The 2015 NFL Criminals Thread

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Prime Time

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We're in a slow offseason news cycle so I thought we'd keep track of all criminal charges/trials/sentences against NFL players, coaches, and front office staff retroactive to January 1 of this year. Let's hope that anyone associated with our Rams stays off this thread.

USA Today NFL Arrests Database
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http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/trouble-hasnt-slowed-down-nfl-2015

Trouble hasn't slowed down for NFL in 2015
The Associated Press


Commissioner Roger Goodell declared at the Super Bowl that the NFL made "enormous progress" on social issues after last year's incessant barrage of disturbing developments, led by the Ray Rice domestic violence and Adrian Peterson child abuse crises.

That bombardment hasn't much abated in 2015, with at least eight players arrested, a star suspended, an agent indicted and a Hall of Famer fired.

Also enmeshed in the headlines are Johnny Manziel checking himself into a treatment program and the murder trial of Aaron Hernandez getting under way.

All of this against the backdrop of the league's investigation into whether the Super Bowl champion Patriots surreptitiously provided under-inflated footballs for their AFC championship win.

"It's a discouraging start to the new year," said Richard Lapchick, director of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida. "But my hope is it's an anomaly for 2015."

That will hinge on whether discipline and dishonor - "the players aren't going to want to be mentioned in the same story as Ray Rice or Adrian Peterson" - serve as deterrents to further transgressions, he said.

The players' union maintains it's not a one-way street, noting that several instances of owner misconduct went unpunished last year, raising questions about the congruity of Goodell's discipline. The union cited the cases of the Vikings' Ziggy Wilf, the Cowboys' Jerry Jones and the Browns' Jimmy Haslam.

"Anytime there are off-field incidents by players, we are disappointed, but we need to put things in some perspective," NFLPA president Eric Winston said. "These incidents are exceptions and not reflective of our membership. This union is focused on supporting players, educating players, fighting for due process and fairness. We are not opposed to discipline as we believe everyone should be held accountable for their actions, but there is so much attention on discipline that the other areas tend to get ignored in the public. We will not ignore them."

Former NFL coach Tony Dungy suggested the players' alleged misdeeds are reflective of society at large, commonplace when young players go from strict schedules to offseason freedom.

"It's always a dangerous time and it kind of happens every year," Dungy said. "If you just read the local paper every day you're going to read about DUIs, speeding tickets, incidents at nightclubs. But it wouldn't be anybody's name you would recognize."

Not so when it's an NFL player.

"The one thing that we have to be careful about is to think it's all of a sudden gotten worse or these guys are different," Dungy said. "I think we can get lost in `Oh yeah, we had 10 or 12 incidents and forget that the other 1,790 guys are doing quite well."

Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president for football operations, said: "Our young men are presented with the greatest platform in the world and how they carry that responsibility determines public perception. Our efforts are focused every day on raising the standard of excellence. We take the approach of shared responsibility and personal accountability in that we have resources and mentors in place to assist these young men where they are challenged. It is their responsibility to utilize them.

"We continue to work each day to bring out the best in all who are associated with the game of football."

A steady stream of arrests and charges since Jan. 1 include:

-Colts linebackers Josh McNary (rape), D'Qwell Jackson (assault) and Andrew Jackson (drunken driving);

-Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion (drugs);

-Saints pass rusher Junior Galette (assault);

-Jets running back Chris Johnson (weapons);

-Bears cornerback Tim Jennings (drunken driving).


In Kansas, police are investigating a domestic abuse claim against Cowboys running back Joseph Randle made by an ex-girlfriend a day after his arrest at a Kansas hotel on a drug charge that's been dropped. The probe continues.

Browns receiver Josh Gordon was suspended for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell received 15 months' probation in a first-offender's program following his August arrest on marijuana charges. Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was placed on probation in a case stemming from alleged assaults on his wife last year.

And Warren Sapp was fired as an NFL Network analyst after his arrest on suspicion of soliciting a prostitute and allegedly assaulting two women.

Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy faces possible NFL discipline even though prosecutors Monday dismissed domestic violence charges against him after the accuser couldn't be found.

Finally, there's the specter of Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston going No. 1 in the draft despite a history of questionable off-field behavior.

Dungy said he didn't think most teams would place a higher priority this year on character given all that's transpired, insisting, "Guys with talent are always going to have a place to play."
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PFT Police Blotter

2/3/15: Colts LB D’Qwell Jackson is arrested for assault.

1/14/15: Colts LB Josh McNary is charged with rape, criminal confinement, and battery.

1/9/15: Jets RB Chris Johnson is arrested for open carrying of a firearm, a second degree misdemeanor.

1/5/15: Saints LB Junior Galette is arrested for simple battery related to domestic violence.
 

Boffo97

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The over/under for how long this thread will be at the end of Super Bowl L is 40 pages.

