Though it presumably won’t disintegrate into a Kent St.-style confrontation, a potentially nasty encounter could be on the horizon on Thursday when police arrive at Ralph Wilson Stadium to attempt to question three Bills players who apparently were riding with running back Marshawn Lynch when he played free-range bumper cars with a female pedestrian on May 31.

According to the Buffalo News, police officer Allan Kasprzak will show up at the stadium on Thursday afternoon to question the trio of teammates.   The players have not been identified.

“I expect [Bills players] to be cooperative and truthful,” Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark said.  “If I get any indication that they are anything less than cooperative and truthful, I will go to the grand jury, which will compel them to testify.”

Before the grand jury, the players would be forced to talk — unless there’s a plausible basis for invoking the fifth amendment protections against self-incrimination.

“If a witness lies to a police officer, that’s one thing.  If they lie to a grand jury, that’s a criminal offense,” one official close to the case told the Buffalo News.  “If the witnesses in this case don’t start to cooperate, the [grand jury] subpoenas are coming out.”

(Actually, if a witness lies to a police officer, it’s a criminal offense as well, in most jurisdictions that value concepts like, you know, law and/or order.)

To make the matter even more ridiculous, Lynch’s attorney now claims that his client has been cooperative with the investigation.

“I’ve had two conferences with the district attorney’s office and several phone calls with the Buffalo police,” Michael P. Caffery said.  “As far as I’m concerned, we’ve cooperated.”  

Dude, your client has refused to talk.  How in the hell is that cooperation?

We’ll do more of our own talking about this situation in the slew of PFTV segments we’ll be shooting later today.  While we’re on that subject, let us know if there are any other specific issues you’d like to see PFTV address this week.