It’s been a bad year for Steelers kicker Jeff Reed.
Sure, he won another Super Bowl ring. But Reed has had two brushes with the law since early February.
First, he was charged with beating up a paper-towel dispenser at a convenience store. Now, he has been cited for public intoxication.
The folks at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette are quick to point out that it’s only a “citation,” which suggests that it’s like a parking ticket.
Still, it’s an incident that could get him in trouble with the league -- and that might get him eventually in trouble with the Steelers. Typically, the organization makes examples out of the slappies who get in trouble with the law, and it makes excuses for the good players who find themselves in legal hot water.
Reed falls into a vague in-between category. He’s an established player at a fungible position. They might keep him for now, but if he blows another big kick, it might be time for a Gong Show tryout aimed at finding a possible replacement.