BTW, should we necessarily be posting non-Rams related stories about people in the NFL committing crimes in this thread?
 

CodeMonkey

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Something that never gets brought up in these pressers is the criminal activity on behalf of the NFL owners and executives. Not just the drunk driving and etc (eg. Irsay, Heckert, Zimmer) either but fraud (eg. Irsay) and various medical malpractices (eg Chao).

I think per capita the players are cleaner than the owners and execs.
 

LACHAMP46

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Just wow.....This is a violent game, played by a few (<2%) violent men.....
 

Prime Time

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BTW, should we necessarily be posting non-Rams related stories about people in the NFL committing crimes in this thread?

I don't get what you're asking.

I think per capita the players are cleaner than the owners and execs.

White collar crime doesn't get the same amount of clicks on a website.

Just wow.....This is a violent game, played by a few (<2%) violent men.....

And they're also for the most part young. I did my share of dumb and even criminal things while in that same age group. What gets me is when someone hits their thirties and is still doing dumb things and getting arrested.
 

Rmfnlt

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Let's hope that anyone associated with our Rams stays off this thread

I have to give credit to Fisher on this one.

He's drafted and brought in free agents that most would shy away from due to their "colorful" pasts.

But he's managed to keep all the kids in line.

He deserves credit for being a good positive influence on them.
 

Athos

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I'll always be amused how the guys charged with drug possession/under the influence, get the stiffer end of the beat-stick than guys with domestic abuse charges, battery charges, sex assault charges, etc.

GoodHell is full of shit.

Still.
 

Prime Time

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...rley-in-court-for-dui-reckless-driving-trial/

Nick Fairley in court for DUI, reckless driving trial
Posted by Michael David Smith on February 11, 2015

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AP

Soon-to-be free agent defensive tackle Nick Fairley isin court in Mobile, Alabama, today as his trial for driving under the influence and reckless driving gets underway.

The trial stems from a 2012 arrest when police pulled Fairley over on Interstate-10. He is accused of being legally drunk while driving 100 miles an hour.

Fairley was the Lions’ first-round draft pick in 2011 and has spent his entire career in Detroit, but he is expected to sign elsewhere this offseason. The Lions declined to pick up the fifth-year option on Fairley’s rookie contract, and they’re making a new deal for Ndamukong Suh their top offseason priority.

After the trial ends, Fairley could face NFL discipline. A two-game suspension is the standard discipline for a DUI conviction under the league’s new substance-abuse policy.
 

Boffo97

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I don't get what you're asking.
I'm asking if we should make this the big mega-thread for talking about non-Rams in legal trouble, like how we have the big mega relocation thread.
 

Prime Time

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I'm asking if we should make this the big mega-thread for talking about non-Rams in legal trouble, like how we have the big mega relocation thread.

Yeah, I'll merge any articles about NFL legal troubles into this one. I doubt it will become a mega thread though. As a former student of criminal justice it interests me but maybe not too many of the other members.
 

CodeMonkey

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We visited my nephew in Nashville who was an entry level front office employee for the Tennessee Titans earlier this year (he now works for the StL Cardinals). He arranged to have a team limmo ferry us around as we were drinking and roaming around the town. The drivers were very professional and prompt. We had a great time. My assumption is that the Titans aren't alone in this service to their employees. I expect, but am not certain, that every team does. So, there really is no reason for any NFL player to be out partying and driving their own car. Call for a team limmo, dipstick!
 

A55VA6

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Good idea, Prime. Have a feeling this thread will have plenty to talk about in the coming months. Kind of sad.
 

Prime Time

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And my vote for biggest criminal in the NFL is...
.
.
.
.
.

.... Roger Goodhell


care to expand on this ;)

Back in the late 80's I was working at nowhere jobs. My wife had a friend who was a paralegal and made big bucks. And as wives will sometimes do, she talked me into going back to school and getting my paralegal license.

Since I already had three years of credits from San Jose State, I took two and a half years of criminal justice and got my degree. Never used it though. That was a dumbass move on my part. Learned a lot about the law though and graduated with a 3.8 GPA.

Best story: One day I was in class when the professor thought it was a good idea to hire a man to chase a woman into our class room shooting blanks. It only took like 60 seconds but everyone was freaked out and dove under the desks.

After the couple left the professor asked us to write a report in which we described the perp, the victim, and everything that had happened. It turns out that we all blanked out and could remember almost nothing description-wise about what had happened. The point was not to be too hard on crime scene witnesses.
 

Prime Time

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ts-report-that-he-was-disorderly-at-a-casino/

Pacman profanely protests report that he was disorderly at a casino
Posted by Michael David Smith on February 11, 2015

pacman-jones-pic.jpg


Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones is not taking kindly to the latest report that he’s in trouble with the law.

