The investigation into the hit-and-run incident involving the vehicle owned by Bills running back Marshawn Lynch has official gone from “unusual” to “downright freaking bizarre.”
According to the Buffalo News, Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark expects to subpoena three Bills players, three team officials, and chief operating officer Russ Brandon.
And Ralph Wilson. Yeah, that Ralph Wilson. The nearly-ninety-year-old owner of the team.
The players to be subpoenaed are rookie wide receivers James Hardy and Steve Johnson, and second-year offensive lineman Christian Gaddis.
So what does Wilson know about an automobile accident that occurred in the wee hours of May 31? Nothing, directly. But assuming that at some point in the past two weeks Wilson or some other team official has asked Lynch point blank whether Lynch was driving the car and Lynch told Wilson or some other team official that he was, such statements could be used against Lynch in court.
Though some might think that such a statement would not be admitted because it is hearsay, the reality is that anything a party to a civil or criminal action says out of court can be introduced against the party at trial. The thinking is that, if the person putting words in the party’s mouth is wrong, the party can get on the witness stand and say, “That’s not what I said.”
Still, the notion of nonagenarian being grilled before a jury about something that Lynch did or didn’t do is as strange as anything we’ve ever heard in all our years of following the NFL.
Meanwhile, here’s a PFTV segment on the issue.
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June 12th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
call up pacman, he’ll know how to fix this.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
June 12th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Smart move. Lynch’s actions, or non-actions as is the case, resulted in these subpoenas. Maybe the Bills’ organization will finally put pressure on him to talk. C’mon, Marshawn. Man up.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
June 12th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
If anyone of those people — including dear old Mr. Wilson — helped Lynch cover up the crime, they could be accomplices. Pure speculation. of course. On the other hand, subpoening all those folks could just be the DA getting irked that no on will talk.
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Rating: 4.6 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
June 12th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
“ROADHOGS!” ~Mr. Magoo
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
June 12th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
It’s also not hearsay because it is an admission…the thinking being that someone wouldn’t admit to something if it wasn’t true.
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June 12th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Florio… you got a hair cut.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 12th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Constitutional rights = “legal loopholes?”
Also, I love how that one guy has pen and paper at hand just like in a real grown-up newsroom.
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June 12th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
You said ‘poenaed’ . . .
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 12th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Buffalo is a desolate place lately… they are lucky to have a franchise based on population numbers alone; Lynch should be given a free pass on this, the DA should back off.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
June 12th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Ha! Love it. His attorneys strategy is backfiring on Lynch. Can’t wait to see how this plays out.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
June 12th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
perhaps the DA has stock in the Argonauts?
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June 12th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
lynch = image problem for nfl
and those are bad for bidness.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
June 12th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
i can not believe ml would take it that far. mr wilson should cut his ass for not manning up and getting ralph caught up in this. that is crap. what a puss!
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 12th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
You old ladies love to piss yourselves over this stuff meanwhile no one but you old biddies really cares…
Pro Football Talk has decided to change the name of the site to better fit it’s mission. Please choose one of the following:
A. pro football shade tree DA’s
B. pro football moral turpitude and vigilance committee
C. pro football little old biddy committee
D. Due Process is a Scourge dot com
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
June 12th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
The woman who was injured has rights. The citizens of the state of New York and the city of Buffalo have rights. Marshawn Lynch has rights. These rights are derived from the Constitution or state law.
The “NFL” or Roger Goodell should not affect these rights.
By the way, how come when Kobe Bryant was mentioned on this website there was no mention of the crime he was charged with? It only seems fair that all charges — even if they have been resolved — should always be brought up over and over again.
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June 13th, 2008 at 1:21 am
Well the good news for Lynch is that if he did admit anything to Ralph Wilson he probably forgot what Lynch said by now… “Is it Monday?”
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 13th, 2008 at 2:22 am
The Bills need to clean up their act. Looks like they tool the Marvin Lewis approach of drafting guys with character issues. Excellent work Ralph Wilson. Any decade now, your Bills will be the talk of the AFC again.
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June 13th, 2008 at 2:27 am
Toronto fans smile as the Buffalo DA and Police continue to try to drive the team out of Buffalo. Could it be that the Canadian interests are bribing the DA and the Police, or is it merely their incompetence? In either case, their ongoing campaign of harassment would never occur with ordinary citizens, not given the facts of this case. Accordingly, something else (bribes?) must be causing their actions. Say goodbye to the Bills Buffalo fans, the DA and Police will drive your team away.
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June 13th, 2008 at 2:40 am
The fact is, the cops can arrest him and bring him in for questioning and hold him for however long that state allows. That means cuffing and stuffing (Goot goot Geeewww) Then he can get Due Process. (I.e. Finger printing and mugshot) If he does not want to talk, then fine. They have evidence and witnesses. I doubt his lack of cooperation will show the judge any remorse and judges don’t like that very much. Good luck with this strategy. Vick could get Marvin (If the Detroit cops aren’t to skeered to carge him), and Lynch. Those are some nice jail bird triplets. All they need is for the rules on passing to be a little more lenient and allow one hoppers.
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June 13th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Maybe there should be some restraint before Marshawn is mentioned in the same breath as Vick, and the Cincinnati Bengals. His attorney has made all of the calls in this situation. Frank Clark is a bulldog, and he loves publicity. Right now, Marshawn would probably like to get this over and done with but his attorney keeps giving him bad advice. Maybe it’s good advice. I don’t actually know. But he bumped someone at one of the drunkest intersections in Buffalo, at one of the drunkest hours, and had he been, say, a lawyer instead of a recognizable figure in a recognizable automobile, there would be no investigation and no one would care. I think we all like to feel a little superior so we pass judgement because we are so far removed from the situation that it’s a safe place. Here we are, standing on top of mount olympus looking down at all of the undeserved millionaire hoodlums. It’s a nice break from our otherwise irrelevant lives.
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June 13th, 2008 at 8:55 am
this is nothing more than lawyers lawyering.
this is how the process works.
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June 13th, 2008 at 9:23 am
An updated classic: “Marshawn the Menace”. Still causing headaches for poor old Mister Wilson! GRRRRRREAT SCOTT!!!
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June 13th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Marshawn Lynch was overheard saying “If you don’t like the way I drive, stay off the sidewalk!”
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June 13th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Marshawn isn’t helping himself or the team by using the silent routine however I blame his so called attny for this mess. Yes he has 5th amendment rights but there comes a time when you have to man up and admit your mistake which is all the police are really asking for. It’s not like lawyers never give bad advice to their clients and this one is definately screwing Lynch with his advice.
The one caveat I offer is that it is true the the Bflo DA went to the Mike Nifong school of law and he does have a rep for being overzealous in pursuing rich or famous people which I’m sure is a factor in Lynch’s silence.
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June 13th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
This was just reported on WGN in Bflo: When the police asked to speak to Russ Brandon the new GM they were told to talk to the Bill’s corporate attorney. They reportedly stormed out of the office at that point and now the DA has flames shooting out of his eyeballs he is so mad. I think everyone at One Bills Drive has lost their mind. They are turning a somewhat minor traffic accident into a major confrontation for no reason.
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