NFL Legal Issues Since 2006

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jun 20, 2007

NFL Legal Issues Since 2006

Dexter Reid

<i>Players and coaches are listed with the team they were with or last associated with at the time the accusation was made. Some cases were not resolved when this gallery was published on March 26.</i> <br><br>The free-agent defensive back who played for the Indianapolis Colts last season was arrested on a felony charge of possession of marijuana and a first-offense possession of a concealed weapon after he was pulled over in Virginia Beach, Va.

Gerald Sensabaugh, Jacksonville Jaguars

Arrested on a charge of speeding (driving 86 mph in a 55 mph zone) and carrying a firearm without a permit. The arresting officer allegedly found a loaded 9mm pistol in the console of Sensabaugh's vehicle, along with another fully loaded clip.

Jerramy Stevens, Seattle Seahawks

Arrested on a charge of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana after Scottsdale, Ariz., police stopped him for driving erratically. Stevens reportedly told the officer he had drank "four or five margaritas" at a downtown bar.

Charles Sharon, Jacksonville Jaguars

The second-year receiver was charged with grand theft of a firearm and carrying a concealed firearm, both felonies, after Tampa police allegedly found the weapon under the seat of his vehicle during a drug-related search. A passenger in the car was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Richie Anderson, Arizona Cardinals assistant coach

Arrested on a charge of soliciting prostitution during a Phoenix police undercover sting operation.

Dominic Rhodes, Indianapolis Colts

Barely two weeks after the Colts' Super Bowl victory, Rhodes was arrested on a charge of drunken driving after being pulled over for doing 81 mph in a 55-mph zone. His blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.09 percent. Indiana's legal limit is 0.08 percent. He pleaded guilty to reckless driving after the charge of drunken driving was dropped. He was fined $1,000 and sentenced to 180 days in jail, 178 of which were suspended. He received credit for the other two.

Jonathan Babineaux, Atlanta Falcons

Arrested on one felony count of animal abuse after his girlfriend transported an injured dog to an animal emergency center. The animal was dead upon arrival. Babineaux denied responsibility.

Johnathan Joseph, Cincinnati Bengals

The ninth Bengal with legal trouble over an eight-month period, Joseph was charged with misdemeanor drug possession after police stopped a car in Kentucky that was being driven wildly. The officer allegedly smelled an odor of marijuana, and Joseph, who was a passenger in the car, reportedly said that he had a bag of marijuana in his Super Bowl backpack. He pleaded not guilty in early February.

Ryan Krause, San Diego Chargers

Charged with DUI and having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle. He has pleaded not guilty.

Ross Verba, Detroit Lions

Arrested by a Wisconsin state trooper on a felony warrant for writing bad checks in Nevada. He paid the $50,000 he owed a Las Vegas casino and the case was dismissed.

Travis Taylor, Minnesota Vikings

The wide receiver was tasered, arrested and charged with three misdemeanors after he allegedly refused an officer's request to get into a waiting limousine-bus as police tried to clear the way for an ambulance to get through. He has a May 3 trial date.

Joe Woods, Minnesota Vikings assistant coach

Charged with two counts of drunken driving; later registered a .12 blood alcohol concentration, .04 above Minnesota's legal limit. He pleaded guilty in January, and was fined $500 and given a 30-day jail sentence, with 28 of those stayed for 10 years if he complies with certain conditions. He was allowed to do community service in lieu of serving the other two days in jail.

Terry "Tank" Johnson, Chicago Bears

Arrested on a charge of battery and resisting arrest in February; those charges were dropped. Arrested again in December and charged with six counts of unlawful possession of a firearm after police raided his home and confiscated three handguns, three rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition. He pleaded guilty to violating his probation from a 2005 weapons conviction. On March 15 he was sentenced to four months in jail and assessed a $2,500 fine.

