Young players these days...

In the last two days, two highly prominent young athletes have made very questionable decisions and made headlines because of it. Whether it is ego getting in the way of sound decision making or just plain ignorance, you have to wonder what goes through the minds of these players and others like them.

Yesterday, Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steeler and the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl, was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. According to reports, Roethlisberger collided with a car coming in the opposite direction that was taking a turn. Roethlisberger was thrown into the windshield then onto the ground. He suffered a broken jaw and nose, and laceration on the back of his head, lost or chipped teeth and other injuries, apparently minor, to his knees. He underwent surgery and is now in serious but stable condition. Roethlisberger was not wearing a helmet while riding.

Last night on Sportscenter, ESPN re-aired a nearly year old interview with Roethlisberger in which he explained why he does not wear a helmet while riding. He noted that the state of Pennsylvania does not require him to wear one. In response to advice he received on whether to wear a helmet, he talked about how he does not consider himself a risk-taker and he is always careful.

Less than 24 hours after Roethlisberger's accident, J.J. Redick was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. The former Duke basketball player and all-time leading scorer in the Atlantic Coast Conference is in the process of working out and interviewing with teams that may select him in the NBA Draft on June 28. Most mock drafts have him being selected in the late lottery, some as high as the eighth pick. In his workouts, Redick has been trying to put to rest the assumptions made about him, specifically that he is only a shooter/scorer, but slow on defense and not a great passer.

The charge of DWI will not help his case, but how much it will hurt is not clear. It may be overlooked considering he has been considered a model student-athlete. The only cost could be a slightly tarnished reputation. However, his draft stock may take a hit, which would hurt both his reputation and his wallet. Dropping from the eighth pick to the 14th pick could cost as much as $500,000.

Both Roethlisberger and Redick are in situations where they have a lot of attention at a very young age. They are some of the best in their respective sports. To jeopardize that in any way, to me, seems ludicrous. Anyone can get in a motorcycle accident or have a few drinks to relax, but to not wear a helmet or drive a car after those few drinks is irresponsible. Hopefully, both players will realize the folly of their ways and accept that they are in position to be role models. Maybe, someday, a child will survive a bicycle accident because he heard about Ben Roethlisberger's accident and how after it, he always wore a helmet. Maybe, someday, some guys playing pickup basketball will go out for drinks afterward, but pick a designated driver because they remember J.J. Redick, and know it could have been a lot worse.

All else aside, I wish Ben Roethlisberger nothing but the best in his recovery, and hope to see him on the field as soon as possible.