In the right reinstate of mind

So rumor has it that LeGarette Blount may be reinstated before the season is over by the University of Oregon. Though initially Chip Kelly said there would be no possibility for reinstatement, he seems to have changed his mind.

At first I thought, "Oh gosh. A chance to win the Pac-10 and now they're selling out to bring back their best running back."

I mean, how can you not?

And then I thought, "Well, the initial suspension was a bit much. I thought a few games max, but the whole season? If they had initially gone for a few weeks, then I wouldn't have had a problem with it, so why should I have a problem now?"

And I've read that LeGarrette Blount has very clearly shown, at least in words that he is contrite and that he does realize how big time he screwed himself and the University of Oregon program.

And I do believe that people deserve a second chance. If my punch could actually inflict pain, given those conditions and what had just happened, I think I may have clocked that crap talking pompous Boise State player also. The world is about second chances. LeGarette Blount did not do something so heinous as to not be able to show to the world (and more importantly the NFL) what he's got and how he's changed.

Steve Smith of the Panthers clocked teammate Ken Lucas last year in the preseason. Bill Romanowski punched some unknown tight end during practice a few years ago and ended that guy's career before it could start. Robbie Alomar, then of the Orioles, spit on an umpire, which I find just as offensive as punching. In fact, in mound-charging, bench clearing fights in baseball, punches get thrown all the time. The fact that nobody lands any clean shots shouldn't discount the fact that they're thrown, right?

My point is that LeGarette Blount didn't shoot someone or kidnap someone or intend to end someone's life or career. He was in a powder keg, and it got lit. The man deserves a second chance.

If the University of Oregon does in fact reinstate him, they will receive A LOT of crap for this, as they should, but it's absolutely the right move. And you better believe they will make doubly and triply sure that LeGarette Blount always has someone around him keeping him from losing his temper again because if Blount decides to go Holyfield on someone else, that's the end of the line for Kelly, Bellotti, and it wouldn't be too crazy to hear Phil Knight scale back some of his donations and involvement. The University of Oregon has to really trust this guy in order to reinstate him.

Will they? If I had to guess, I would say they wait until there's about 3 or 4 games left on the schedule, but I think they will eventually.