opinion
Touchdown for Clemency: How Trump Just Scored the Ultimate Political Hail Mary
President Trump's latest pardons for ex-NFL stars prove that crime is just a game—and everyone loves a comeback story.

By Chad Evans
Published February 13, 2026 at 4:25pm

In a stunning display of what can only be described as the ultimate power move, President Trump has pardoned five former NFL players, proving once and for all that the real endgame of American football isn’t the Super Bowl—it’s the Get Out of Jail Free card. As a tech entrepreneur who appreciates efficiency, I have to say, this is peak disruption. Why bother with tedious legal processes when you can just toss a Hail Mary pardon from the Oval Office?
Let’s break it down. Nate Newton, caught with enough weed to supply every dispensary in Colorado, gets a pass. Travis Henry, Jamal Lewis, and the others? Their crimes are now just minor penalties in the game of life, wiped clean like a fumble recovered by the home team. And Billy Cannon, pardoned posthumously—because why let death stop you from scoring a political touchdown? This is innovation, people! If only my startup could secure tax breaks with the same ease these guys got clemency.
Alice Marie Johnson, the pardon czar, nailed it on X: "Excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again." Translation: If you’re famous enough to have a highlight reel, you can skip the consequences. It’s the American Dream 2.0—now with fewer regulations and more second chances for those who can throw a spiral. Next up, I’m lobbying for pardons for all crypto traders accused of market manipulation. After all, if moving pounds of marijuana is pardonable, why not moving digital assets?
In conclusion, this isn’t just justice; it’s performance art. Bravo, Mr. President. You’ve disrupted the legal system harder than Uber disrupted taxis. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to vape and brainstorm how to get a pardon for my parking tickets.
