Vikings' love boat scandal implications

Kevin Seifert gets to the heart of the legal tangle in the Vikings' ongoing "Love Boat" scandal:

Imagine this scenario. It's not as far-fetched as you might think.

Player A (we'll call him Donnie) believes he is falsely accused of a crime that allegedly occurred in the presence of some 30 teammates. Donnie plans to fight the charges, in open court if necessary, and appears set against a plea bargain that would make the issue disappear and avoid a jail sentence.

How does Donnie prove his case? By subpoenaing witnesses — his teammates — to testify as to his (in)action during the incident in question. Such a request would create a heavy burden. First, those teammates would have to acknowledge their own presence at the incident. And if Donnie believes his identity was mistaken, he would need the true offender to admit guilt in order to exonerate himself.

A few months later, the whole bunch would be sharing dormitory rooms in training camp. Go team!