Kim Klement-USATodaySports
I mean, how many hits can the NFL take this week? You have New England Patriots‘ Aaron Hernandez (murder) and Cleveland Browns’ Ausar Walcott (attempted murder) both being charged. Then you have Philadelphia Eagles Bryce Brown’s dogs being seized for potentially being involved in dog fighting. This is a heck of a PR hit for the league this week. Brown, who had a solid season for the Eagles last year, sent his pit bull Eilis to Northland Pits in Wisconsin back in February to be bred.
The Philadelphia Inquirer and Eau Claire Leader-Telegram reported that Brown’s pit bull and her seven puppies were among the animals seized in a suspected dog-fighting operation in Wisconsin. A judge ordered this past Friday that Brown’s dogs be returned to him. Brown’s lawyer has argued that he is a victim in the case. There were 27 dogs seized, and the other 19 remain in custody of the Eau Claire County Humane Association.
Brown even went to twitter to let everyone know that he is innocent:
My dog was returned to me quickly because it was obvious that she is not and never has been involved with dog fighting. Northland Pits is a respectable breeder, which has unfortunately been the target of anti-breeding groups and “animal rights” activists who know nothing about what he is doing there, and assume it is related to dog fighting due to the breed of the dogs. He is a victim in this case, just as I am. He takes great care of his dogs and Eilis wouldn’t have been breeding there otherwise.
On the surface, it seems that Brown just made a bad choice of place to breed his dogs. You never know, but he seems innocent.
Joseph Hickman is a Philadelphia Eagles writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @phillytugger, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
