Coach Matt Patricia
The Detroit Lions organization had tons of faith in Matt Patricia when it hired him.
Now, in wake of the news that he was charged, but never tried or convicted of sexual assault in Texas as a college student in 1996, the team is "doubling down," writes Detroit News sports columnist Bob Wojnowski:
In some ways, the Lions are taking the bigger leap of faith now — in Patricia and Quinn — doubling down by admitting they didn’t know about the incident, and aren’t concerned they didn’t know. Quinn had immense trust in Patricia from their 12 years together in New England, and you wonder if that kept him from fully vetting Patricia’s past.
The charge itself from 22 years ago is old news. But it’s relevant news when information surfaces that an NFL head coach once was indicted for rape, although never tried or convicted. It’s not career-threatening news, and if that’s where the story ends, it doesn’t even have to be character-threatening news.
Is it troubling in today’s climate of heightened — and enlightened — awareness of sexual assault? It is. Is it surprising that Patricia, 43, could work 14 years with the Patriots and get hired by the Lions without the incident ever coming up? It is.
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