KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The situation is complex and the decision probably not easy for the Kansas City Chiefs, but they made the right move in allowing wide receiver Dwayne Bowe to play in Sunday night’s game against the Broncos in Denver.
Bowe was arrested in nearby Riverside, Mo., last weekend on speeding and possession of a controlled substance charges. The controlled substance, police said, was marijuana. If convicted, Bowe will eventually pay for his crimes through an NFL suspension via the league’s substance-abuse policy plus whatever punishment the legal system hands out.
Punish him now and sit him out for what is so far the Chiefs' biggest game of the season, too? That’s an option and not necessarily a bad one. The Chiefs would serve their community well by making a strong and swift declaration that they won’t tolerate crimes such as the ones allegedly committed by one of their most high-profile players.
Ultimately, justice might be better served by waiting until such a time as Bowe is convicted, if it comes. Though the facts as stated by the Riverside City Police Department seem to be clear in this instance, let’s make sure Bowe is guilty before sentencing him. That’s one of the great things about our country, right? Innocent until proven guilty.
Let’s hope the Chiefs didn’t make this decision based on football and the importance of Sunday night’s game. That shouldn’t be a consideration.
But if they did consider Sunday night’s game, it’s not inconceivable the Chiefs made the wrong decision. Given the way Bowe is playing this season, backup Junior Hemingway might be a better option.