Deltha O'Neal, Cincinnati Bengals

Charged with driving while intoxicated after a traffic stop in Ohio. He allegedly had a blood-alcohol level of 0.10, which was .02 higher than Ohio's legal limit. He pleaded not guilty. A judge reduced his charge to reckless operation. His next court appearance is set for May 10.

Terrence Kiel, San Diego Chargers

Charged in September with two felony counts of transporting a controlled substance and three felony counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance after federal agents implicated him in a case involving prescription cough syrup. He pleaded guilty in February 2007 to one count of felony transportation of controlled substance and misdemeanor furnishing dangerous drugs without a license as part of a plea bargain to avoid jail time. If he completes gambling counseling and 100 hours of volunteer work by his Aug. 7 sentencing, the judge will dismiss his felony conviction and place him on probation. Kiel was also charged for public urination outside a nightclub in December. He pleaded not guilty.

Reggie McNeal, Cincinnati Bengals

Charged with resisting arrest after becoming unruly when officers wouldn't let him enter a Houston nightclub that was about to close. He also was charged with a misdemeanor for possession of a dangerous drug. He has a May 7 court date.

Adrian Jones, New York Jets

Arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated; a field sobriety test resulted in an 0.22 blood alcohol reading. He pleaded not guilty.

Cletis Gordon, San Diego Chargers

Arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. (the fifth member of the team to be arrested in 2006). He did not have to face drunken driving charges because the alcohol level was below the legal limit.

Antonio Bryant, San Francisco 49ers

Charged with reckless driving and resisting arrest after he was spotted driving more than 100 mph. Officers used leather restraints to get him in the squad car. He pleaded not guilty. He has an April 18 court date.

Donte Whitner, Buffalo Bills

Arrested after an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend. A harrassment charge was dropped.

Fred Weary, Houston Texans

Tasered and arrested after a traffic stop when he stepped toward officers who had ordered him to put his hands on his vehicle. A misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest was dismissed for insufficient evidence. In January he threatened to sue the city for "unwarranted tasering."

Marcus Coleman, Dallas Cowboys

Charged with driving while intoxicated. He had been convicted of DWI in 2004. No plea had been entered as of March 26.

Khalif Barnes, Jacksonville Jaguars

Charged with drunken driving after being pulled over for driving 101 mph in a 60 mph zone. His blood-alcohol level was 0.12. The state limit in Florida is 0.08. He pleaded not guilty.

Bobby McCray, Jacksonville Jaguars

Charged with reckless driving and possession of a controlled painkiller. The drug charges were later dropped. He pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was fined $1,000.

Robert Reynolds, Tennessee Titans

An arrest warrant was issued after he was accused of shoving his estranged wife into a wall and breaking her cell phone. He pleaded guilty to criminal damaging and disorderly conduct, and was fined $200 plus court costs. She chose not to press assault charges.

Pacman Jones, Tennessee Titans

Arrested in February and later charged with felony and misdemeanor obstruction of justice after he and an officer allegedly got in a "physical altercation" in Fayetteville, Ga. Arrested in March and charged with marijuana possession. Those charges were later dismissed for insufficient evidence. Arrested in August on public drunkenness and disorderly conduct in an incident in which he allegedly spit on a woman. Accused of misdemeanor assault in an October incident for allegedly spitting on another woman. A judge offered in January to dismiss the two August charges if Jones stays out of trouble for six months. A judge dropped the October spitting charge because of the woman's inconsistent testimony.

Kenoy Kennedy, Detroit Lions

Arrested on charges of drunken driving after a traffic stop in Detroit. His blood alcohol level was 0.16, twice the legal limit in Michigan. He received 18 months probation, $500 in fines, had to enter an alcohol-supervision program and perform five days of community service.

Markus Curry, San Diego Chargers

Arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, which included spousal abuse and battery. Charges were dropped.

B.J. Sams, Baltimore Ravens

Arrested on charges of DUI for the second time in just over a year. He has a May 15 court date.

