It’s been a rough couple of weeks for NFL players, current and former, and guns. Friday free agent quarterback Tarvaris Jackson was arrested for domestic violence and allegedly pointing a gun at his wife in Kissimmee, Fla.
According to the police report Jackson pulled the gun on his wife while drunk and told her, “I’ll kill you.”
Arrest report: Tarvaris Jackson was intoxicated, loaded gun, pointed it at her, said "I'll kill you…" @WESH pic.twitter.com/7masmNDtNF
— Chris Hush (@ChrisHushNBC) June 24, 2016
It gets crazier from there. In the report a witness had to wrestle Jackson with gun in hand to keep him from shooting his wife. Meanwhile his wife ran to the kitchen and grabbed a knife and a clothing iron to protect herself. And in case you think it couldn’t be worse, there were children in the house.
Jackson has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, which seems to go against his quote in the police report. But I’m no legal expert.
Jackson has backed up Russell Wilson with the Seattle Seahawks for the last three seasons. Jackson was actually a full time starter for a single season apiece with two different teams, the Seahawks in 2011 and the Minnesota Vikings in 2007. Jackson was a second round pick for the Vikings in 2006 out of Alabama State.
While Jackson was still on the market, the Seahawks appeared open to bringing him back. In March head coach Pete Carroll told the Seattle Times that “We really liked his (Jackson’s) contributions and he’s been a big factor for us an we would like to have him back if we could.”
My guess is that’s over now, regardless of whether Jackson goes to jail or not. Jackson played in four games last season, completing four passes for 37 yards.
This is the fourth incident in the last few months with players connected with the NFL and guns. Two weeks ago Denver Broncos Pro Bowl cornerback Aqib Talib was shot in the leg (maybe by his own gun) in Florida. Former Detroit Lions corner Stanley Wilson II was shot after trying to break into a house this week and former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith was shot and killed after a road rage altercation.
Steelers cut Shaun Suisham, career in jeopardy
Shaun Suisham never made a single regular season kick for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season after tearing his ACL in the Preseason opening Hall of Fame game. The tear was so bad that Suisham still hasn’t recovered and Friday the team released him.
Suisham took the release well, but doesn’t seem to think he’ll ever play football again. In a letter to the fans and the team, Suisham said the injury was “…catastrophic and has proven to critical in continuing my career. My journey in the NFL has come to a crossroads.”
Shaun Suisham statement on his release provided to the Trib pic.twitter.com/4X5RRaOf3S
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) June 24, 2016
If this it for Suisham, he’s had a solid NFL career. He played nine season for the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and the Steelers. Over his final three seasons he had a total of eight misses on 95 field goal attempts.
Raiders’ Smith probably violated his probation
There was a time when Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Aldon Smith was one of the best players in the NFL. He was also nuts and the crazy outperformed the player, ending his tenure in San Francisco. He crossed the Bay Bridge and began playing in Oakland last season.
He’s currently under a one-year suspension for a DUI and hit-and-run in August, 2015. He won’t be able to suit up for the Raiders until November. It’s that arrest and conviction from that incident that has him in trouble again, this time for violating probation.
The Raiders signed Smith to a two-year, $11.5 million contract this offseason. He played in nine games last year, registering 21 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Smith’s best years were in 2011 and 2012 where he recorded 14 and 19.5 sacks respectively.
Florida teams contribute to OneOrlando Fund
The Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins will combine to contribute $400,000 to the OneOrlando Fund. The fund supports victims of the terrorist attack on The Pulse nightclub in Orlando. The fund was created by Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer to offer financial assistance to the victims of the worst mass shooting in United States history that killed 49 people and injured at least 26 more.
