The lockout has given players and coaches plenty of time to do plenty of other things. For Titans coach Mike Munchak, the lack of offseason workouts has allowed him to return home in order to support a family member facing serious federal criminal charges.
Munchak flew from Nashville to Pennsylvania on Tuesday to attend on Wednesday the trial of his uncle, Lackawanna County Commissioner A.J. Munchak. He was indicted last year, along with fellow Lackawanna County Commissioner Robert C. Cordaro, on federal corruption charges arising from the alleged misuse of campaign contributions and other allegations, including mail fraud, wire fraud, bribery, theft, extortion, racketeering, filing a false tax return, tax evasion, and money laundering.
“We’ve always had a very close relationship,” Mike Munchak, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and first-year NFL head coach, told the Scranton Times-Tribune. “And he’s been a part of my life in every phase of it, so I wanted to take this opportunity to come in and support him.”
A.J. Munchak testified in his own defense on Wednesday.
“I think people will see his honesty and integrity,” Mike Munchak said of his uncle. “His family’s here; we support him. I know it’s a tough deal when you have to wait to say what really happened, so I think he’s coming across really well. I’m happy for him, I’m happy with the way he’s handled himself through all this. We all know in the end it will come out the way it should. . . .
“I was very proud how he sat there and told the truth and told what he’s been through. And I think in the end, it’ll be pretty obvious he didn’t do anything wrong.”
A.J. Munchak is Mike Munchak’s godfather. Based on the indictment, the prosecutors essentially believe that A.J. Munchak is The Godfather. Whether the charges stick remains to be seen.