Cedric Benson                                                      Michael Boley

NBC5.com                                                              ajc.com

In what could be considered the unofficial start of the season this past weekend, excitement and action was abound. Unfortunately, none of it was on the field.

• Marvin Harrison is involved in some way shape or form in a shooting near his Philadelphia bar. Story.
  
• Cedric Benson is arrested in Austin, TX for boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest. Story .
  
• Michael Boley, Falcons LB, is arrested for battery. Story.
  
• Redskins second round pick TE Fred Davis slept through mini-camp practice on his third day in the league. Story.
  

The first three are obviously more serious, but they all get filed under the larger heading of "head-up-your-ass"ery. Fred Davis sleeping through practice is not illegal, but dude c'mon, Really? This is one of the most important times of your life and you are getting the opportunity that thousands of other people would kill for and you aren't setting your alarm clock? As far as the other cases are concerned, even if they are all innocent, which they are at this point, they still shouldn't be putting themselves in these situations. Their lives are too good to be risking it all on questionable behavior. I will try and spare you from the "these guys make too much money to be doing this kind of stuff" speech as well as the good ol' "these men are role models" rhetoric. But seriously, these guys are role models and make too much money to be doing stupid crap like this. Sorry. I tried.

Not even into training camp yet and it seems a wonderful tone has been set league wide. I hope this isn't just the tip of the iceberg for 2008. Otherwise the Bengals better start thinking about recruiting fans. Am I jumping the gun here? I mean, doesn't it seem like this kind of stuff is happening more and more? And not just to the Bengals. Marvin Harrison? That is the last person I would have expected to be talking about in this manner. Yet every year the talk becomes more and more about players personal and social errs than their on field achievments. Judging by this last weekend, it seems we are on par to continue that tradition in 2008.

Any opinions?