Tim Fletcher: Former La Tech Bulldog Causes Stir In New York

Former Louisiana Tech standout and all-Conference USA performer I.K. Enemkpali, was released by the New York Jets abruptly Tuesday after he reportedly "sucker-punched" teammate, starting quarterback Geno Smith, breaking his jaw in two places and sending him to the shelf for 6-10 weeks.

Former LSU Tiger and Pittsburgh Steeler Ryan Clark, now an ESPN analyst refuted those reports, tweeting he had a first-person account that indicated Smith was not sucker punched and he was more than just an innocent bystander who got clocked.

The New York Post reported that Enemkpali provided $600 to Smith to cover travel expenses to attend his charity football camp in Texas.  Smith backed out at the last minute due to the death of someone close to him.  The former Bulldog asked for his money back and Smith said he would take care of it---but obviously not in a timely enough fashion.

Enemkpali. issued a statement, apologizing to Jets fans, teammates and coaches, saying it was never his intention to harm anyone.

Skip Holtz addressed the situation after Louisiana Tech's practice last night, saying, "I have great respect for IK Enemkpali. My experiences with him were positive while I was here. I never had an incident with him and he was a captain on our football team, was a leader, was involved in community service... and area high schools...We say all the time that 10 seconds of a bad decision can change your life. There are a lot of people that are in prison that made a 10 second bad decision."

-Tim Fletcher