Chargers WR Vincent Jackson Drinks, Drives, Gets Arrested

Bad news. Good news. Bad news... Apparently, these things are cyclical in San Diego. First, a nagging groin injury forced LaDainian Tomlinson to the sidelines during Saturday's wild-card game. The Chargers still upset the Colts, thanks largely to the diminutive, inspirational Sproles.

Then we learn that LdT probably won't be available for this weekend's rematch with the Steelers, which, incidentally, could also be the case for San Diego's best receiver, Vincent Jackson. Unlike Tomlinson, Jackson's not injured, but thanks to his actions early this morning, the Chargers and their fans feel like they've been punched in the gonads. Ironical, for sure.

Via the San Diego Union-Tribune:

Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Clairemont early Tuesday morning. Jackson, 25, was driving east on state Route 52 near Interstate 805 just after 2:30 a.m. when he was pulled over for an observed traffic violation, California Highway Patrol Officer Brad Baehr said. ...

Jackson faces the misdemeanor DUI allegations as well as charges that he was driving on probation for a prior DUI, Baehr said. The results of a blood test are pending, the officer said.

(Gets up on soapbox, pulls well-worn piece of paper from pocket, clears throat.)

Well, here goes: I have no issue with a grown man having a few pops, but the decision to then get behind the wheel is idiotic. Hardly original, but what else can you say? Luckily, nobody was hurt, and that's great news; unfortunately, Jackson's employers are in the middle of a nice little stretch of football -- an improbable end-of-season run highlighted by Saturday's victory over Indy.

Now, with the AFC Divisional game five days off, Philip Rivers' best deep threat is fresh off a night in the drunk tank. Predictably, the Chargers are disappointed ("Obviously we're disappointed." See. Told ya.), but probably not so much so that Jackson won't be on the field against the Steelers.

Should he play? Well, guys return to work all the time after misdemeanor arrests; the only difference is that they usually don't dress up in funny suits and run full speed into a bunch of fat guys for three hours a week while people watch.

As PFT points out, "Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams do not have the authority to discipline players for alleged criminal conduct involving alcohol or substances of abuse." But the Steelers benched Santonio Holmes earlier this season after he was arrested for marijuana possession.

I suspect the Chargers front office, despite their disappointment, won't discipline Jackson. Of course, the NFL Gestapo has been conspicuously quiet in recent weeks, so they might feel differently.

UPDATE: NFL.com's Adam Schefter writes that "The league does not act until the legal process is completed. ... The Chargers, on the other hand, reserve the right to take whatever action they feel appropriate. They could fine Jackson, suspend Jackson, bench him and still play - do whatever they want. If any action is taken before Sunday's game, it will come from San Diego, not the NFL." So there ya go.