| 09 July 2010
Updated 7-10-10: As reported by the Detroit News, Lewand admitted he has spoken to the NFL Commissioner, and expects to be disciplined per the NFL personal code of conduct.
Lewand also said he has spoken to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell but has not received a punishment. He does, however, expect one.
"I understand very clearly that the personal conduct policy of the NFL applies to everybody, myself included," he said. "I have complete trust in the commissioner that his judgment will be appropriate and we'll move on to those next steps."
As I said in the main portion of this post, this story is not over. Lewand is going to get slapped with a hefty fine and suspension, it's just going to be a matter of how much and how long.
Even if Old Man Ford goes to bat for him, Lewand has to receive some sort of punishment. Goodell absolutely must show team executives are going to be held to the same standards of conduct as the players.
Original post: Detroit Lions President Tom Lewand got off easy for his DUI, thanks to Roscommon County Prosecutor Mark Jernigan cutting him a deal today.
As law breakers have done for time memoriam, Tom Lewand copped a plea.
After a brief conference with Judge Daniel L. Sutton and Roscommon County Prosecutor Mark Jernigan in 83rd District Court, Lewand's attorney, Todd Flood, told the judge Lewand wished to stand mute on the charges and had reached a plea agreement with the prosecutor. Jernigan said the agreement included dismissing a charge of refusing to take a PBT (breath test).
So what was Lewand's sentence? He's not breaking rocks in Sing Sing, that's for sure...
Sutton sentenced Lewand to six months' probation and to pay a $532 fine or serve 60 days in Roscommon County Jail. Lewand's fine and court costs totaled $870. His probation requires that he submit to a PBT at the request of any police officer, that he consume no alcohol and that he enroll in an intense outpatient program.
Lewand was visibly drunk, lied to the arresting officer about drinking, twice refused to take a breathalyser test, and when he finally did submit to the breathalyzer, he blew well over the legal limit of .08 with a .21.
That's IMPARED driving? No, that's HAMMERED driving.
Tom Lewand is breathing easy...for the moment
I realize Lewand isn't a hardened criminal, just a first offender. But to get off so lightly after blowing more than twice the legal limit? That makes Lewand a lucky man. Lucky in that he has the cash to pay for a good lawyer, can afford to pay the fines, and in dealing with a prosecutor who probably wanted to get this high profile case off his desk ASAP, with as little professional stink as possible.
Legally, Leward is now breathing easy. Professionally, I'm sure he's still holding his breath.
I have a feeling NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will drop the suspension hammer on Lewand with the fury of the gods. The commish has suspended players for just being in "bad" situations, even if no charges were filed. If Goodell doesn't send Lewand packing for a several weeks, he'll have one pissed off player's union on his hands.
Which I why I think Goodell will make Lewand an example to the rest of the league's front offices.
This story is not over, by any means.
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