The NFL’s transaction wire will show that the Lions terminated Berry’s contract Monday morning, but Berry is the person responsible for his departure. Berry’s personal misbehavior -- two arrests in a span of a month -- left the Lions with no choice but to cut him and move on.
Lions management did the right thing here, and it might not have been the easiest thing. in terms of its roster. Berry had the inside track on starting at cornerback, a position that has been a weak link on the defense.
In practical terms -- what’s good for the franchise in the long run, and the message it sends -- strong, decisive action was an absolute necessity, with no wiggle room. The string of offseason arrests by players was wrecking the franchise’s image and portraying the Lions as a group of undisciplined renegades.
The statement released by Lions President Tom Lewand regarding Berry was direct and should be heeded by every member of the organization. It read as follows:
“We have repeatedly stressed to everyone in our organization that there will be appropriate consequences when an expected standard of behavior is not upheld.”
In the same release from the Lions, General Manager Martin Mayhew also announced that Berry was terminated because of “personal conduct which adversely affects the club.”
The key phrases are clear: “appropriate consequences” and “adversely affects the club.” In other words, continue to get in trouble with the law, embarrass the franchise and you’re gone.
There has been plenty of embarrassment for the franchise. Berry’s arrest was the seventh by a Lions player this offseason and his second in a span of a month.
If there was any question about how much more Lions management would tolerate, Berry provided the answer: none. There has to be accountability for personal behavior off the field. Previously, running back
What made Berry’s arrests more egregious -- and, ultimately, costing him his job -- was the timing and the nature.
His first arrest was in late June, also in Harrisburg, and only nine days after the end of mini-camp. Berry was arrested on a DUI and other charges related to the incident. Throughout minicamp, Coach Jim Schwartz answered questions from the media about player behavior and what was expected going forward. Berry apparently never got the message, or didn’t care.
Berry’s second arrest Saturday came in an incident in which he allegedly brandished a firearm from inside a vehicle, according to police reports.
There will be some who question whether the Lions are being fair to Berry by cutting him when they didn’t do the same to Fairley, Leshoure or Culbreath.
That’s a fair question. For me, a fair answer is that the line has to be drawn somewhere. In that regard, a player shouldn’t concern himself with the last guy. Just don’t be the next one.
