Is Darron Thomas Still a Leader?

Darron Thomas is a leader because he has the support of his coach, Chip Kelly and every player and personnel on that Ducks team. Who are we to say he is not? Do we put on pads and step onto that field and play? Are we there behind the scenes to actually know these athletes and their values, background, and character, and can evaluate this accordingly? We are all flawed, and to sit there and judge and hold that gavel is a position that you are not in.

Last night on The Daily Wrap with Jay Allen at 750AM The Game, there was a lot of discussion in the studio on Darron Thomas's leadership capability and Cliff Harris's lack of being a role model after the traffic stop incident that is now public, and puts star quarterback Darron Thomas in the passenger seat. 

The video and audio implies usage of marijuana and of course the initial 118 mph speed for reckless driving in addition to driving with a suspended license. Chip Kelly went on to say, that he has known all along about the details of the early morning drama on June 12th, and Darron Thomas with no doubt is still the leader of this Duck football team.

After listening to opinions galore arguing both sides of how they should be held accountable, held to a higher standard of behavior, and should just know better, it brought me to this thought. Can you remember the last politician or bank CEO or yet even better, a President that didn't make a mistake by using poor judgment and the end result making a horrible decision?

And these are the same people who run this nation as a whole and have the biggest effect, who have the ability to put our service men and women in the line of fire, and put lives at risk. And can crumble the economy in a matter of minutes.

These athletes are just that athletes, they play a sport for recreation and entertainment. By no means what they do should affect the lives of our youth or adults, because we should know better than to look up to an athlete as a role model. Did everyone forget Charles Barkley's Nike commercial, "I am not a role model?" There is so much truth and realism in that simple statement, that we should all reevaluate this last incident on these retrospect’s, and ask ourselves again, how does this in any way affect me as a person. It shouldn't!

For parents, that don't want your child to wear Cliff Harris's jersey or watch a Ducks game because of these mistakes, then you are missing the chance to teach your kid a life lesson. Sit your child down and tell them, because they will hear versions of the story some way or another, that he made a grown up mistake just like they made a ‘kid’ mistake by getting in trouble at school for hitting your classmate.

We all make mistakes and it's important you learn from them, some do and some don't, but the smart kids and grownups do. If they don't, it doesn't make them a bad person, they just aren't as smart as the others.

I’m going to end with this, what is a leader? The definition: one that leads or guides, one who is in charge or in command of others, one who has influence of power, that is in its entirety is Darron Thomas.