The Cleveland Browns have Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson. For some reason, they felt the need to bring on Kareem Hunt and his baggage on Monday. Makes one recall some of the more questionable NFL signings and choices.
Greg Hardy
The Dallas Cowboys signed Greg Hardy to a one-year deal worth more than $11 million in 2015. The decision was made despite Hardy having been charged with assault on a female and with communicating threats the year before when with the Panthers. Charges were eventually dismissed because the the accuser failed to testify. Hardy had been placed on the commissioner’s exempt list after one game in 2014. Dallas still signed him. He played his way out of the league and into UFC, where he was disqualified for an illegal knee in his first bout. Some things never change.
Reuben Foster
The San Francisco 49ers cut Reuben Foster immediately after he was arrested during the 2018 season for domestic violence. Foster was claimed on waivers by Washington just three days after being arrested and the team received heavy criticism for picking up the linebacker. He remains on the commissioner’s exempt list.
Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones
How many times can one player get in trouble with the law and continue to be signed by NFL teams. Adam Jones has to hold the dubious distinction. His Wikipedia page details all the brushes with the law. Still, over and over Jones was able to find homes with teams.
Tank Johnson
The defensive linemen found himself in trouble with the law numerous times. The Cowboys signed him after the Bears let him go in 2007 despite the rap sheet that came along with him.
Michael Vick
The Atlanta Falcons’ star quarterback was incarcerated for his role in a dog-fighting ring. He spent 21 months in a federal prison and became arguably the most notorious name in the league. The Philadelphia Eagles opted to sign Vick after he served his time. He spent five years in Philly before moving on to the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Kerry Collins
The New York Giants signed Kerry Collins to a four-year contract in 1999 despite issues on and off the field. He was arrested on driving while impaired charges after signing with the New Orleans Saints. He previously had problems in Carolina when he used a racial epithet in a conversation with a teammate.
Josh Brent
Josh Brent was charged with intoxication manslaughter for an auto accident that killed his Dallas Cowboys teammate Jerry Brown on Dec. 8, 2012. Despite the notoriety, Dallas did not separate itself from the lineman. He served time and went through rehabilitation. Dallas activated him from the reserve/suspended list in 2014. That moved followed a 10-game suspension by the NFL. He eventually retired in 2015. The Cowboys kept him around, hiring him to their scouting department in September of 2015. Last year, Brent and the bar he and Brown had been at were hit with a $25 million judgment/verdict.
Mychal Kendricks
Mychael Kendricks found trouble in a different manner. He was busted for insider trading after signing as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns following the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl season. The linebacker was quickly dispersed by Cleveland. Despite pleading guilty and facing time for his actions, the Seattle Seahawks signed Kendricks during the 2018 season and he played for them prior to sentencing.
La’El Collins
This was one of the trickier situations. La’El Collins had first-round grades coming out of LSU. However, on the eve of the 2015 draft, a pregnant woman with whom he had previously had a relationship was murdered. Collins was not deemed a suspect and was ready to speak to authorities. Still, the incident led to him not being drafted. Dallas signed Collins and he has had a solid career,
Christian Peter
Despite numerous run-ins with the law in college, the New York Giants signed Christian Peter as a free agent after he was dispatched by the New England Patriots for his indiscretions at Nebraska. When the Pats drafted Peter, and his troubles were brought to light, the team relinquished the rights to their fifth-round pick a week after the draft. The team said that Christian’s behavior was “incompatible with our organization’s standards of acceptable conduct.” The Boston Globe reported the late Myra Kraft, wife of team owner, Robert, wanted him released. Peter has stayed out of trouble and currently speaks of his struggles and battle with sobriety.
Maurice Clarett
There were all sorts of red flags entering the 2005 NFL Draft around Maurice Clarett. He had battled the league, trying to become draft eligible early after being dismissed from Ohio State. Despite the issues, the Denver Broncos selected the running back in the third round. He was released during training camp, never having played a down.
Art Schlichter
Another Buckeye with all sorts of issues. The quarterback was a local hero when he arrived in Columbus. There were signals of trouble as he had been seen numerous times at Scioto Downs, an Ohio harness track, during his time in the Big Ten. Still, the Colts drafted him fourth overall. He wound up a total bust with all sorts of troubles due to the disease known as a gambling addiction. Schlichter has spent multiple stints in prison.
