STAND FOR YOUR MUG SHOT
By Lauren Richardson
The controversy over NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem has dominated the headlines for months. Anyone tuning into a nationally broadcast sporting event, or who has spent time on social media has noticed the growing trend of players kneeling when the announcers say “please stand for the singing of our national anthem.”
It began last year when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick announced his decision to sit down or take a knee during the national anthem to call attention to police violence and injustice in black America.
Kaepernick started a movement against police and now there are hundreds of sports players from across the spectrum including children as young as 8 kneeling when the National Anthem plays.
Interestingly enough, many members of the NFL who are protesting police brutality have criminal records – many are repeat offenders of drunk driving, drug offenses, domestic violence, assault and battery, gun violations, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, theft, burglary, rape and even murder.
Mass Live reports:
NFL players have been arrested 855 times since 2000. That includes 215 DUI charges, 99 drug charges, 96 domestic violence cases and 71 assaults. It even includes two murders.
But which teams have had their players arrested the most?
The following list was compiled based on stats reported on USA Today, and goes in order from least to most arrests while a player was currently employed by the team.
32. Houston Texans
Number of arrests: 13
The Texans were founded in 2002, and have overall been pretty good about staying out of trouble compared to the rest of the league. Houston has four DUI charges, including one to Jacoby Jones that he pleaded guilty to.
31. New York Giants
Number of arrests: 16
The Giants do not have many arrests, but the crimes they have committed have been serious. Jeremiah Parker being charged with manslaughter and convicted of endangering a child in 2001, which put him in prison for 10 years. Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg with a pistol he did not have a permit for at a New York Club, which led to two years in prison. And most recently, kicker Josh Brown, who was charged with domestic abuse against his wife.
T-29. Los Angeles Rams
Number of arrests: 17
The Rams had 12 arrests while in St. Louis, and five arrests since arriving in Los Angeles in 2016. Among those arrests was a domestic violence charge against offensive guard Claude Terrell, who pleaded guilty and spent 30 days in jail. He was cut that day.
T-29. Dallas Cowboys
Number of arrests: 17
Dez Bryant, Terry Glenn and Joey Galloway are three of the more prominent Cowboys wide receivers to be arrested since 2000. Meanwhile, cornerback Dwayne Goodrich was charged with manslaughter in a hit-and-run accident and sentenced to 7.5 years in jail in 2003.
T-27. Philadelphia Eagles
Number of arrests: 18
The Eagles have had three animal abuse charges, three assault charges and three drug charges against their team since 2000. Former Eagles safety Damon Moore was charged with animal abuse after abandoning a rottweiler puppy three days after buying it, and was charged with 15 hours of community service and a $2,000 fine.
T-27. Detroit Lions
Number of arrests: 18
Lions players have been charged with DUIs five times, drug charges four times and domestic violence three times since 2000. Mikel Leshoure, a former Lions running back, was cited for marijuana possession twice in one month in 2012, which resulted in over $1,000 in fines.
26. Buffalo Bills
Number of arrests: 19
The Bills were charged with four DUIs and three drug-related crimes since 2000. Marshawn Lynch, who started his career in Buffalo, was issued drug, gun and reckless driving charges during his time with the Bills.
T-24. New England Patriots
Number of arrests: 20
The Patriots are not high up on the list, but they did employ Aaron Hernandez, who was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. That conviction was recently vacated due to Hernandez’s suicide during the appeals process. The Patriots have had four drug related arrests and four assault charges since 2000.
