The Redskins waited until nearly 7 p.m. tonight to send out a press release announcing the signing of former Houston Texans receiver/return man Jerome Mathis.
There's a reason for this: Twice in the last five months, Mathis has had run-ins with the law. That, naturally, wasn't included in the release but a quick Google news search revealed plenty of information. (nor is it included in the sunnier story that appears on Redskins.com)
(This signing doesn't make sense from a football standpoint, either. The Redskins are set in the return game with Rock Cartwright and Antwaan Randle El and since Mathis is 5-foot-11, he doesn't address the team's desire to acquire a receiver with size. Plus he has injury issues. He was on the physically unable to perform last for 11 games in 2006 with a foot injury and played in only two games. Last year, he played in only three games before a lower leg injury landed him on IR.)
Now, the police blotter part of Mathis' story.
*Early December: Mathis was cited after four pit bulls escaped from his home in suburban Houston. According to the Houston Chronicle, Matthis allowed the dogs to remain free and also owned unvaccinated animals. One woman said she was chased into her apartment by the dogs and a couple said they jumped onto a parked car to avoid the dogs. A police report said one adult dog and three puppies were captured. The citation carried a $600 fine.
*Mid February: Mathis was jailed on a charge of assault and family violence. He was charged with assaulting his pregnant common-law wife, Erica Smith. According to the Chronicle, police went to the couple's home after someone called 911 and hung up. Smith told deputies that Mathis started choking her after pushing her onto a bed. Deputies reported a red mark below her jaw line. Mathis was released on $3,000 bail.
*March 20: Assault charges against Mathis were dropped. The Chronicle story said Smith has relocated to another state and asked officials to drop the charges. While at court, Mathis paid his fine for the dog incident.
(Thanks to the Houston Chronicle for the thorough reporting on Mathis)
Comments (18)
The player equivalent of the Redskins front office. Nice one Vinny.
Posted by Florio-is-a-tool | April 4, 2008 10:44 PM
When organizations choose to sign players who commit acts of domestic violence against women this says volumes about the organization and it's leadership as to what their standards are about the type of people they want on their team regardless of what claims they may make publicly about how character matters and how they have high standards in regards to the type of people they want to have on the team.
Posted by mark blankenburg | April 5, 2008 7:28 AM
Can Chris Henry, multiple offender and late of the Bengals, be far behind this jerk Mathis for a Skins signing announcement? Give me the strength to remain the loyal and long-time Skins fan that I am.
Posted by viera skinsaholic | April 5, 2008 8:54 AM
Great Addition> Hire a real bum that has proven absolutely nothing on the football field. Great for team morality. BUT DON'T SPEND MONEY ON A QUALITY GM.
Posted by roger Smith | April 5, 2008 10:18 AM
he's a former pro bowler!!! :)
Posted by Anonymous | April 5, 2008 11:34 AM
Also don't forget he got into a fist fight with his own teammate. Looks like the only thing the front office has learned is how to be cheap and how to make unpopular signings at the right time. IE Friday night at 7:00. Can't wait to hear Vinny's take on this guy. Look for words like pro bowler, alleged, and charges droped. Then again of course the charges were droped. If Mathis goes to jail who the hell pays for the kid. Think about it.
Posted by JohnnyBoy | April 5, 2008 2:48 PM
he was a pro bowler which means hes good at football who care about off the field i care about on the field!
Posted by hunterbottoms | April 5, 2008 10:38 PM
I'm just curious about this GENERAL notion that any player has injury issues...
Now there are circumstances where someone has rotator-cuff problems [for instance] where once such manifests, it [rotator-cuff issues ] does cause recurrent problems...
Now in the case of Mathis, there was a FOOT injury. Now in Mathis' case, his injury was not related to tendinitis - which is a rather chronic issue. Mathis' foot injury was a stress fracture - i.e. bone injury. . . As anyone who has had broken bones [such as me] knows, bones [once fully & properly healed] do have calcifications [scar tissue]. In the case of properly realigned [he had surgery] bone scarring [calcification], the injured area tends to be reinforced by the calcification, thereafter. So in Mathis� case, what precisely is any pundit's point in saying that Mathis' has injury issues?
On another note, 'run-ins' with the law has been referenced in Mathis� case as well. . . He owned a pit-bull that CHEWED THROUGH the fence of the yard in which it [the pit-bull] resided - Mathis' criminal liability extends only so far as his negligence in not having the animal restrain with a fence of decidedly more durable materials. Not something that in any way indicates that Mathis harbors any criminal proclivities - just a circumstantial matter.
