Two random thoughts crossed my mind in the aftermath of Marcus Thomas’ arrest on suspicion of cocaine possession.
First, have you ever noticed that it’s never a good thing to have your name in the same sentence with the word “vehicle”? Second, are you as tired as I am of visiting the court of public opinion?
I don’t want to have an opinion about Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds. And I don’t want to wonder whether Thomas is innocent or guilty, either. What I want is for Thomas and every other athlete out there to make better choices, not to mention better friends.
It sure sounds like Thomas was guilty of nothing more than riding in a vehicle — there’s that word again — whose driver was packing some coke. But no matter what the truth is, it’s a very unsettling development.
Having been booted off the team at Florida for multiple positive marijuana tests, Thomas doesn’t need any more trouble. When he was drafted, the understanding was that he was essentially under a zero-tolerance policy.
Next thing you know, he’s drinking and riding in a vehicle with a friend who apparently is a druggie. Even if it doesn’t cost him this time, there’s a message that Thomas needs to hear: Lose those kinds of friends, or lose your NFL career.
Thomas’ agent tells The Post’s Bill Williamson that his client is upset and embarrassed, that he never wanted to let the Broncos down. I’m thinking Thomas, in his early 20s, doesn’t know what “upset” is.
Mike Shanahan has to be the one who is upset. The Broncos are hoping to build the middle of their defensive line around Thomas. But how can they do it when they can’t trust him to make good decisions when the sun goes down?
There’s something you need to know about Thomas: He’s a nice guy, the kind of kid you root for to put his problems behind him. But after this latest development, you have to wonder whether he can.
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