Jared Allen, Kansas City Chiefs

Arrested in May on a charge of DUI, but would have had the charge dismissed if he had finished a program. Arrested again in September for DUI and pleaded no contest to both charges. Received a five-day sentence for the two convictions, consisting of two days in county jail, two days in a lockdown drug-treatment program and one day under house arrest.

Steve Foley, San Diego Chargers

Arrested in the spring on charges of resisting arrest, being drunk in public and battery of a police officer. The charges were not pursued. Charged in October with two misdemeanor counts of DUI after a September incident in which an off-duty officer shot the linebacker multiple times. He pleaded not guilty to both DUI charges.

Odell Thurman, Cincinnati Bengals

Less than a week after new NFL commissioner Roger Goodell appeared in Cincinnati to address players about staying out of trouble, Thurman was arrested on charges of DUI. His blood-alcohol level was 0.18, more than double the Ohio legal limit. He pleaded no contest and was ordered to pay a $250 fine. Thurman also received a one-year suspension of his driver's license and a 90-day sentence, although the sentence is stayed until June 5 and could be reduced pending successful completion of his treatment program.

Brian Williams, Jacksonville Jaguars

Arrested on a drunken-driving charge after his car swerved toward a police car, causing the officer to hit a curb. According to the arresting officer, Williams "used racial slurs continuously on the trip to the jail." Although he pleaded no contest later that same day, a judge later set aside his plea, citing Williams did not properly understand the proceedings.

Joe Cullen, Detroit Lions assistant coach

Arrested on Aug. 24 for "driving on a public street without any clothes on," and a week later on suspicion of drunken driving, both misdemeanors. He was sentenced to two years probation, ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings twice a week and must pay more than $1,600 in fines and court costs.

Koren Robinson, Minnesota Vikings

Arrested on a number of traffic and alcohol violations (drunken driving and fleeing police) after driving over 100 mph as police pursued him in Minnesota. His blood-alcohol content was 0.11. The legal limit in the state is 0.08. He entered an "Alford plea," in which he will be sentenced on one felony charge of fleeing police. Prosecutors dismissed seven lesser charges related to drunken driving, reckless driving and driving without a license.

Barrett Brooks, Pittsburgh Steelers

Charged with reckless driving, fleeing and eluding, driving at an unsafe speed and other violations after he fled from police on his motorcycle. Brooks apologized, calling the incident a result of miscommunication and not wrongdoing. He pleaded guilty and paid fines and court costs totalling $106.

Eric Steinbach, Cincinnati Bengals

Arrested on a charge of operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol. He accepted diversion, which provides sentencing alternatives, rather than go to trial.

Randy Starks, Tennessee Titans

Turned himself into police and was charged with domestic assault for allegedly breaking nine of his fiancee's fingernails while trying to remove an engagement ring. Reached an agreement in December to continue anger management counseling in exchange for charges to be dropped in August 2007.

John Gilmore, Chicago Bears

Arrested on a charge of resisting arrest and trespassing after allegedly refusing to leave a bar. Also arrested on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less than 2.5 grams of marijuana. The case was dismissed in September.

Matthias Askew, Cincinnati Bengals

Tasered and charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and obstruction of police business after he allegedly broke away from officers who were handcuffing him for refusing to move his illegally parked car and for refusing to give his ID. He was acquitted in August and filed a suit against the city of Cincinnati in September, accusing the police of "excessive force."

Jabar Gaffney, Philadelphia Eagles

Charged with unlawful possession of a weapon after police in New Jersey pulled him over. Gaffney, who had played in Houston the previous season, thought that he was ok legally since he had a permit from Texas to carry a gun. Gaffney was admitted to a diversionary program for first-time offenders. The charges are expected to be dismissed in September 2007.

Chris Henry, Cincinnati Bengals

Charged in January with improper exhibition of a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm and possession of a concealed weapon. The first two were dropped. He pleaded guilty to the third and got 100 hours of community service and two years probation. Charged in June for providing alcohol to three female minors under the age of 21, for which he pleaded guilty and served two days of a 90-day jail sentence. In another June incident, he was charged with drunken driving and speeding. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless operation of a vehicle and received a 30-day suspended sentence.