Jones posted a video on Instagram today to lash out at a TMZ report that police were called to a casino because he was being disorderly. Jones doesn’t deny that he was at a casino or that police were called, but he does say, in profane fashion, that he thinks TMZ should find something else to report about.

“I’m in the car, I got a call telling me I’m on the news about the casino last night. Man, you all need to stop that s–t, man. You all ain’t got s–t else to report? TMZ, all, y’all. Get outta motherf–kin here, man. Get the f–k out of here. Ain’t nobody did,” Jones said.

According to the report, police were called to the Hollywood Casino in Indiana at 12:42 a.m. because of a “disorderly person,” and Jones was eventually kicked out of the casinobut not arrested.

Jones has a long history of legal problems and suspensions that have plagued his NFL career. Most recently he was in the news because he was ordered to pay $12.4 million to the victims of a shooting outside a Las Vegas strip club.
 

Boffo97

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ts-report-that-he-was-disorderly-at-a-casino/

Pacman profanely protests report that he was disorderly at a casino
Posted by Michael David Smith on February 11, 2015

pacman-jones-pic.jpg


Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones is not taking kindly to the latest report that he’s in trouble with the law.

Jones posted a video on Instagram today to lash out at a TMZ report that police were called to a casino because he was being disorderly. Jones doesn’t deny that he was at a casino or that police were called, but he does say, in profane fashion, that he thinks TMZ should find something else to report about.

“I’m in the car, I got a call telling me I’m on the news about the casino last night. Man, you all need to stop that s–t, man. You all ain’t got s–t else to report? TMZ, all, y’all. Get outta motherf–kin here, man. Get the f–k out of here. Ain’t nobody did,” Jones said.

According to the report, police were called to the Hollywood Casino in Indiana at 12:42 a.m. because of a “disorderly person,” and Jones was eventually kicked out of the casinobut not arrested.

Jones has a long history of legal problems and suspensions that have plagued his NFL career. Most recently he was in the news because he was ordered to pay $12.4 million to the victims of a shooting outside a Las Vegas strip club.
This guy is always counterexample #1 when someone suggests that character isn't a concern for us because Fisher "knows how to handle these red flag types".
 

LesBaker

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Just wow.....This is a violent game, played by a few (<2%) violent men.....

Don't believe the hype. It's a crock and the people who write this kind of stuff should be embarrassed about the effort they put into their job and craft.

NFL players get arrested for violent crimes at a lower rate than society as a whole when you look at the age/race demographics. The difference is nobody cares if I get a DUI. Not one report about that will pop up on ESPN.

But if the "emergency long snapper" gets one, it's on ESPN's homepage faster than you can say TMZ.com.
 

LesBaker

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ts-report-that-he-was-disorderly-at-a-casino/

Pacman profanely protests report that he was disorderly at a casino
Posted by Michael David Smith on February 11, 2015

pacman-jones-pic.jpg


Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones is not taking kindly to the latest report that he’s in trouble with the law.

Jones posted a video on Instagram today to lash out at a TMZ report that police were called to a casino because he was being disorderly. Jones doesn’t deny that he was at a casino or that police were called, but he does say, in profane fashion, that he thinks TMZ should find something else to report about.

“I’m in the car, I got a call telling me I’m on the news about the casino last night. Man, you all need to stop that s–t, man. You all ain’t got s–t else to report? TMZ, all, y’all. Get outta motherf–kin here, man. Get the f–k out of here. Ain’t nobody did,” Jones said.

According to the report, police were called to the Hollywood Casino in Indiana at 12:42 a.m. because of a “disorderly person,” and Jones was eventually kicked out of the casinobut not arrested.

Jones has a long history of legal problems and suspensions that have plagued his NFL career. Most recently he was in the news because he was ordered to pay $12.4 million to the victims of a shooting outside a Las Vegas strip club.

This guy needs to be run over by a bus. Three times just to be sure it kills him.

A couple of years ago he mouthed off to a woman at a bar on the patio who then dumped her drink on him and he slapped her. Not a thing was done, I'm sure she got some money. Nothing happened to him, if this happened today he'd be out of the league.

 

Prime Time

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NFL players get arrested for violent crimes at a lower rate than society as a whole when you look at the age/race demographics. The difference is nobody cares if I get a DUI. Not one report about that will pop up on ESPN.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/the-rate-of-domestic-violence-arrests-among-nfl-players/

The Rate of Domestic Violence Arrests Among NFL Players
By BENJAMIN MORRIS

Although there seems to be an endless stream of stories about NFL player arrests and misconduct, this is largely because there are a lot of NFL players (and they’re famous). At the league’s peak (during training camps), there are about 2,560 players attached to NFL teams (limit 80 each). As I’ll show, arrest rates among NFL players are quite low compared to national averages for men in their age range — but there are some types of crimes that trail the pack significantly.

