Rams Thomas and Higbee cost of doing business in this NFL

Two Los Angeles Rams players made the wrong kind of news this week. But is it the kind of news that should change their respective careers?

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Mike Thomas is no victim of circumstance. Call him naive, remarkably stupid, or anything else befitting a young man with NFL talent who makes bad choices.

But don’t call him a “former Rams receiver.”

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Same goes for fellow second year player Tyler Higbee. Higbee had a case adjudicated in Kentucky stemming from an assault arrest last April, and finds himself part of a behavioral diversion program requiring him to perform 250 hours of community service.

This is the NFL, and if you have talent enough to make a roster, expect the occasional free pass if you can contribute.

And these two can contribute, especially in Los Angeles.

First, spare me the moral high ground. Facts seldom care about your feelings.

Fact is, talent means something in that transgressions are an acceptable form of behavior if you can throw, catch, or hit a ball. If you’re fast, can jump high, or not miss a basket, such “issues” can buy you a team executive who will look the other way, especially if a trophy presentation is in the cards.

Don’t forget, America loves a winner, even if it leaves a questionable taste in your mouth.

As for Thomas and Higbee, well, they are the gatekeepers to whatever happens next for themselves. That’s kind of how that goes in life.

If Higbee makes some big plays beginning Week 1 and through the balance of the Rams season, this is all but forgotten. If Thomas comes back Week 5 and burns the defensive coverage for a touchdown, four weeks missed becomes more of a regret, than an asterisk.

I mean, come on. Isn’t this how it goes?

I’ve lived better than half my life, and I no longer sweat the small stuff.

In the NFL scheme of things, this is the small stuff.

Unless another shoe drops, these two stories will become footnotes from the 2017 Los Angeles Rams offseason.

Fair or not, talent dictates how long the leash is. In LA, where winning is something of a rare occurrence, these two will get a long leash, so long as they can perform on Sunday.

Next: NFL Power Rankings: Rams edition

It’s the cost of doing business in the NFL.

And ultimately, winning is the only thing that matters.