Maybe right as he was about to enter NFL free agency wasn’t the time to travel around with a dufflebag full of marijuana and oxycodone pills, but I’m sure former Baltimore Ravens safety Matt Elam will say it’s always easier to second guess someone in hindsight.
As it is, Elam was busted Saturday night in Miami, Fla. while speeding past an unmarked police car, then swerving from lane to lane. Once the cop put on his lights, Elam did exactly what you’d expect in that situation, he hit the gas, played Dixieland on his car horn and sped off. He finally pulled over after discovering there was nothing around worth jumping and surrendered.
That’s when, and I hope you are sitting down, the arresting officer detected the smell of maryjuwanna in and around Elam’s facial area. Once the Landrover Elam was driving was inspected, a Gucci bag containing 126.2 grams of pot, six oxycodone pills, $947 in cash, a Rolex watch, a man’s necklace with “white” stones and a man’s bracelet with the same “white” stones.
So, you know, just a normal bag of stuff any of us would have with him.
The police records for #Ravens S and pending FA Matt Elam, arrested on multiple charges at 3:45 am today in Florida pic.twitter.com/G5pLa10ElH
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 26, 2017
It turns out Elam wasn’t alone. Next to him was one Calvin Stewart, who you have no reason to know of before today. What’s interesting about old Cal was he had a semiautomatic pistol in his waistband. And, again hold onto your hat, Stewart did not have a permit to carry that concealed weapon.
Needless to say, this is all kind of a thing. Elam has been charged with one count of cannabis possession, one count of possession of cannabis with intent to sell or deliver, one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of reckless driving. He’s in jail right now, sitting on a $15,500 bond.
When reached for comment, the Baltimore Ravens released two whole sentences that said more than enough.
“We are aware of the arrest of Matt Elam,” the Ravens said. “Matt is not in our plans for the 2017 Ravens.”
Even without the Miami Vice reenactment, the Ravens were done with Elam anyway. For a team that doesn’t usually whiff on draft picks, Elam, picked in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, was a pretty big miss. He was finally benched in 2014 and the only thing that kept the Ravens from cutting him earlier was an injury that sidelines him all of 2015 and part of 2016. He will not be missed.
Matt Elam has as many career arrests as he does career INT's. Also more grams of weed were found on him (126) than career tackles (88).
— Jason Renner (@JasonRenner24) February 26, 2017
What this does do, obviously, is likely end Elam’s NFL career whether he does any real time or not. Most former first round picks will at least get their tires kicked by other teams before exiting the league, but bringing in a potential Miami drug dealer to turn your training camp into GTA 5, is probably something NFL teams aren’t willing to do.
Hell, maybe Elam already knew the jig was up on his NFL playing days and was testing out a new job trajectory. In which case he’s as good a drug dealer as he is an NFL safety.
Panthers re-sign Mario Addison
Defensive end Mario Addison will get to skip the whole free agency cycle after he and the Carolina Panthers reached an agreement on a three-year extension Sunday. Addison will remain a Panther thanks to a new $22.5 million deal.
🚨 Signing Alert 🚨
The #Panthers have signed @HIT_STIQ4 to a three-year contract.
More info » https://t.co/ievLLfbSMw pic.twitter.com/LFA3EvRCCH— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) February 26, 2017
Addison has been with the Panthers full time since 2013, but has started a total of three games. Even as a pure pass rusher, he’s been solid for the team, recording 9.5 sacks, one pass defense, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 26 tackles last season. In 2014 Addison had 6.5 sacks and in 2015 he had six. Getting Addison situated now helps the Panthers prepare for whatever they plan on doing with defensive tackle Kawann Short, who is also scheduled to be a free agent as of March 9.
Addison was the Panthers’ most productive pass rusher in 2016, recording more sacks than starting defensive end Charles Johnson (four) and Kony Ealy (five) combined.
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