Antonio Brown should not be suspended

What do the New England Patriots and Donald Trump have in common?

Both make people angry because they win.

Some disagree with the president’s policies, and others dislike his brash personality. But most of all, there is an aversion to Mr. Trump because of his improbable win and penchant for coming out on top. Likewise, the Patriots, being not just a dynasty, but the most successful NFL team in history, evoke intense jealousy throughout the country.

Perhaps that is why the Patriots are being hammered so unfairly for not suspending newly acquired wide receiver Antonio Brown over civil allegations against him. Those criticizing the Pats and the NFL either don’t realize, or don’t care, that what they advocate further erodes the principle of innocent until proven guilty.

That this issue merits a column is telling. It should be a non-starter, but the fact that the Brown “case” continues to build steam and garner salacious headlines mandates a response.

At issue is the criticism that Mr. Brown wasn’t suspended last week – by either the NFL or the Patriots – and, in fact, played. Why? Because he has a civil lawsuit pending against him.

That bears repeating. Because an NFL player faces a civil case winding its way through the courts, many are clamoring for him to be suspended. That’s insane. Yes, the lawsuit alleges sexual assault and rape. But that doesn’t change the fact that the case is civil.

There is no police investigation, and there is no criminal prosecution in the works.

The victim, a former trainer to Mr. Brown who claims to have been assaulted on three occasions, is seeking financial compensation. Fine. That’s her right. Why she chose not to press criminal charges is her business, but the bottom line is that she did not pursue prosecution. Mr. Brown’s lawyer claims they were in a “consensual personal relationship, (and) any sexual interaction with Mr. Brown was entirely consensual.” It is a classic “he-said, she-said,” and no judgments can, or should, be made until more facts come to light. That’s why God made courts.

Par for the course, the floodgates have opened against Brown, as every day more negative stories emerge – mostly unrelated to the civil matter – about Brown’s personal life. He is arrogant. He doesn’t pay his bills. And – no joke – that he exhibited excessive flatulence at his doctor’s office after showing up late for an appointment – and laughing about it. You can’t make that up.

The massive tide of intolerance sweeping America has a consistent pattern: make accusations no matter how baseless, or how long ago something allegedly occurred; demonize anyone who dares defend the innocent; publish irrelevant stories that serve only to “pile-on” – damage to reputations be damned; and cast swift judgments bereft of facts. And when the innocent turn out to be just that, issue no apologies while chalking up the victim as “collateral damage” in the war against freedom.

Antonio Brown, while disliked on a personal level by many because of his antics, is just the latest in a long string of victims:

• Alex Rodriquez: suspended for steroid use despite never failing a drug test.

• Tom Brady: four-game suspension for his unproven role in “Deflate-gate,” with the NFL justifying its punishment by stating that it was “more probable than not” that Brady was aware of underinflated footballs.

• Members of Duke University’s men’s lacrosse team accused of rape in 2006, an accusation proven to have been completely fabricated. Before being exonerated, the players were demonized on campus and in the media, and suspended from school. The race to inject “race” led many to pronounce guilt without facts, including the district attorney, who withholding evidence.

This issue isn’t about the NFL, and it’s not about sports. It is about the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and about protecting the reputations, livelihoods, families, and legacies of everyone accused of wrongdoing – criminally and civilly – before the facts are known.

We are better than that, and must rise above personal feelings and hearsay, resisting the urge to condemn without merit. Otherwise, America’s “rights” will soon have nothing unique about them.

Be it Antonio Brown or the average Joe, doing so should always be out of bounds.