Aaron Hernandez: Recent Speculation

Jan 20, 2013; Foxboro, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez (81) reaches for a pass. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday was another day of television news crews parked in front of New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez’s house and breaking news with reports of police officers entering the house and exiting with what is presumably evidence in their investigation into the murder of Odin Lloyd. After a slow news day on Friday as the talking heads basically had nothing new to report, no helicopters tracking Hernandez or reporters rushing him for a comment when he steps outside, and the news stations, Internet, Twitter, and other media sources are back in full “media circus” mode.

Two interesting pieces of information came out of all the media chaff regarding the investigation.  On ESPN’s SportsCenter program, legal analyst Roger Cossack was brought on to speak about the Aaron Hernandez situation and provide information about the police searching Hernandez’s house. In regards to the search activity he stated”

“I think this is part of ratcheting up pressure on Hernandez. The fact that the arrest warrant hasn’t been served, but a search warrant is being served, to me is like the police sending signals more and more, saying ‘We’re getting closer, we’re getting closer. We want your cooperation. That’s why the arrest warrant hasn’t been served.”

In addition, when the host asked Cossack about what he thought would happen next after the search today, Cossack stated:

“The fact that Hernandez has not responded yet indicates to me, at least, that there is some serious discussion going on with his attorney. Because no attorney who had the opportunity to self-surrender a client, and work out a deal for him, particularly when you’re talking about a crime of this type – any attorney would want to do it.”

There has been speculation that a deal may be worked out by Hernandez’s attorney and the police to prevent an arrest and have Hernandez volunteer information in exchange for a plea bargain.  Of course, as the NFL did with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, a suspension would likely happen even if there is a plea deal where Hernandez is able to work something out where he is not arrested or charged. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is not shy about suspending players for violating the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.  If Roethlisberger got six games in 2010, a league suspension for Hernandez, even as a first time offender, would presumably start at 4 to 6 games and possibly more if there is an arrest of Hernandez in the case.

The other item of interest was from TerezOwens.com that refers to itself as the “World’s Most Popular Sports Gossip site”.  According to the site, Aaron Hernandez’s fiance Shayanna Jenkins–sister of Shaneah Jenkins, who reportedly dated the victim, Odin Lloyd at some point–has an uncle named Matthew Littleman (Little Man, as a nickname apparently)  Jenkins who is allegedly one of the people who was with Hernandez’s house Tuesday with police (it stated in the post that  “I came across an article”, but no link–a quick search online for Matthew Jenkins and Aaron Hernandez did not shed any light to this alleged “article” mentioned but not cited); however, it later links to an article in the Hartford Courant from 1996 that Matthew “Little Man” Jenkins was involved in a gang-related drive-by shooting in Bristol, CT (Hernandez and his fiance were in the same graduating class in high school) and had already served 3.5 years for “the sale of hallucinogenic narcotics and violation of parole”.

According to this gossip site, this is apparently a dispute between Aaron Hernandez’s fiance’s family and his fiance’s sister’s boyfriend/ex-boyfriend, Odin Lloyd, that resulted in his murder. This would explain Hernandez’s involvement as far as his being with Odin Lloyd, but raises more questions regarding his alleged involvement with these future in-laws.  This is all speculation regarding the family connection, as there has been nothing reported of this link by any major media outlets and there was no confirmation of who the other two parties allegedly seen with Hernandez on the night of the murder of Odin Lloyd.  Time will tell if this is an accurate report, as new details in the case continue to come out, but it is certainly an interesting theory.