In a sense, Colts linebacker Darius Leonard is right, the allegations against DeShaun Watson have received more media coverage than Chad Wheeler’s domestic violence arrest.
Watson remains a frequent topic on sports radio shows, TV and amongst football fans. Wheeler’s incident received coverage, but after he was universally chastised, the media moved on. Although the cases featured a different level of athlete and different allegations, Leonard criticized the media for treating them differently.
“It’s crazy that people bash Watson with no evidence but nobody wants to say anything about Chad Wheeler who tried to kill his girlfriend,” Leonard wrote on Twitter. “I’m just saying now, D Wat got killed with no proof but this guy who tried to put his girlfriend underground @espn or any other outlets was [quiet].”
Watson is a quarterback, there are a lot of non-football fans who know DeShaun Watson and there are a lot of football fans who never heard of Chad Wheeler. Wheeler doesn’t get selected in fantasy football drafts, he doesn’t impact sports betting, fans never have or will wear his jersey and he’ll never be on the cover of Madden.
Because of the severity of Wheeler’s allegations and because he was a marginal player, the 27-year-old offensive lineman will never play in the NFL again. As a 25-year-old elite quarterback, Watson will. I’m not comparing the incidents, nor am I saying Wheeler would still be in the NFL if he was an impactful player, but there’s no question Pro Bowlers are given more leeway and second chances than marginal athletes, see Greg Hardy.
Wheeler’s domestic violence case is disgusting, as are the millions of others that go largely unpublicized in the United States during a given year. But an allegation involving a star quarterback will always generate more media attention.