weems can catch the ball and run with it, he doesn’t bother me more than any other drunk out on the roads. They didn’t hurt anybody, but Weems should learn to call a cab. Vick abused dogs and he’ll pay for it when he meets Cerberus at the gates of hell.
I think you make a fair point
Like any other profession, there’s a fair number of malcontents, miscreants and simple idiots playing in the NFL. I guess part of being a fan is that you suspend your disbelief for many things, so incidents like this manage to surprise me every time regardless.
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by Dave Choate on Dec 17, 2009 12:04 PM EST up reply actions
great point
I guess what surprises people in incidents like that is the fact that when a player acts smart on the field, we tend to generalize that to real life
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
The problem is, it's the GOOD ones.
If McElby Shwabledun did this, who cares (from a team standpoint). I LIKE Eric Weems. The putz.
How many more days, Lord, must I walk through the wilderness?
GO FALCONS!!!
I don't want to see a statement release ...
Talk to the kids. If they’re contrite, then suspend them for blank amt of time, then move on.
Reporter: How will you address all of the dropped passes?
Mike Smith: I don’t think that we were as sharp as we have been catching the football. It’s something that is very fixable. It’s VERY fixable.
Shaking my Head
Can’t believe, I’m even thinking this, muchless saying it! Thank God only three more games remain in this season. I’m scarred of whats to come. Maybe the aints have done some whodo voodoo on us!
I'm an old man, that's had to much wine!
I knew JA98 looked like Ludacris
But Weems is a dead ringer for T.I. in the mugshot
It's the Consecutive Monkey.
That’s him in my picture. He kinda looks lika a Van Note bobble head.
Sigh. So much promise, so little delivery. Next year we’ll have a draft class who plays. This year we have the the pride that comes from…gimme a minute. I’m really very sad.
How many more days, Lord, must I walk through the wilderness?
GO FALCONS!!!
Poor, evil monkey
No creature should have to go through life looking like Jeff Van Note!
Tough year to be a Falcons fan, but it’s probably not as bad as it feels right now. Many people were pretty leery of our prospects 6 months ago, considering the schedule and the rebuilding D. When you factor in all the injuries and our lack of depth, things could easily have gone much worse this year, record-wise.
You'd think
After watching Dante Stallworth’s incident (in which he wasn’t at fault, in my opinion) you’d think players would be smarter about stuff like this.
However, I’d like to echo AOB in saying that if this happens a second time, I’d bring the hammer down. He didn’t hurt anybody, he was just pulled. If he’d harmed a hair on a kitten that night, so to speak, then I’d drop the hammer.
Teach the kid a lesson, don’t get me wrong, but don’t bring all the hammers down. Maybe I worded that wrong.
"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, time on his side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham
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