Jerramy Stevens responds

Bucs tight end Jerramy Stevens faced questions today for the first time since re-joining the Bucs on Friday, saying much of what has been alleged against him in terms of the 2000 rape investigation is false.

He also is well aware of the firestorm that has resulted from his signing and isn't totally shocked by it.

"I don't feel it's a good use of my time to focus on (the reaction)," he said. "So, I'm doing everything I can to try and go forward. It's not surprising to me."

Regarding the rape allegations detailed in January's revealing Seattle Times story, Stevens said, "I didn't read the story and I don't have any reaction to it. I've dealt with that. That's something in my past and that's where I'm going to keep it. I'm not going to backtrack eight or nine years to talk about things I've already moved past. I don't know what the point of that article was, but it's not something that I've been concerning myself with."

Stevens later added, "This is all in my past. None of this is new. A lot of if is false. It's not a new issue. The issue has been addressed. When I got drafted, all of that was addressed then. This isn't anything new to me. I don't know what caused this to get dug up, but it's all things that I've moved past."

Comments

[cw]

BS... if somebody wrote a story about you allegedly raping somebody, wouldn't you want to read it?

[DR]

He probably has and won't defend himself because it's stating the truth. If the paper is wrong, tell us where it is wrong. Just saying it is false is a cop out. If it's false, do something about it. Those are serious allegations if they are false. Paying off someone doesn't make it go away.

[RonDouche]

I can't believe this is still being brought up. I thought last year was enough of these allegations from 8+years ago. Seattle was the team that drafted him in the 1st round, did we draft him..no. Did we sign him to a multi-year deal..no. Let this guy live for today, if he did something, why haven't the cops knocked down his door. Why doesn't the NFL suspend him for eternity? Let the authorties do the justice. What we should be talking about is why Dungy still has Marvin Harrison on his team for trying to KILL someone? Why does Baltimore still have Ray Lewis on their team? Why did the Broncos sign Pittman? He tryed to run over his wife with a Hummer. Oh I forgot, the NFL is full of choir boys. Everyone has issues, even you for reading this post. Don't judge, unless you want to be judged.

[tripsr3]

From what I've read and heard since last Friday evening, I can understand where all of the resentment and anger is coming from. The Bucs front office made a huge mistake in the timing of the press release which only exasperated a questionable business deal that does in fact affect the community. What I would like to see though, is for the local media that has taken upon themselves to lead the charge in running Jerramy Stevens out of town, to get off of their butts and do some real investigating reporting themselves. I don’t want to hear what the Seattle Times wrote about, I want our media organizations who want to play with the big Boys, do their own work and be accountable for their actions.

This is the damndirty white man trying to crucify a brother! He paid the bi#*!. Dats enuff!

[Adam]

Dear Jerramy,

Good comeback. Way to go, kiddo.

Yours, Mark McGuire

[Herb]

I think Ramano should shut up to be honest. I dont remember Ramano crusading against Stevens last year... when Stevens was first signed. Stevens hasn't caused any trouble since becoming a Buc, so let the issue die; I'm sure He'll get cut from the team if he strays from the straight and narrow.

[GaryO]

Where was the Seattle Time's outrage while he was playing for the Seahawks?

It's not like any of this is new. It was known when he was still playing for the huskies - also in Seattle.

[Jay]

Hey Jerramy, I was reading your quotes but I had a quick question about whether or not you've dealt with it or if it was in the past.

They don't sound much like someone who wants to defend their honor, but more like someone who knows they dodged a bullet and hopes everyone forgets it.

[Stephen_Holder]

Gary, et al: I think the one thing everyone has to realize here is that the Seattle Times stories were parts of a series detailing the discipline failures at UW and the preferential treatment given to football players. Jerramy's case was presented as an example and was one of just four stories. Also, and this is key, much of the vivid detail in the story had been previously unavailable because of sealed court documents and a reluctance by the investigators to grant interviews. So, although the NFL and its teams may have known much of the details, the general public did not.

[MW]

Wow all you "holier than thou" people out there that don't know anything about this man. This stuff is 8 years old. People change and grow up. Well, maybe not you whiners out there looking to spread misery. Do you have any idea what forgiveness means? If there is evidence that he is still subject to this kind of misbehavior then axe him, but he seems pretty clean right now and he deserves the benefit of the doubt like anyone else. You'd want the same for yourself if you had made a mistake 8 years ago. Remember, the news media is about sensationalism and creating uproars, and you people who get sucked in are just pawns in their circus.

