Nick Fairley has heard from both his coach and the guy who pays his check about how disappointed they are with the defensive tackle for his two arrests this offseason.
According to Fairley’s agent, the message is getting through to his client. Brian Overstreet told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press that Fairley has been humbled -- he’ll likely have a suspension to provide a bit more humbling this season -- by arrests for marijuana possession and DUI.
“He’s learned from this,” Overstreet said. “That won’t happen again, but that’s one of those things you just don’t say, you just kind of let your play and your behavior kind of speak for itself. I would say it, but I would tell him not to say it. Just show it. Just show who you are.”
Overstreet is right that it doesn’t matter whether or not Fairley says anything about this not happening again. He needs to prove to the Lions and the rest of the league that this offseason has been an aberration in order to take the tarnish off his reputation.
Birkett digs into Fairley’s past by speaking to neighbors and high school teammates to see if this is out of step for Fairley. It’s an interesting read, but ultimately doesn’t provide any substantive answer to the question. That will come from Fairley over the next few years.