Rookie Gilyard Robbed At Gunpoint

In a bit of disturbing news, new Rams receiver Mardy Gilyard was robbed at gunpoint earlier this week in Cincinnati. Gilyard was on his way home from a fishing trip with his brother and his “bodyguard”, who was also robbed. Apparently, two men approached Gilyard after he walked out of a gas station and took his gold chain and some money. The perpetrators also apparently wanted to steal his car, but Gilyard told them he didn’t have the keys so they ran away. The good news is that Gilyard is ok and so is everyone else who was with him. The bad news is that he obviously needs a new bodyguard, because his boy that was with him obviously didn’t get the job done. I don’t want to make light of this whole situation, but when have you ever heard of a guy AND his bodyguard getting robbed? I thought he was hired to stop this very situation.

On a more serious note, this is just another example of an NFL player being a target for the seedy underbelly of society. These guys are getting in all kinds of trouble for carrying guns, but if they don’t then they have no way to protect themselves. I know some of you will say “don’t put yourself in those situations and it won’t be an issue”, but this is a perfect example of why this theory doesn’t hold water. If a guy gets jacked at 3 am coming out of a nightclub, it’s one thing. Gilyard was minding his own business, coming out of a convenience store early in the evening when he was accosted. I’m not saying we should give all these guys guns and send them out into the world, but it seems like there is some merit to these guys fearing for their safety on a daily basis. I don’t know what the right answer is here, but i do know that I don’t want to turn on the news some day in the future and see the picture of another NFL player who has become a victim.