The Georgia woman, who reportedly filed for a restraining order against the eight-time All-Pro Sharpe just last week, now adds that he “forced [her] to have sex with him,” “threatens her life” and “places her under surveillance and calls to say he is watching her.”
Sharpe, who still appeared on TV as part of CBS’ NFL coverage two days after the restraining order was discovered by the media on Friday, Sept. 10, will now have to step away temporarily.
“I have decided to step away from ‘The NFL Today’ until this matter is resolved,” Sharpe said in a statement released by CBS.
LeslieAnnie Wade, a CBS spokeswoman, concurred with Sharpe’s decision. “We accept Shannon’s decision and decline to comment further on a pending legal matter.”
A hearing in the case is set for Monday.
Sharpe is an eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champ in 12 seasons with the Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens. He gained transcendent fame for being one of the most relentless and entertaining trash talkers in NFL history. That quality and his flamboyant flair on the air also made him a favorite among NFL analysts.
Along with recent rape accusations against Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Rothlesberger (at least twice) and Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor (statutory rape), people are beginning to wonder if there is a pattern with sports gladiators.
Psychiatrist Michael Pratt suggests that some athletes are unable or unwilling to corral their aggression off the field.
“This society rewards — and I would even say, promotes — individualistic, John Wayne, gonna-swoop-down-and-save-the-day mentality. And as long as that person stays within the moral and ethical boundaries, we are OK with it,“ Pratt, a professor of psychiatry for the State University of New York’s Upstate Medical Center. “When we reward and promote an individual like Mike Tyson and Kobe Bryant for their risk-taking, aggressive behavior, then we are surprised that the behavior manifests itself in other arenas, when in fact, we shouldn’t [be surprised].”
–terry shropshire