[Drew]

Bashers, get over it and move on!!!

[Vince]

The allegations against Stephens are indefensible, but this is why people are critical of the media. Old story on Stephens gets rehashed prominently in the Times. Stephens' response only shows up on a blog? Is the Times going to run an article addressing Stephen's response and the comments made by Allen, Brooks and Carter?

[DON]

How easily do we believe the VICTIMS of this criminal are moving on? Where is the evidence of this criminal's rebirth?
What about character? Seems this is totally lacking from top to bottom in the Buc organization. Stevens is NOT the man you want to represent your team. The Bucs should release or trade him now.

[Dan]

Keep your head up Jerramy and keep doing what your doing... your doing good.

[Wooderson]

Wow. Some of you people must be pretty adept at using the G to get girls to go home with you, because I could swear half the comments in this thread are applauding the raping of 19 year old girl.

You stay classy, Tampa residents.

[Chris in Wichita]

It's clear that some of you have not read the story. It's a comprehensive look at the 2000 University of Washington football team and some of the characters, both good and bad, that were a part of that team.

Mr. Stevens is neither someone to be admired or defended. To claim that this is "in the past" fails to recognize his repeated failures (drunk driving) and revolting behavior and the enablers who have surrounded him in Seattle. The timing of the article had nothing to do with Mr. Stevens departure from the Seahawks, but simply that the facts began to come to light in 2006 while the Seattle Times was looking into other sealed court proceedings in King County and it took a year to put this series together.

I encourage you to read the Seattle Times article before defending this piece of trash.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004147460_rbstevens270.html

Seattle Times editor discusses UW investigative series....
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004161128_editorqanda03.html

[Gordon]

"You'd want the same for yourself if you had made a mistake 8 years ago"

getting in your car after 3 or 4 beers might be a mistake.

drugging and anally raping a 19 year old isn't making a mistake.

[Carmen]

Football is entertainment. Who cares about anyone's past? If Charles Manson can run a 4.3 and catch the ball (and get out of the can), come on down!

[The truth]

Stevens - Thug! What is wrong with these NFL players: Stevens, Packman, Owens, Ray Lewis, Lawrence Phillips, Ricky Williams, Jamal Lewis, Rae Carruth, Chris Henry. Maurice Clarett, OJ Simpson, Nate Newton, Tank Johnson, Michael Vick, Charles Grant, Cedric Benson. They cannot stay out of trouble. Stevens makes me sick! Derrick Brooks is the Model that all players should follow!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Geoff]

"winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing" ... Vince Lombardi

"No city was ever ashamed of a winning team, no city was ever proud of a losing team" ... Me

Get a life, Stevens bashers. If he crashes, he crashes.

[Jim]

Some people forget that people use 'G' for recreation,..it is highly possible that this chick got in way over her head while partying and gave some guy,(who may have been intoxicated himself)the go ahead to do whatever he wants, then woke up the next morning not remembering(or not wanting too..) and tried to blame it on the guy. The guy(having someting to lose) pays the chick and she basically becomes a prostitute after the fact. Let's do some investigating on the chick,..i sure would like to hear a little more about the chick, instaed of piling everything up against Stevens without anyway of having all of the facts

[Jim]

I actually respect you Mr. Holder, and I would like to know why this crap matters now when his teammates Brooks and Barber stand up for him? I personally have made mistakes while partying, tell me how many guys haven't woke up with someone and they don't know how,... and I know tons of crazy fems out there that would actually ruin some guy or try to take him for 300,000. Stevens might have had no prior knowledge of whatever the girl was on and genuinely felt bad,.. there are just too many possibilities to bank all of the confidence in someone who would accept 300,000 dollars for being raped,...that in my opinion isn't a money issue,... it's a prison issue.

"This is all in my past. None of this is new. A lot of if is false. It's not a new issue. The issue has been addressed.

Can't this guy come up with something better than this to defend himself?

[Chris]

Dude drugged a girl and raped her. Read the article and imagine some of the things happened to your wife, mom, or girlfriend. I love college sports, this is by far the worst most disgusting side of it.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004147460_rbstevens270.html