Cedric Benson Becomes Latest Major Player Arrested During NFL Lockout

Danny FlynnJun 7, 2018

I guess we all misinterpreted what Ray Lewis meant in that oh-so-awkward interview with Sal Paolantonio a few weeks ago.

In the interview, Lewis stated that crime would rise if there were no NFL season because people would have nothing else to do, and therefore, they would search to fill their football-less void by breaking the law.

It turns out Lewis was right, but we must have missed the point of what he was trying to say. Instead of talking about the fans committing the evil that we call crime, Lewis must have been talking about his fellow players.

Because if this summer has shown us anything, it’s that when you give professional football players nothing to do for a long period of time, crime will certainly climb.

Just look at all the arrests we’ve seen since the lockout began back in mid-March.

Over the last few months, more than 20 NFL players have been arrested for various crimes, ranging from disturbing the peace to assault with a deadly weapon.

Bengals RB Cedric Benson is the latest to join the club.

Benson, who ran into trouble in Texas early this morning after allegedly assaulting a family member, is the third Bengals player arrested in just the past week, joining teammates Pacman Jones and Marvin White.

Benson is the latest high profile player who has found himself in the crosshairs of justice.

It seems that we’ve learned a few different things during this lockout mess.

We’ve learned that Titans WR Kenny Britt now appears set on throwing his career down the drain with his off field behavior.

We’ve learned Pacman Jones still loves being Pacman Jones.

And we learned that JaMarcus Russell isn’t the only football player who likes to have a sip or two every so often.

Overall, we learned that NFL players still enjoy fighting, handguns, codeine, drinking and driving terribly after drinking.

Maybe, just maybe, that’s why the owners have been so against giving the players such a big piece of the pie.

James Harrison wasn’t the only player who caused bad publicity for his organization this offseason.

Here’s a look at the most notable arrests of the NFL Lockout.

Aqib Talib: Aggraveted Assault with a Deadly Weapon

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On March 11, police in Garland, Texas accused Aqib Talib of shooting at his sister’s boyfriend, earning him a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

It remains to be seen if this will be the final strike for Talib in Tampa Bay, as the organization has to be getting fed up with all the headaches he's caused.

Talib has been a problem child since first entering the league. It all started at the rookie symposium when the corner got in a fight with teammate Cory Boyd. The following year, Talib was accused of assaulting a driver.

We'll have to see if the Bucs give him another shot or if they decide to cut ties with the troubled DB.

Hines Ward: DUI

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Hines Ward has been living it up since his victory on Dancing With the Stars.

Sadly, on the night of July 9, Ward decided to mix "living it up" with driving a vehicle down in his home state of Georgia, and the police weren’t very impressed with Ward trying to dance around the truth.

Something tells me Steelers owner Dan Rooney is going to tell his players to stay out of Georgia from now on.

Kenny Britt: Arrested Twice

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Kenny Britt has definitely been keeping busy this offseason.

The Titans WR has been arrested not once, but twice, so far during the lockout, and at this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes it a trifecta before the season starts.

Britt was first arrested on April 12 in his home state of New Jersey for careless driving. He plead guilty and paid a fine.

On June 8, Britt again ran into trouble when he was booked for resisting arrest.

The Titans need to give new QB Jake Locker a key target, so the organization might be forced to overlook the incidents.

Pacman Jones: Being Pacman Jones

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I don’t know if Pacman Jones loves finding trouble or if trouble loves finding him, but whatever the case may be, it seems like we can’t go more than a season without Jones falling into some type of hot water.

The troubled cornerback has been arrested numerous times, and although he’s never served any jail time for his offenses, Jones has become one of the NFL poster boys for bad behavior.

That streak continued when Jones was arrested after he became drunk and disorderly at the Scene Ultra Lounge in Cincinnati last Sunday.

Maybe this will finally inspire the NFL to say enough is enough; it's time for this guy to go.

Mike Vrabel: Theft

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In one of the stranger stories this offseason, recently retired LB Mike Vrabel was charged with a Class D felony theft count after he walked out on a bill at the Belterra Casino in Indiana.

Vrabel won’t have to worry about being in any trouble with the commissioner, though. The former Patriot great decided to pursue a coaching job at his alma mater Ohio State instead of playing another season.

Johnny Jolly: Codeine Possession

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Lil Wayne must have been right when he said it’s hard to quit the drank.

Back in late March, Green Bay Packers DT Johnny Jolly was arrested for codeine possession for the second time in his career when police officers searched his Escalade and found 600 grams of the drug.

Jolly was forced to sit out the entire 2010 season, and judging from his latest run-in with the law, it doesn’t look like his re-entry back into the league is going to go very smoothly.

Garrett Wolfe: Assaulting an Officer

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On May 22, RB Garrett Wolfe allegedly got into a physical altercation with a police officer, and judging from his mug shot, he didn't fare too well.

Apparently, Wolfe’s pockets have been suffering after the Bears cut him loose, because the free agent running back failed to pay his $1,600 tab at Cameo Night Club.

An ensuing altercation occurred, and now the incident has netted Wolfe charges of retail theft, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.