I don't think you just skip practice without there being some sort of problem. It sounds like when team officials went to his house he was there. He just took the day off is what it sounds like to me. I am sure there was a good reason for it, at least in his mind as he certainly doesn't come off as a slacker to me (Ala DeVondre Campbell.) In fact he seems to be the opposite, a player driven to succeed more in the vein of an Amon Ra St. Brown. Now that guy is driven but he's also a wacko (just kidding about the wacko part but he really seems to be driven.) I do not feel that we as fans are entitled to know the reason RD skipped practice but I do feel that as fans we have the right to be skeptical if no reason are forthcoming. I may have missed something but as far as I know all that was said was that things were discussed and everyone was fine with it. It certainly looked as if that was the case the following week. Still, if it happened once there is no reason to think that it couldn't happen again. I don't know what it is or even if it is anything but I do think it goes a bit beyond a Sterling Sharpe just not liking talking to reporters thing.
Romeo missed practice sessions due to "some things going on mentally." Essentially siting mental health concerns as the reason for his absence.
I guess if I were to break down and compare what he and De'Vondre Campbell did, I would come up with this. While both players refused to perform duties that they were both contractually obligated to do, I feel that Campbell's actions were more selfish and damaging to the team. Campbell suited up for a game, which takes away one roster spot. He refused to play because he was angry that a better player became healthy and started ahead of him. His refusal to perform his duties played out on the sidelines, during a game. I consider that a huge distraction and basically mutiny.
While Romeo would have been better off talking to the coaches before deciding to stay home and skip practice, I don't think it was as big of a distraction to the team. Maybe Romeo wasn't coping well with things happening in his job, family issues, personal problems, etc., but at least he chose a much less distracting and I feel damaging way of dealing with it.
I do like the fact that the Packers suspended Romeo for a game. I think that was a clear message that while they support him and any mental health issues, he needs to be in better contact with the staff and work through those issues with them.
Final thought. I have heard and seen nothing but team and fan support for Romeo. The opposite has occurred with Campbell.
