When it comes to the NFL, it seems their players can get away with a good bit more than the normal person. Whether if it’s the NFL’s PR department pulling multimillion-dollar strings, or the fact that these players have the disposable income to hire top-notch lawyers, it always seems like they are getting off the hook. From man slaughter with guns to running pedestrians over with cars, these players are not setting a great example for the rest of society.

QB – Micahel Vick:

Michael Vick was blessed with the ability to throw a football 70 yards and run as fast as any player in the league, but one thing he was not blessed with was the ability to make one good life decision. Vick has been a fixture in the news cycle for his various run ins with the law over the course of his career. Starting in 2004, Vick was involved in a drug arrest where two men were distributing marijuana in a car owned by Vick. This was only the beginning. Over the next few years, he had various run ins with women and airport security that were extremely embarrassing to the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons. 
 
Vick faced a rather bizarre lawsuit from a former friend, Sonya Elliot. Elliot claimed that Vick had knowingly and willingly infected her with Genital Herpes in April of 2003. She filed suit in March of 2005 seeking damages from the infection. Elliot claimed that Vick had never mentioned it before their encounter and when she confronted Vick he stated, “I’ve got something to tell you. I’ve got it.” Elliot also claimed that Vick sought test and treatment under the name “Ron Mexico.” The case was settled out of court but opposing fans had a lot of fun with the nickname.

The final straw was Vick pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture. Federal Judge Hudson said he was “convinced that it was not a momentary lack of judgment” on Vick’s part, and that Vick was a “full partner” in the dog fighting ring, and he was sentenced to serve 23 months in federal prison. Vick ended up spending 19 months in Federal prison and recently was released to serve the rest of the sentence on house arrest. He is still awaiting trial for state charges in Virginia. 

WR – Donte Stallworth

Early in the morning on March 14th, 2009, Cleveland Brown’s Wide Receiver Donte Stallworth was driving back from a swanky Miami nightclub when suddenly his black 2005 Bentley struck a man as he crossed the road to catch a bus. Stallworth had been drinking when he struck the man but he immediately pulled over and alerted the authorities about the accident. After the accident he submitted himself to a sobreity test where he blew 0.126 Blood Alcohol Content, well above the legal limit to drive. 
 


On June 4th, 2009, Stallworth was charged with DUI Manslaughter, which could have netted him 15 years in prison. Throughout the case, Stallworth had complied with the authorities wanted and pled guilty and accepted full responsibility for his actions and the family of the victim wanted the case to end to end the emotional trauma, so the state attorney gave him a lenient sentence of 30 days in jail, two years house arrest, and then eight years probation with a separate financial settlement with the family of the victim. 
 
Stallworth’s future with the NFL and the Cleveland Browns is unknown but surely he will be punished heavily, Defensive End Leonard Little was suspended eight game in 1998, when the NFL was significantly more lenient on players. 

WR – Rae Carruth:

On November 16, 1999, Ray Carruth of the Carolina Panthers became the main suspect of the murder of Cherica Adams. At the time, she was pregnant with their daughter Chancellor. On this day, Cherica was found shot four times in a drive-by shooting that left her mangled on the floor. Cherica was able to call 911 and describe Carruth stopping his vehicle in front of hers as it shot into the car. She then described Carruth fleeing from the scene.

Adams was six months pregnant with Carruth’s child, which was born prematurely in the hospital. Cherica would later die on December 14. Carruth later posted the $3 million bail, but failed to turn himself in after the death of Cherica. He was later found in the trunk of a car in Tennessee with $3,900 cash, bottles holding his urine, extra clothes, candy bars, and a cell phone.  During the trial, Carruth was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, shooting into a vehicle, and using an instrument to destroy an unborn child. He is now serving an 19 years 11 months in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

WR – Michael Irvin

            Michael Irvin is hooked on the powder. He has probably done enough of it in his life to powder every nose in a small country, which is probably unacceptable for a professional athlete. In the late 90’s, Irvin kept the Texas district attorneys busy as he frequented the courtrooms for drug related charges. A former Dallas police officer named Johnnie Hernandez also allegedely had been plotting to have Irvin killed. He was arrested for paying an undercover DEA agent $2960 to have Irvin murdered.

RB – Travis Henry

            In 2002, this Buffalo Bills running back was named to the pro bowl following his terrific career with the University of Tennessee. In 2009, he as named the most Prolific Father of the Year on Father’s Day.   He has fathered at least 11 children from 10 different women. After dropping nearly $100,000 on a new car and $150,000 on jewelry, Travis admitted he is now broke as legal troubles and child support payments began to pile up.

