Is the NFL lockout causing trouble with the law for players? (Part 4)
This is the fourth part of a series of articles discussing legal troubles that players have had since the National Football League (NFL) imposed a lockout on its players and that the arrests and citations could have been avoided had there been no
lockout.
He also said that "I am very grateful that, due to the Constitution and Americans' strong and enduring belief in due process, I am presumed innocent of this public intoxication charge because I am innocent. I look forward to vigorously defending myself in
a court of law. I thank you for your continued support."
The next player is one who seems to have a problem with an illegal drug known as codeine. Johnny Jolly, defensive end for the Green Bay Packers, was arrested on 25 March after he was pulled over by Houston, Texas police at about 12:45 AM local time. Police
found a bottle with 600 grams of codeine in it under the passenger’s seat and another bottle in the driver’s side door with an unknown substance, resulting in Jolly being charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
Police spokesman Victor Senties said that when police asked Jolly for his driver’s license, he provided a state identification card. After a background check, police discovered that his license had been suspended in 2007 and could not be renewed.
After a separate drug incident in July of 2008, Jolly was suspended for the 2010 season by the league, without pay, for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Without him, the Green Bay Packers went on to win Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh
Steelers.
In that incident, Jolly could have been looking at 20 years behind bars after being arrested for possession of 200 grams of codeine, which is a second degree felony. However, he was given pretrial diversion, which is a form of probation that would erase
the charges from his record if he could stay out of trouble during his probation. He was also ordered to perform 160 hours of community service, which included ten speaking engagements, talking to children and others about drug use and its dangers.
Instead of being sent to prison this time, District Judge Denise Bradley sentenced Jolly to five years of the same probation and said that this is his last chance. In her words, if he commits another offense, “I will send you to jail.” Jolly had been incarcerated
in a state prison since his arrest in March.
Jolly was also ordered to undergo a drug treatment program and he plans to attend a facility run by former National Basketball Association (NBA) player and head coach, John Lucas, who also faced drug and alcohol related problems.
In his four years playing for the Packers, Jolly has started in 39 of the 48 games that he has played in and has recorded 113 tackles and two sacks. He also has 17 passes deflected and one interception returned for two yards, as well as one forced fumble.
For find out who else had legal troubles and what they were, check out the next part of this article.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy. However, all of the arrests and information regarding are factual.
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