If you think the prisons in America are overcrowded now, just wait until the conclusion of the… If you think the prisons in America are overcrowded now, just wait until the conclusion of the regular season — of any sport.

Jamal Lewis, as part of a plea agreement, will be going to jail for four months, but not until the end of the NFL season.

In a similar case, Rafael Furcal, a shortstop for the Atlanta Braves, will be heading to jail now that the Braves’ season is over.

He was arrested in early September for driving under the influence of alcohol. This was not only against the law, but it violated his probation from an underage drinking charge in 2000. However, a judge said he was permitted to play in the playoffs before serving his prison sentence.

He was allowed to play in the playoffs!

And why was there no suspension from Major League Baseball?

Is this what baseball is trying to portray as a good thing? Furcal hit a game-winning home run in game two of the National League Divisional Series against the Houston Astros. He was the hero for that night.

Here you go young Atlanta fans, your very own drunken slugger. Drink and drive like him, and you’ll hit home runs.

The NFL at least gave Lewis a suspension, if you even want to call it that. He was a conspirator in a drug case and he got suspended for two games.

The federal government suspended him for four months.

Well, sort of.

Lewis, at the conclusion of the season, will head to a federal penitentiary for a four-month sentence, and then he will be living in a halfway house for two more months.

Athletes should not be allowed to push their sentences off to the end of the season. Yes, their teams may need them, but why do they deserve this exception to the rules? No one in any other profession would get this kind of luxury.

“Jimmy Johnson. I hereby sentence you to four months in prison for setting up a drug deal over the phone. This court is adjourned,” the judge says as he slams down the gavel.

“But your Honor. I have a column due at the end of this month,” I plead to the judge.

The judge reconsiders, “Oh, in that case, we’ll see you in November.”

This is not how society should be run. No one should ever receive special treatment, no matter how many rushing records you break. Once you break the law, you’re not an exceptional athlete. You’re a criminal who happens to run really fast.

You may be able to juke Bengals out of their shoes, but you shouldn’t be permitted to side step the courts.

What does it take for an athlete to actually be suspended harshly by the leagues? We’ve seen drug users and dealers, drunk drivers and players who’ve committed some form of domestic abuse receive little or no punishment.

Where is the line? When does a player go too far?

The sports leagues in America need to set up stricter suspensions for those who get in trouble in off-the-field incidents, because what is the message being sent now by leagues?

I’ll tell you.

Corking your baseball bat is more severe of an offense than setting up a cocaine deal over the phone or driving drunk.

Take a look at Sammy Sosa’s eight-game suspension versus Lewis’ two-game suspension and Furcal’s no-game suspension.

The leagues have it all backwards.

Turn around leagues. Now try to walk in a straight line.

Jimmy Johnson is the assistant sports editor of The Pitt News and you can reach him at [email protected]. Oh, and Go Sox!