Ex Packer Johnny Jolly was released from prison on shock probation today. From the man, the myth, the legend, Jason Wilde:
The former Green Bay Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly was granted his request for early release – after only six months of incarceration as part of a six-year prison sentence – on Tuesday after a Texas judge accepted his “shock probation” request.
“Shock probation” allows a defendant an opportunity to receive probation after a short period of time in a correctional facility. The theory behind shock probation is that immersing a defendant in the penal system for a short period of time could “shock” him or her into a noncriminal lifestyle.
Jolly will remain on probation for 10 years and will have to serve 200 hours of community service.
Now I know I’m not the first to report this (some of us don’t get paid to dream about the Packers all day), but here’s my two cents:
1) I love underdogs who claw their way back from nothing to win it all. It’s the American Dream…and guess what, I bleed red, white and blue.
2) I don’t think Jolly should have received as extensive a sentence as he did. If you don’t feel sympathetic, watch this:
If you still don’t feel sympathetic, I don’t know what to tell you.
3) The Packers do hold exclusive rights to Jolly as an NFL player, though he is suspended indefinitely.
That being said, Jolly will not be returning to the Packers. The sixth round pick had the talent to succeed in the NFL, but blew his chance, regardless of circumstance. The Packers have moved on with fresh talent and have no need to test Jolly’s NFL abilities again. I pray that Jolly gets his life back on track, regardless of whether it involves the NFL or football of any kind.
I agree that his punishment was too severe, and the reason I believe that is also the reason I believe he was given this probation:
He was finally accepting that he had a problem. He knew he needed help now, and was willing to get it. He wasn’t going to get the help he needed in prison, and by letting him out, he can now get the help he needs. I think his NFL career is completely over, and I’m fine with that. He has a chance to get his life back, which is far more important.