Tucker, who is an annual moderator at the NFL Rookie Symposium, identified that Johnny Culbreath, Mikel Leshoure, and Nick Fairley, all 2011 NFL Draft picks, did not attend the NFL Rookie Symposium during their rookie season because one was not held due to the NFL lock out. 2010 undrafted free agent Aaron Berry did not attend the NFL Rookie Symposium held before his rookie season because undrafted free agents are not invited to attend the event.

Dec 11, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive back Aaron Berry (32) after being injured during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

This is an interesting trend because the NFL Rookie Symposium uses a host of speakers to discuss various things rookies will face while in the NFL.

Two things discussed at the symposium include drug and alcohol use, and the consequences a player can face both on and off the field if a player is caught abusing such things.

Culbreath, Fairley, and Leshoure were arrested for marijuana possession, and Fairley and Berry were arrested for driving under the influence.

It is hard to say that if each of the Lions players who were arrested would have attended the NFL Rookie Symposium that their incidents would have been avoided. However, attending the symposium could have been beneficial for them to learn about the consequences that each player is currently facing this offseason in the courtroom and in the court of public opinion.

Last week, second year defensive tackle Nick Fairley decided to attend this year’s symposium, alongside the AFC rookies, as a leap of good faith to show the NFL, his fans, and the Detroit Lions that he is trying to clean up his act. Attending the symposium will prove to be beneficial for his future life in the NFL.

For the rest of the offseason, let’s hope this trend ceases to matter and that no more Detroit players are arrested.

Lions fans can celebrate with Brett Favre this time (Source: YardBarker.com)

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