Aaron Hernandez Character Flags Keep Popping Up

Jun 26, 2013; North Attleborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots former tight end Aaron Hernandez (left) stands with his attorney Michael Fee as he is arraigned in Attleboro District Court. Hernandez is charged with first degree murder in the death of Odin Lloyd. Mandatory Credit: The Sun Chronicle/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Hernandez, formely a superstar player in the NFL with the New England Patriots, is currently sitting in prison for a wealth of charges we are sure you don’t need to hear yet again.

The question is, how did this guy get all of his baggage past the brass in the NFL?

More character concerns that should have made NFL teams scared to draft him continue to pop up. The most recent? Hernandez ilegialy ordered drinks as a underage student after arriving at Florida. He was called out on it and ruptured a man’s ear drum. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk has the details:

"According to the Wall Street Journal (yes, the Wall Street Journal), Hernandez was involved in an incident only months after arriving at school, before ever playing for the Gators. A police report obtained Monday by the Journal reveals that Hernandez, who was only 17 at the time, ordered two “alcoholic drinks” at a restaurant known as The Swamp. Hernandez later claimed he hadn’t ordered the drinks.A “verbal altercation” ensued, and Hernandez eventually was asked to leave. An employee, Michael Taphorn, escorted Hernandez out of the building. Once outside, Hernandez claimed that Taphorn “got in his face.” So, obviously, Hernandez slugged him. Taphorn suffered a ruptured eardrum.Hernandez wasn’t arrested. Because he was underage, he most likely would have been prosecuted as a juvenile."

So there’s another one for Mr. Hernandez’s rap sheet. At least allegedly. The question is, how did this and an alleged wealth of other incidents just slip by NFL teams? Or did teams choose to ignore it in favor of talent?

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