This data was tricky to work with. For NFL arrests, the most comprehensive source I could find was the USA Today NFL Arrests Database, which goes back to 2000 and is updated through the present (I calculated rates based on the 2,560 players per year estimate). For national arrest trends, I used the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ Arrest Data Analysis Tool to find the arrest rates per 100,000 for the male population in the 25-to-29 age group (this group is the most similar to the NFL as a whole, where the average team age varies from 25 to 27 years old). The difficulty is that the two sources code offenses differently, so I had to make several grouping choices. There’s a full explanation of my methodology at the end of this piece.

As you would expect from a much more affluent group (e.g. the poverty rateamong NFL players is zero), NFL players have much lower arrest rates than average — basically across the board:

morris-datalab-nfl-vaw-12.png


The most common arrests among the general public are for drug-related offenses and DUIs. The most common among NFL players is DUI, with assault a distant second. Overall, NFL players’ arrest rate is just 13 percent of the national average. But this isn’t distributed evenly across crimes in the slightest:

morris-datalab-nfl-vaw-2.png


Note that murder scores relatively high, but the raw numbers are extremely low (there are two in the database, though a third case — domestic in nature —resulted in suicide). But there are 83 domestic violence arrests, making it by far the NFL’s worst category — with a relative arrest rate of 55.4 percent.

Although this is still lower than the national average, it’s extremely high relative to expectations. That 55.4 percent is more than four times worse than the league’s arrest rate for all offenses (13 percent), and domestic violence accounts for 48 percent of arrests for violent crimes among NFL players, compared to our estimated 21 percent nationally.

Moreover, relative to the income level (top 1 percent) and poverty rate (0 percent) of NFL players, the domestic violence arrest rate is downright extraordinary. According to a 2002 Bureau of Justice Statistics Report covering 1993 to 1998, the domestic victimization rate for women in households with income greater than $75,000 (3.3 per 100,000) was about 39 percent of the overall rate (8.4 per 100,000), and less than 20 percent of the rate for women ages 20 to 34.

That report doesn’t include cross-tabs, and it’s a little out of date (more current data is harder to find because more recent BJS reports on the issue do not include income breakdowns), but that sub-20 percent relative victimization among high-income households is consistent with the NFL’s 13 percent relative arrest rate overall (arrest disparities between income levels areprobably even greater than victimization rates).

Indeed, perhaps the question of how the NFL should “police” its players is the wrong analogy entirely. This situation may be more akin to tort law than criminal law: If the NFL is capable of reducing any harm its players are causing — whether through harsher suspensions or other policies targeting behavior — it may have a legal (or at least moral) duty to do so.

Methodology: Now, I’m not experienced working with crime data, so I apologize if I grouped things unconventionally:

  • Assault: The BJS statistics make a distinction between aggravated assault and regular assault (the NFL data does not), but they don’t break out battery, attempted murder or manslaughter (NFL data does). So I’ve grouped all of these under “assaults” on both sides.
  • Sex offenses: The BJS statistics break down sex crimes into rape and non-rape, while the NFL arrest data is broken down by assault and non-assault. Therefore, I’ve combined those categories on each side into “sex offenses.”
  • Gun-related: Because the BJS data specifically says its gun data is of the carrying/possession variety, I’ve combined other types of gun offenses in the NFL data with their respective crimes instead of in their own group.
  • Prostitution-related: The NFL data breaks out pimping and solicitation, and the BJS summary data doesn’t, so I’ve combined these into “prostitution-related.”
  • Disorderly conduct: In the NFL data, it appears that some “disorderly conduct”-type crimes are listed individually, and some aren’t. I took my best guess and included everything that sounded like disorderly conduct, including: alcohol-related crimes, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, evading police and public intoxication.
  • Drugs: There were 11 cases in which a player was arrested in connection with something nonviolent while in possession of both drugs and guns. Because it was unclear to me whether all of those guns were illegal or not, I grouped these as drug offenses.
  • Domestic violence: The BJS summary data bunches domestic crimes with their respective counterparts. Because the vast majority of these are assault cases, I’ve broken down its assault data into domestic and nondomestic, based on another BJS report which states that approximately 21 percent of violent crimes are domestic. (How exactly that translates into arrests is very tricky; I tried calculating it from the huge National Incident-Based Reporting System data set myself and got a tentative number closer to 15 percent, but to be conservative, I’ve stuck with the 21 percent baseline for purposes of this analysis).
  • Finally, note, of course, I’m not saying that all of the players arrested are guilty, and only a small number are ever prosecuted or disciplined (which is also true to varying degrees for the general public).
 

Rmfnlt

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This guy is always counterexample #1 when someone suggests that character isn't a concern for us because Fisher "knows how to handle these red flag types".
I'm not sure what you mean by this.

????