THE READ OPTION: When signing Georgia’s dismissed players goes wrong

Georgia-turned-Alabama player arrested. When we all laugh at Mark Richt for having lost control of his program, there’s a subtext. The Georgia head coach is famous for booting players over offenses left and right, but every now and then you wonder if other programs wish they did the same more often.

Alabama defensive tackle Jonathan Taylor was arrested on domestic violence charges Saturday and kicked off the program Sunday, months after the Tide’s controversial decision to sign him. Georgia had dismissed Taylor following his first (and second) arrests, but coach Nick Saban gave a passionate defense of his recruitment.

Beyond the obvious risks, schools expose themselves to possible lawsuits when they welcome players with histories of violent accusations.

It should be noted Taylor has not been convicted. However, Dawg Sports says he should’ve been the last person to be anywhere near any situation resembling domestic violence.

When you’re a 6’4, 320-pound college football player with shoulders wider than an armoire from Ikea, the only part of you that needs to have any part of a domestic altercation, even in your own home, is your rather wide ass. Everyone involved should see your wide ass booking it for the door before things get any further than a cross look. This is free legal advice from a guy who’s represented both victims and perpetrators in these types of situations. Because officers interviewed Taylor at the scene, we know that he did not do this.

The really tricky part, though? Giving second chances is often the right thing to do, even beyond football. Saban gave an excellent explanation of the practice in December.

B1G boycott? After the NCAA expressed displeasure with its home state of Indiana’s new “religious freedom” law, which theoretically allows businesses to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, Indianapolis officials are worried the Big Ten will no longer host events in the city.

The Big Ten holds its football championship in Indianapolis and has the city in the rotation for its basketball tournament. SB Nation’s Big Ten site, Off Tackle Empire, called for a boycott.

#FREEUAB. The five silliest parts of UAB’s football shutdown memo include the implication that the NCAA allowing players to eat more snacks did the program in.

The NCAA blames Lane Kiffin for everything, too. From the 500 pages of court docs on the NCAA vs. a former USC assistant, there’s this, from a grown man employed as the NCAA Coordinator of Appeals:

“I haven’t been able to sleep for three nights because I fear that the Committee is going to be too lenient on USC on the football violations.”

Re-read option: It was WrestleMania weekend (the former Georgia Tech defensive lineman and Minnesota wrestler both lost to a guy from Iowa), so set aside this longform about noted Oklahoma fan Jim Ross.

CROOTIN’:

So long, Commodore. Vanderbilt quarterback Patton Robinette, a former highly recruited player who beat Tennessee, announced he’s hanging up the cleats due partly to health concerns.

#AaronRodgersgate. Not only did the former Cal QB annoy his home state by rooting for Wisconsin against a Pac-12 team, he infuriated a CBS columnist by ... um ... walking on a basketball court. Rodgers hit ‘em with a R-E-L-A-X.

Draft handicappin’: The NFL crew ranks the Tennessee Titans as Oregon QB Marcus Mariota’s likeliest landing spot.

TEAM OF THE WEEKEND: Bill C. on Rice and the jaunty David Bailiff, ready for another run at the C-USA West.

Marco Garcia -- USA Today Sports

CHARTS! Washington State makes fun offense, and Coug Center makes fun interactive charts.

SQUEAKYBUCKET! Thanks to Michigan State and Wisconsin for making this list look pretty good: