Age of Forgiveness

Apparently, we are living in the age of forgiveness.

Penn State has been reinstated after one of the most-egregious scandals I can think of. Ever. Former head coach and current Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien is being politically correct but you know he's saying, "Hey NCAA, thanks for nothing."

Now, it appears Josh Gordon of the Browns and Wes Welker of the Broncos could be reinstated from substance-related suspensions. There's nothing like resetting the bar so guys convicted of infractions can play anyway. How low can our standards go? Maybe all the steroid-era guys in baseball should get into the Hall of Fame and Pete Rose should have his lifetime ban lifted too.

Who's next? Ray Rice?

Johnny Manziel is not happy, by the way, about Gordon returning. Could keep Brian Hoyer on the field that much longer.

And the ultimate forgiveness - Oscar Pistorius shot his girlfriend. Just plain shot her. Could receive no jail time. Could receive lots. Will never receive a max sentence because the prosecution couldn't prove that he meant to do it.

Of course he did. And Pete Rose didn't mean to bet on baseball. And Mark McGwire didn't mean to want to talk about the past.

Michael Irvin is in the Hall of Fame. So is Ty Cobb. But Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, maybe even Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, will never go into the Hall of Fame.

Or will they?

Sure. And Richard Nixon was a great president. And Lindsay Lohan is a role model. Why isn't she in jail? Or the rehab hall of fame?

Age of forgiveness? My ass.