Jaguars Owner Shad Khan says no reason to cut ties with Justin Blackmon. "We want him to get help he needs," Khan said.
— John Oehser (@JohnOehser) July 24, 2014
For the people who ask how the Colts could have possibly handled LaVon Brazill's situation any differently, this is an example. Obviously Blackmon has shown a much higher level of play, and thus potential value, compared to Brazill, but I would argue that a truly compassionate approach only looks at both men as human beings, not as football statistics.
In either case the team is not on the hook for the suspended player's salary. The player doesn't count against the roster size or the cap. But a player under contract still has access to the team's medical staff and support network. He has more treatment options, and thus a better chance of getting his life back together.
I'm done harping on this now. The two incidents coming so close together just made such a stark contrast that I had to point it out. I would have been much happier to see Irsay do what Khan is doing rather than quietly sweep Brazill out the door.