All of those Miami Dolphins fans who were wondering what Bill Parcells really meant when he said “I don’t want thugs” are likely to find out in the very near future, especially if the allegations regarding fullback Reagan Mauia’s arrest prove to be true. Mauia was jailed on simple battery charges after he supposedly punched a man in the face outside of a Weston drinking establishment. He was later released on a $1,000 bond. Ironically enough, Mauia endeared himself to the South Florida fan base by appearing on the Dan Le Batard radio show on 790AM in Miami, uttering choice tough-guy phrases such as “knocking fools out.” Clearly, he’s not all talk. Still, Mauia’s actions on Friday, if substantiated, would make him more than just a juggernaut – a nickname he earned based on his semi-famous YouTube video in which he runs through a thin wall. They would more or less make him a thug. Being that Parcells went on the record and said that he didn’t want those types of players on this team, it will be interesting to see how he handles the second-year player -- who is currently slated to be the Dolphins’ starting fullback in 2008. Miami did sign three-year veteran Boomer Grigsby to compete with Mauia, but Grigsby has just one start in his three seasons and actually shuffled from linebacker to fullback. He is quite the athlete, flashing 4.5 speed in 2005, but is even less polished than Mauia. Still, Mauia is far from irreplaceable. He was a fifth-round pick who flashed serviceable but unspectacular blocking ability during his rookie season. Moreover, his pass-catching ability, or lack thereof, renders him as a fairly one-dimensional weapon in Miami’s offensive attack. In other words, if ever there was a starter whose release would not have an overly adverse affect on the offensive unit, it’s Mauia. So will Parcells and his brain trust make an example of the Samoan battering ram by cutting him lose from the roster? Will there be any significant repercussions, such as a fine or suspension, for the Hawaii product? Or will Mauia get little more than a slap on the wrists for his sucker punch on a civilian? The Dolphins have not commented on the situation yet, preferring to wait until all of the facts of the case have been established; but if it turns out that Mauia is guilty of this fairly thuggish transgression, the team’s response should serve as a clear precedent in terms of what Parcells really meant when he said that he didn’t want any thugs. http://www.realfootball365.com/index.php/articles/dolphins/10878
Thanks for the link. I like that the Fins FO isn't going to say anything until they get all the facts, then I'm sure there will be swift and sure action. I hope that Mauia was not the agressor and was either protecting himself or someone else (although it doesn't look like it right now), BP will send him packing if so. He is known for making an early statement like this to wake everyone up.
To be fair, there are a lot of rumors going around that the reason Mauia punched out the guy is because the dude was (literally) hitting his girl up. If that is the case, he shouldn't be cut. Fined maybe, but not cut.
Lets be clear, it wasnt MAUIA'S girl. Just a girl who happened to be there with another gentleman. I stated in a different thread it wasn't his fight and he shouldnt have gotten involved. You know what hero's get in this day in age? Arrested.
Yeah, I understand that. But honestly, if you saw something like that, could you easily just look the other way?
Not easily, no. But I would look away. You know how many times a day I would love to punch some D-Bag in the face? I dont and you wanna know why? Because I like my freedom and job more. Life is about priorities. Obviously knocking some ******* out is a higher priority for Mauia than staying out of trouble and representing his team in a respectful way. Dont get me wrong, if he were a regular guy Id be buying him a beer right now. But as a fan of the Miami Dolphins Im dissapointed he let us and his teammates down. Pick your battles bro...
I don't think he should be served as a "thug" benchmark. Do I agree with Mauia making this a physical confrontation? No, not at all. There are, truthfully, better ways he could have handled this. But I don't think he should be cut for trying to do the right thing while we still have a player on our team that jumped somebody at a casino.
Not sure I would refer to him as a 'Thug'. Might be a little extreme for this particular case. Unfortunately public perception always plays a large role. I think Parcells could go wither way on this, guess we'll have to wait and see.
To me it all depends on if the allegations that he hit the guy because he was looking at him or his girlfriend are true. If he did that, then that's absurd and he should be cut. If there is more to the story, then that changes things. Channing Crowder beat some guys up in Gainesville at UF, but supposedly the guys had it coming. Even though it's technically against the law, I really don't have a problem with that.
To me the Thugs thing is overblown. Parcells said it, what else is he going to say? Is it contradictory? Very. But he signed David Kircus.
I hope it does come out he (Mauia) was doing the "right thing", if that's the case he should be fined but not cut, IMO.
@ATVZ400 - thanks for posting the link! It should be interesting to see how things play out as all of the facts come out.
I am not sure what version to believe. I googled the Reagan Mauia’s arrest story and all of the stories I read had Reagan Mauia being the agressor and fleeing the scene right after it happened. It said nothing about a girl being the reason for his actions and according to witnesses, Gianatassio and his girlfriend were walking by when Mauia asked Gianatassio what f___ he was looking at. Gianatassio replied he wasn’t looking at anyone, then was punched by the 270-pound Mauia, the sheriff’s office said. There was nothing to indicate the victim had said anything out of the way to Mauia to initiate the incident. When Mauia fled, a witness took a photo of his vehicle, which allowed the sheriff’s office to track him down. A witness identified him as the person who punched Gianatassio, the sheriff’s office said. After being booked at the county jail, Mauia was charged with battery and released on $1,000 bond. It doesnt appear Mauia was being a hero to a damsel in distress but was just being stupid or just trying to look macho. Irregardless, he fled the scene and couldn't have made himself look much more guilty. It will be interesting to see how Goodall handles this and it sure puts Parcell's in a difficult position after him making the statement about thugs and trouble makers.
