Mike Ditka: NFL Should Prohibit All Players From Owning Guns

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Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame tight end and Super Bowl-winning coach, discussed the Plaxico Burress situation today in his role on ESPN's NFL Countdown.

And Ditka proposed a simple rule that would likely make players safer, but would also draw the ire of the National Rifle Association: Simply ban all NFL players from owning guns. Here's what Ditka said today, according to a transcript provided by ESPN:

"This is all about priorities. When you get stature in life, you get the kind of contract, you have an obligation and responsibility to your teammates, to the organization, to the National Football League and to the fans. He just flaunted this money in their face. He has no respect for anybody but himself. I feel sorry for him, in the sense that, I don't understand the league, why can anybody have a gun? I will have a policy, no guns, any NFL players we find out, period, you're suspended."

Ditka's proposal will never happen, but Ditka deserves credit for pointing out a simple fact that Burress learned the hard way: If you carry a gun around, you're more likely to hurt yourself than protect yourself.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

11-30-2008 @ 4:39PM

gdizzle320 said...

Noble idea coach
But look at what happened to guys like Sean Taylor, Eddy Curry, Antoine Walker, ect.
its simple you see a guy walking around in tons of jewlery and flashiness and you think that you may have seen him on MNF, you Know that this is the guy to rob.
Players need guns for protection, just like other gun owners do, its in the 2nd amendment.
The problem isnt the guns its the people who use them

maybe the NFL should require players to recieve permission from the NFL to carry a gun and require some sort of test to be passed that is significantly harder

11-30-2008 @ 5:26PM

jeff said...

Barry Switzer, the inbred hick that siglehandedly took Jimmy Johnson's Cowboys Dynasty to cellar dwellers in 4 short years got caught with a gun on an airplane when he coached the Cowboys and nothing happened to him.

12-06-2008 @ 2:54PM

Mike said...

When you flash lots of money and jewelry and hang out at clubs at 2-4 am you probably need protection. When you`re making they money like these guys are, why risk it all? When you go where trouble is, chances are you`ll find it!!

11-30-2008 @ 4:52PM

Justin said...

NO GUNS?! are you kidding me?, these players could get robbed anytime during their life. And you wanna take away their right to own a gun? Look what happened to Sean Taylor, did you forget about that? He was robbed, and he didnt have a chance to defend himself with a firearm. Very stupid comments from mike ditka.

11-30-2008 @ 4:53PM

jimbo1 said...

I agree with Ditka This isn't the first time this has happened and not the last why do these thugs go to places like this and think they have to be packing. totaly stupid and if he hadn't shot himself someone else would have! Jimbo1

11-30-2008 @ 4:57PM

Andrew said...

More guns do not deter the use of guns! What Ditka said was right on. Most of the players who need to own and display their guns stupidly, are obviously not mature enough to own them. Players should be banned!

11-30-2008 @ 4:58PM

Martin said...

MDS says "If you carry a gun around, you're more likely to hurt yourself than protect yourself."

This is true only if you are dumber tthan a potted plant. Does anyone believe that Burress ever took a gun safety class? But assuming MDS is correct, perhaps we should give guns to all of the stupid people on this planet and watch the gene pool improve.

11-30-2008 @ 5:05PM

Morphy said...

Personally I think that the NFL should prohibit all players from breaking the law.

Burress was not carrying legally, and obviously not carrying responsibly. Don't lump him in with legal, responsible gun owners.

11-30-2008 @ 5:27PM

Ethan said...

With all the BIG money spent on these overpriced pampered babies, there should be a clause in their contracts prohibiting the players from being at night clubs after 12:00 am. 99% of the problems that occur with Pro Sport athletes are while being at night clubs around 2:00 am. If these athletes continue to act like children, then they need to be treated as such!

11-30-2008 @ 5:53PM

redskinsfan said...

What a typical knee jerk reaction. Thank God this fool cant pass any laws or make decisions about such stuff. I agree with Ethan why are these guys out at these night clubs looking for trouble. There suppose to be adults yet act like spoiled brats. What if this gun had gone off killing some inocent bystander.

11-30-2008 @ 6:19PM

houchens said...

Who said that if you carry a gun, you are more likely to hurt yourself than protect yourself? Since when did this become a "fact"?
Michael David Smith uses the word "fact" as a substitute for "opinion". Another opinion presented as factual reporting.
There are lots of examples of people protecting themselves because they were carrying a gun. The mainstream media just never reports them.

11-30-2008 @ 6:41PM

WMAL3H said...

A PERSON IS ALLOWED TO REGISTER TO CARRY A FIREARM. IF THE FIREARM IS HANDLED PROPERLY THE PERSON WILL NOT SHOOT HIMSELF OR ANYBODY ELSE ACCIDENTALLY. SIMPLE AS THAT!

11-30-2008 @ 10:22PM

mawtm said...

If he was afrid of being robbed due to his bling and large amount of cash someone else should have carried the gun (bodyguard). He had no permit for the weapon and broke the law. When I started hitting the club's the first thing I learned was "don't flash your money". Look, everybody know's who he is so we all know he's got money, why flash it. Just remember, when you buy a weapon make sure that you're smarter then the gun....that's all I'm saying....

11-30-2008 @ 10:24PM

Yea, but his wasn't registered and you're not allowed to carry inside a bar. The news said he was first refused entry, then they let him in because of who he was....a very stupid young man.

11-30-2008 @ 6:58PM

Scarpelli said...

The problem isn't owning a gun. It's not having a concealed weapon permit, and taking a gun into a bar while you're drinking. Players need to abide by the law. Ditka, a Republican, is clueless on this. Go Bears, though...

11-30-2008 @ 7:32PM

scooby21 said...

Can someone please say what needs to say. More times than not when we hear of these guys getting in trouble they are at a club 2 3 4 am. lets face it ,you go to a club to get girls for lap dances (aka booty call) flashing your money and you wonder why you get in trouble. keep in mind he was there with his team mate. Haveing a gun was bad enough but why can't these boys be real men and take their behinds home at night. Until they start doing like very few other platers do and settle down with 1 woman or wife this will continue. Get rid of him and anybody else thats trying to cover for him.

11-30-2008 @ 7:15PM

Lets face it this is nothing new, I am a black man and I am so sick of these blck ball players going to places where they put themseleves in harms way. Can someone tell me what it is that most of the players that get in trouble are at a CLUB and we all know what they are thre for. BOOTY CALLS. having said that with all the money they have what in the world makes thewm think they are going to find fufillment in the clubs. Lets tell the truth most of these guys would never be able to get a really good looking woman (thats a goo body aka booty) without the money that they make. I'm so sick of these Adult ball players with their little boys mind bringing shame on a whole race.For the most part you don't keep hearing about the white players in the CLUBS> Get rid of him now for his own good.

11-30-2008 @ 10:23PM

Right on brother man...!!! I agree with you. I see so many young people with their life ahead of them just waste it with guns, and you're right about the booty calls she's only there as long as the money is, when it's gone so is she.....

12-01-2008 @ 4:26AM

tony said...

you are an idiot. first of all they don't represent the whole black race, secondly your wife will probally leave you if you run out of money and lastly why can't they go to a club if that is what they want to do, it's not like everybody in the club is looking for trouble. these guys are young and deserve to have fun. you don't have to be in a club to be stupid and trouble is everywhere. so just quit trying to lump all of the black players together as bad people because they are not all bad.