Washington Football: Alameda Ta’amu Suspended Two Games For DUI

News came out today that Alameda Ta’amu, the former Washington nose tackle and current Pittsburgh Steeler, has been suspended for two games without pay due to his arrest over a drunk driving incident on Sunday. As I said Monday morning, the 6’3″ 348 pound Ta’amu was caught driving his SUV the wrong way down a Pittsburgh highway, at which point he led officers on a chase, crashed into several parked cars, injuring a woman in the process, before fleeing on foot and resisting the officers before he was eventually restrained, with force, and arrested.

Oct 15, 2011, Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies defensive tackle Alameda Ta

Coach Tomlin also said that the team has no plans to part ways with their 2011 4th round pick. That isn’t shocking, but I’m sure it is reassuring for Ta’amu, who couldn’t be sure, until now, that he wouldn’t be cut. I am, personally, incredibly disappointed to see a former Husky, or anyone for that matter, make such an irresponsible decision. Yes, I realize that once the choice to drive drunk was made, the rest was probably more a result of intoxication than of actual decisions, but it is still Ta’amu’s responsibility.

I sincerely hope he takes new responsibility for his life and vows never to repeat this. The average citizen would not necessarily get the chance to return to their job after an incident like this, and it isn’t a second chance that Ta’amu should waste.