On the one hand, Shirley was a good value: a space-clogging Vince Wilfork type at a four-round discount. On the other hand, if the Bengals were intent on ending their reign as the arrest kings of the NFL, Shirley was exactly the guy they had to leave off their board. Not making it through your pre-draft collegiate season due to multiple suspensions and dismissals is a massive red flag. But the Bengals blew off their concerns, picked him, and then infuriated the karma gods by re-signing Chris Henry later in the summer.
Now Shirley is back in the news again for blowing off his court appearance on the DUI charge, forcing the Fresno judge to issue a bench warrant. It seems that Shirley and his lawyer have been trying to run out the clock, delaying the second trial (the first trial, on DUI and hit-and-run charges, resulted in a hung jury over the summer) by arguing that Shirley’s lawyer had not yet received a court transcript of the first trial. “I am unprepared to go to trial,” the lawyer told the judge.
Fifteen points for the failure-to-appear, another five for sartorial court cluelessness.
When he's not googling "Thunder crap" and "Fresno no-no," Matt Taibbi writes for Rolling Stone. He can be reached atm_taibbi@yahoo.com.
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