            On September 30, 2008 Travis was arrested and jailed by the DEA after allegedly being involved in the transaction of several kilograms of cocaine in Colorado. The prosecutors have portrayed Henry as the main ‘money guy’ in the cocaine trafficking rings and he faced 10 years to life. On April 2, 2009 he reached a plea agreement.  Aside from a short term in prison, he will have to pay around $4 million in fines . . . roughly equivalent to his child support payments.

RB – OJ Simpson

            No comment here.

Defense – The Minnesota Viking’s

            Nothing beats partying. But nothing could ever beat partying on a boat with prostitutes that were flown in just for the special occasion. On October 6, 2005 on Lake Minnetonka 17 members of the Minnesota Vikings took part in an incident known as the “party boat”. The alleged partiers include Daunte Culpepper, ringleader Fred Smoot, Mewelde Moor, Bryant McKinnie, Pat Williams, Kevin Williams, Lance Johnstone, Jermaine Wiggins, Moe Williams, Willie Offord, and Ken Irvin. According to sources, two boats were rented and all but 2 of the players performed sex acts in front of an estimated 90 people.

            After the incident emerged in the media, the Vikings created a 77 page Code of Conduct that was read and distributed to all players. They also hired an ex FBI agent and NFL investigator as head of security, as well as the help of a private firm. Out of all the Party Boat fallout, Cullpepper, Smoot, McKinie, and Moe Williams were charge with indecent and disorderly conduct. They faced up to 90 days in prison, but all charges were dropped for Culpepper. Smooth and McKinnie pleaded guilty and were forced to pay a fine and perform 48 hours community service. They also had 30 day jail sentences.

Defense (Backup) – Ray Lewis:

On January 30th as the St. Louis Rams stopped the Tennessee Titans at the half yard line to win the Super Bowl XXXIV, Ray Lewis celebrated with his friends until the early hours in an Atlanta Nightclub. These celebrations eventually led to an argument between Lewis’ posse and other club patrons that escalated to a physical altercation. The altercation ended with two dead and Lewis’ limousine speeding away from the club with gunshots flying outside the club. 
 


Lewis’ limousine was found later behind the hotel Lewis was staying at. He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and held without bail. His two accomplices, Reginald Oakley and Joseph Sweeting, had disappeared after the altercation. Oakley, Sweeting, and Lewis all had previous run ins with the law, Lewis had been accused of assault multiple times while attending the University of Miami. Lewis was eventually charged with two counts of malicious murder, two counts of felonious murder, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. 
 


In June of 2000, Lewis pled guilty to misdemeanor obstruction of justice and was sentenced to one-year probation, he had to pay one-third of the court cost, and was forbidden from using drugs or alcohol during his probation. The National Football League came down hard on the accused murder with a $250,000 fine, Lewis recently signed a deal worth $44.5 million dollars. The year following his arrest, Ray Lewis won a Super Bowl and a Defensive Player of the Year Award. 


K – Sebastian Janikowski

Sabastian Janikowski, the kicker . . . is a tougher guy than most people give him credit for. While most NFL players will taunt the work ethic and strength of the kicker, Janikowski can actually say he’s been in the slammer. His first brush with the law occurred in June of 2000, when he was charged for bribery of a police officer. Allegedly, Janikowski testified that he was simply attempting to pay a friend’s ticket on the spot, not bribe an officer. Just 8 days after these charges were dropped, Janikowski and 2 friends were arrested for felony possession of the drug GHB.  He then faced prison time and deportation if convicted of the crimes, but was again acquitted of all charges in April of 2001. After earning a reputation for partying at Florida State, it was well known that he was a party animal and faced troubles with his newfound fame and money. On October 2, 2002 Janikowski was charged with a DUI and sentenced to 3 years probation after pleading no contest to the charges.  One year later he would be arrested in a bar fight after a fight in a California restaurant. Surprisingly, there was insufficient evidence and the case was dropped.

Media – Tolly Carr:

On March 11th, 2007 Tolly Carr, the local news sports anchor, was enjoying a few drinks with some friends in downtown Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The bars closed and Tolly decided to drive home from the bar but he was too intoxicated to make it home. While driving he slammed his pick-up truck through a construction site and killed a 26 year old on his way back to his apartment. Carr refused a Breathalyzer test but a blood test later revealed that he had a blood alcohol content of .13, although toxicology reports estimated he consumed between 12-22 drinks that night. In August of 2007, Carr pleaded guilty to felony death by motor vehicle and was sentenced to three years in prison, and five more years on probation.