THE UNWORTHY RINGBEARER

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' RB Michael Pittman disgraced both his Super Bowl ring and his wedding ring when he rammed his Hummer into a black Mercedes sedan carrying his wife, 2-year-old daughter and family babysitter in Phoenix, Ariz. June 2.

Now Pittman is in court, facing a slew of domestic violence charges and allegations that he violated his July 2001 probation, the result of a brutal spousal abuse conviction. Domestic violence charges have been filed against Pittman five times since 1998, yet his checkered past has never caught up with him--the Bucs signed him last year to replace Warrick Dunn knowing full well what horrendous actions he was capable of.

As a lifelong Bucs fan, this blog is extremely disappointed in head coach Jon Gruden, owner Malcolm Glazer and the entire Buccaneers organization for standing behind Pittman in an instance where misplaced loyalty is tantamount to endorsing the cowardly behavior of a gutless worm who routinely batters his wife.

Pittman should get the book thrown at him, but unfortunately, if the criminal justice system lets him off the hook this time, it is likely that Gruden and Co. will follow suit. That is why Bucs fans must show the courage and character that the organization thus far has not. If 10 members of the offense are greeted with uproarious applause and one---the lone pariah on the gridiron of demigods---is treated to a Bronx cheer, Tampa-style, maybe then he'll get the message.

No matter how many yards Pittman gains, no matter how many touchdowns he scores, he will never be a hero. Never.