NFL Nice Guys: Why Braylon Edwards Is a Model Citizen

New York Jets receiver Braylon Edwards just can't seem to catch a break.

Edwards was arrested and charged with drunken driving after a traffic stop early Tuesday morning, which continues a long saga of the former Michigan Wolverine constantly being picked on by law officials, teammates, coaches, and others.

Why can't we all just leave the poor guy alone?  He's an NFL star for goodness sakes and deserves all the special treatment that comes along with it.

So lighten up people, these are the top people who need to given Braylon a break.

Cleveland Browns Fans

Edwards was a star wide receiver at the University of Michigan before becoming the No. 3 overall pick in the 2005 draft by the Cleveland Browns.

After enjoying a Pro Bowl 2007 season in which he caught 16 touchdown passes, Braylon along with the rest of the Browns struggled coming out of the gate in 2008.

While the rest of the Browns kept quiet and began working harder, Edwards was obviously the only man big enough to call out those annoying fans who kept cheering him in previous years.

"It is what it is...I've learned since being here that I'm very unappreciated. Not by the organization, just in the eyes of the fans and the city. Since Day One, I've been a marked man coming from Michigan. It's just gone that way."

Some would say it had something to do with the 16 dropped passes he had, which were the most of any wide receiver in the entire NFL. 

But what do those crazy Cleveland fans know?

Rich Rodriguez

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ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 24: Head Coach Rich Rodriguez of the Michigan Wolverines looks on while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 24, 2009 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Penn State won the game 35-10. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/

Two years ago on Mike Tirico's radio show, Braylon voiced his displeasure with Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez.  Apparently coach Rod had the nerve to give someone other than a wide receiver the immortal No. 1 jersey, and B-ed was none too happy.

“I’m glad you gave me a Go Blue question because Rich Rod gave the No. 1 jersey to an incoming freshman DB, and the No. 1 jersey has never been worn by anybody outside of a wide receiver,” Edwards said. “It dates back to Anthony Carter, (Greg) McMurtry, Tyrone Butterfield, Derrick Alexander, David Terrell, and yours truly. So I’m going to have a talk with him about that the next time I see him.”

Maybe Coach Rod was just more concerned with reviving a storied national program, recruiting prospects nationwide and adjusting to life in a new state than with what number Braylon Edwards used to wear years ago. 

Shame on him.

LeBron James

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NEW YORK - AUGUST 10: Lebron James holds his custom-made Dora The Explorer backpack. Nickelodeon unveiled 12 custom-made backpacks today in the world-famous windows of Macy�s Herald Square in New York City. The backpacks were personally designed and sign

Braylon sure knows how to pick his battles.

As you may recall last October, Edwards was surprisingly out at a club, maybe a little tipsy, and just decided to pick a fight.

Nothing wrong with that right? According to a police incident report, an unidentified man was accused of punching Edward Givens face, following an argument at approximately 2:30 a.m. Givens, who is listed as 5-foot-7, 135 pounds on the report, said the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Edwards hit him with a closed fist. He told police he suffered a black eye and cut and was treated at a hospital.

This might not have been as big of a deal, except for when a friend of Givens got involved.

"I've never crossed paths with Braylon before, but it seems like there's a little jealousy going on with Braylon and me and my friends. I have no idea why," a protective and perturbed LeBron James said after practice. "I've never said anything to Braylon at all. But for him to do that is very childish. My friend is 130 pounds. Seriously. It's like hitting one of my kids. It doesn't make sense."

Hey LeBron, maybe Braylon just wanted to pick on somebody his own size.  Maturity-wise, that is.

Municipal Judge Michelle Early

In January 2010 after the nightclub incident, Braylon had to waste his talent-filled body standing in front of Cleveland Municipal Judge Michelle Early.  Her message to him was boring, and obviously not worth listening to.

"Someone who has as much to lose as you should not be standing in front of me," Early said when placing Edwards on probation in January 2010, after he pleaded no contest to aggravated assault.  "Situations like this are senseless.  You have to make better choices."

Ironic now that Judge Early now gets to decide whether Edwards indeed violated the terms of his probation by being arrested for DUI in New York.

Common, give him a break Judge!

Michael Phelps

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IRVINE, CA - AUGUST 20: Michael Phelps stands during the national anthem during awards ceremonies after winning the men's 100m butterfly during the Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center on August 20, 2010 in

Before the 2008 season Edwards publicly made a bet with Michael Phelps that he would catch twice as many touchdown passes as Phelps would win gold medals.

For those of you counting, Phelps won a record eight golds, meaning Braylon would have to haul in 16 touchdown passes, the same as he had done the previous year. 

Sixteen seemed far too easy of a number for the mighty Braylon, so he upped the ante, announcing he would catch 17 scores.

Something got lost in the translation, however, as Edwards only ended up with three touchdown receptions, but did boast a very impressive 16 dropped passes.

Looking back that's obviously what he really meant, probably some dumb reporters fault for misquoting him, no doubt.

Kimbo Slice

Kimbo, Braylon isn't stealing your facial hair, he's merely borrowing your image because he knows the publicity he receives in New York will no doubt translate to more attention, and publicity for you!

Braylon Edwards, always thinking of others.

NFL Referees

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INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 24: Wide receiver Braylon Edwards #17 of the New York Jets celebrates in the endzone after catching an 80-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts during the AFC Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadiu

Taunting, celebrating your out-of-this-world talents, what's the difference?

Edwards continues to be picked on by referees, receiving yet another taunting penalty in a win over the Patriots.

What's wrong with showing up your opponent, costing your team yardage and making a fool out of yourself all in the name of good fun?

NYPD

On the morning of September 21st, Edwards was pulled over on the west side of Manhattan around 5:15 a.m., with NYPD officers noticing a strong smell of alcohol coming from the car.

Edwards was given a breath test at the scene and another at a police station. His blood alcohol level was .16, twice the legal limit, officials said. There were four other people in the SUV at the time.

Sure this looks bad on paper, but let's take a second to assume what really happened.

Since it was around five in the morning, the workaholic Edwards was obviously up early to begin preparing for the Dolphins on Sunday night. Also, since he had four people in his car, Braylon was demonstrating his love for the environment by saving his friends from driving, thus saving gas, and eliminating pollution from their cars.

It is also likely that no one ever told Edwards what the "legal limit" was in New York, so it's not his fault that he may have been a teensy bit over.

Just another classic case of world class citizen Braylon Edwards not being able to catch a pa-, I mean, break.