Additionally, there's the 'assault' charge that his common-law wife file and subsequently withdrew. I don�t know about anyone else, but I have been acutely aware that ever since 'OJ' got 'allegedly� away with cold-blooded murder [I know in my heart that the sorry bastard did it - I am a 'BLACK' man myself FROM DC (Chocolate City)by the way, so don't nobody be tryin' to play the 'race' card in response to my statement there!], the legal system has been absolutely galvanized [excessively] towards responding, arresting & charging any man accuse of domestic assault. Sadly, it's been something of a knee-jerk, over-reaction that some women have used as a weapon against the man in there lives when they [the woman] are merely looking to get back at him over some 'slight'. Then there are times when the woman assaults the man [frying pan, etc] and he merely tries to defend himself [without harming her] The legal over-reaction to 'OJ' still allows her to have him locked up. All I know is, there was no previously standing 'domestic violence issues' AND she dropped the charges thereafter. . . Hmmm?
In closing, I think that Mathis is a very good [and salary-cap friendly acquisition for my 'Skins'!
Ryan... What's your bloody point? -OR- do you actually have one?
Hmmm?
Posted by Travis Jordan | April 6, 2008 7:18 AM
I love this signing. When healthy, Mathis is an elite, Pro Bowl, return man. He wouldn't have been available, much less for the vet minimum salary, if it weren't for injuries, off-field problems. If he doesn't work out, team can cut him. Little risk; great upside potential.
This guy has D. Green type speed. Combine speed in 40 was 4.28. Champion sprinter in HS and college. Has been clocked at 4.10 in the 40. 4th round Houston pick 3 years ago. Local Virginia kid. Give him a chance, people. He's only 24.
Posted by chris_zz | April 6, 2008 8:24 AM
My earlier point in a nutshell, chriszz.
The static [of his 'past'] not at all what one may be so quick to think...
Posted by Travis Jordan | April 6, 2008 8:56 AM
no big deal might help as punt ret. , 4th receiver...
Posted by Anonymous | April 6, 2008 1:14 PM
PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO A SECOND CHANCE IN LIFE & MAYBE THIS GUY CAN HELP US IN THE RETURN GAME.
Posted by Ron | April 6, 2008 5:58 PM
My Redskin fans so quick to judge but never stand for anything.
First of all Randel El as a starting wide receiver does not need to be returning punts especially with his chronic hamstring injuries? Why should Rock Cartwright be the only guy on the team who is capable of returning kickoffs? what if he gets hurt do we want starting receivers in that role? No!
As far as this guys past who cares he was convicted of crimes or a crime and paid his debt to society lets move on and see if he can even make the freaking team which is not guaranteed!
Posted by steve | April 7, 2008 10:40 AM
What the hell? Gibbs leaves and we're abandoning the idea of valuing "character?" I'm not happy about this.
Posted by BurgundyGoldBlooded | April 7, 2008 12:58 PM
I have to go with Travis, Ron and Steve on this one. He's a football player, not team chaplin. He could end up being a steal. Randel El was a great return man for the Steelers, but for some reason he's not breaking them for us. I'm not blaming him, but maybe a new face back there wouldn't hurt. With Moss' injury issues, another burner at wideout wouldn't hurt either. Put it this way, I'd rather see them take this kind of chance than the signing Brandon Lloyd type chances. Big upside and little or no downside.
Posted by AAA | April 7, 2008 1:37 PM
Do not understand this signing one bit! We have a quality kick returner in Cartwright, skins have 9 picks in the draft coming up to find another return man, this guy stays hurt and he's a thug. Was Vinny bored & just looking for something to do? I was hoping maybe this organization was finally seeing the light by not going crazy w/ free agents & building through the draft. But this move puts serious doubts in my mind once again on the leadership of the organization.
Posted by Todd62 | April 8, 2008 12:09 AM
Football is about competition. Cartright vs Mathias. Best performer wins. One season does not make a person, however. Cartright is established. Cartright is durable. Cartright is a team player. Cartright can play more than one position. Mathias is paid the minimum. There is no down side to this decision (like Lloyd).
Preseason will determine whether Mathias can regain his form from his rookie year, or not. If he does excel, then the Redskins will be faced with a real decision about keeping two KR's when depth is needed in many other areas.
Posted by saratogan | April 9, 2008 6:57 AM
As a Texans fan I'm glad someone else picked up our trash!!! This dude was not only lazy, and injury prone, but was also a menace in our community. As a Houstonian I pray to god he sells his house and moves to the DC area so he can let his pitbulls run loose in your town instead of mine. BTW this wasn't an isolated incident, he has recieved several citations for his pitbulls running loose. He had problems with his teammates, he had mysterious injuries on several occasions that no X-rays or MRI's could find, and all of the coaches commented several times on his work ethic. Awesome signing Redskins, your GM really knows how to run a storied franchise right into the ground!!
Posted by grega1976 | April 10, 2008 12:55 AM