Eugene Robinson reminded the Carolina Panthers what not to do during Super Bowl week.
Robinson was arrested the night before Super Bowl XXXIII in January 1999 for soliciting sex from an undercover police officer. It was the same day he won the Bart Starr Award for outstanding character and leadership.
Robinson started at safety for the Atlanta Falcons for their only NFC championship team in 1998. He gave up an 80-yard touchdown pass by John Elway in Super Bowl XXXIII, which the Denver Broncos won 34-19.
The former NFL player spoke to the Panthers before they left for California on Sunday. Robinson did not comment on his speech to the Charlotte Observer, but Panthers players were affected by the speech.
"That's the first time I heard that story. I didn't know anything about it," tight end Ed Dickson said. "It says a lot that he would open up and say something about it. Because a lot of people would hold it in and not even talk about that moment.
"Him being an ex-player, him being in that moment, he wanted to make sure nobody else would be that guy again. That's huge."
Robinson, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Green Bay Packers in 1996, is currently the radio color analyst for the Panthers' broadcasts. Carolina will play Denver in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Put Snake in
David Whitley of the Orlando Sentinel believes that former Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Stabler, who died last year at 69, led the Raiders to their first Super Bowl title in 1976. He also played for the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints.
"He was like the Old West poker player who sat there grinning, knowing he'd draw an inside straight on the last card," Whitley wrote. "Stabler was once asked about a line from Jack London:
" 'I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.' " Stabler said, recalling London's line.
"What did that mean?"
"Throw deep," Stabler cracked.
"It was his life philosophy. The term 'studying the playbook by the light of a jukebox' was invented for The Snake.
"It helped forge the Raiders' aura. Even today, the woebegone franchise is No. 3 in NFL jersey sales. Stabler's family should get a cut of every merchandising dollar.
"Tom Hanks grew up in Oakland during Stabler's reign. He even signs off emails with 'Throw Deep, Baby.' Hanks sent a letter to Stabler's daughters.
"Your father, with his left-handedness and those two bad knees, displayed a permanent smile of bemusement that said -- win or lose -- 'ain't this fun?' I really did see in him the honor to be found in playing the game, of using one's God given talent, of taking pleasure in the effort," Hanks wrote in the letter.
"Stabler wouldn't want to get in on a sentimental vote. He deserves to get in on his play.
"But if it helps, somebody should read Hanks' letter to the voters on Saturday. Maybe they'll finally get the message.
"Throw deep, baby."
He said it
From Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald:
• "The Toronto Raptors won 11 straight NBA games. You combine this with Ted Cruz's showing in the Iowa caucuses and it's been a good week for Canadians."
• "The Sacramento Kings put a dog in charge of their Instagram account. As an occasional Instagram user, I'd just like to say how much darn sense this really makes."
SPORTS QUIZ
What team did Eugene Robinson spend the first 11 years of his NFL career with?
ANSWER
The Seattle Seahawks (1985-1995).
Sports on 02/03/2016