Cortland Finnegan, Tennessee Titans

Arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence after being stopped for doing 42 mph in a 30-mph zone in Nashville. He did not submit to a blood alcohol test. Pleaded guilty to a reduced charge (reckless driving). Plea agreement included six-month suspended sentence and 20 hours of community service.

A.J. Nicholson, Cincinnati Bengals

Charged with burglary, grand theft and vandalism after allegedly breaking into the apartment of a former FSU teammate with ex-Seminole receiver Fred Rouse and stealing $1,700 worth of electronic equipment in late May. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to two years of probation and 60 days in a work program.

Jonathan Sullivan, New England Patriots

Charged with running two stop signs, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and violating seat belt and noise ordinances after his car was pulled over in Georgia. Charges were dropped in August.

Jammal Brown, New Orleans Saints

Arrested on a domestic abuse battery charge after his wife called 911. He pleaded not guilty in August. The state dropped the case in February.

Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers

Charged with domestic violence after allegedly assaulting the mother of one of his three children. The charges were dismissed after concerns about evidence were raised.

Ataveus Cash, Washington Redskins

Arrested on a charge of driving without a license. He paid a fine and was released.

Keith Traylor, Miami Dolphins

Charged with DUI and illegal possession of a prescription anti-depressant. Later charged with felony injury to a public building after he pulled down a smoke detector while in jail. The illegal possession charge was dropped. He pleaded no contest to the other two and was given a one-year deferred sentence for each. If he does not have a repeat offense, both charges will be expunged at the end of a year.

Cory Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Barely a month after being drafted in the fourth round by the Packers, Rodgers was arrested on charges of unlawfully carrying a weapon and discharging a firearm. He got 15 months of probation and 80 hours of community service in a plea bargain.

Reuben Droughns, Cleveland Browns

Turned himself into authorities to face one count of assault and two of harassment after his wife accused him of throwing her out the door of their home after she said she wanted a divorce. The case was dropped in October for lack of evidence.

Bryce Fisher, Seattle Seahawks

Charged with fourth-degree assault for allegedly twisting his wife's arm behind her back while they struggled for control of his cell phone. He pleaded not guilty. The charges were dismissed in February because a witness would not cooperate.

Ricky Manning, Jr., Chicago Bears

Arrested on suspicion of assault after a conflict with a customer at a Denny's restaurant. Pleaded no contest and was sentenced to three years probation, community service and anger management counseling.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars

Charged with assault in the same case as Ricky Manning, Jr. The charge was dismissed for insufficient evidence.

Shaun Phillips, San Diego Chargers

Arrested for obstructing/resisting an officer who wanted to question Phillips about a possible domestic violence situation between Phillips and the woman in his company. No charges were filed.

Dhani Jones, Philadelphia Eagles

Arrested for failing to obey a lawful command. According to Miami Beach police, Jones and an unidentified female were obstructing traffic by dancing in the middle of the street. Jones was arrested when he refused to stop. He pleaded no contest, accepted a sentence of a Withhold of Adjudication and agreed to pay court costs.

Ahmad Carroll, Green Bay Packers

Arrested on charges of third-degree assault on a police officer, disorderly conduct and refusal to submit to an arrest after he was accused of slapping the hand of a police officer who was trying to talk to him. The charge of assault was reduced to interference with government operations and the charge of resisting arrest was reduced to refusing to submit to an officer. He pleaded no contest to all three and received a total of $700 in fines and $315 in court costs.

Damion McIntosh, Miami Dolphins

Arrested and charged with domestic violence against his wife. The charges were dropped.

Sean Locklear, Seattle Seahawks

Charged with assaulting his girlfriend by allegedly grabbing her around the neck and pushing her. Charges were dropped after he agreed to do community service and pay court costs.