It’s been a quiet time for NFL arrests in recent months, but two well-known players have made the naughty list just prior to Christmas. Santa must be frowning because New England Hall of Fame linebacker Willie McGinest and active cornerback J.C. Jackson both did the perp walk on Monday.
McGinest was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon at a Los Angeles-area nightclub. Jackson was arrested for a nonviolent family issue.
Jackson was a coveted free agent cornerback who signed with the Chargers earlier this year for $82.5 million. The Pats signed the undrafted cornerback in 2018, and he became one of the league’s top cover men, picking off 25 passes in four seasons before becoming a free agent and signing with L.A.
What are the Chargers getting for all that loot? The numbers are low and easy to count: zero interceptions, one benching Monday night and now one arrest.
McGinest was identified as one of the people involved in an assault at a nightclub, Dec. 9 in West Hollywood. Jackson was booked into the Bristol County Jail and House of Correction in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, over an alleged “nonviolent family issue.”
And these guys made it so close to Santa’s nice list this late in the year.
Jackson became the 12th NFL player to do this perp walk this year. The Chargers rank third among AFC West Division teams with 27 arrests since the year 2000. They’ve got a long way to go to catch division leader Denver, with 54 arrests.
Since the specifics of Jackson’s alleged crime are unknown, the Chargers are withholding comment.
Jackson has fought through injuries this year. He has no interceptions (NFL passers will miss him!) and he was benched during Monday night’s game. The Chargers, on the other hand, have got to be steamed because they paid $82.5 million to sign the man performing horribly on and off the field.
After that benching, Jackson said he felt “defeated.” How does he think the Chargers feel?
Currently working as an NFL Network analyst, McGinest played 15 seasons in the NFL, with New England and Cleveland. He is a three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time Pro Bowler who holds the NFL record for career postseason sacks.
McGinest did much more than sack a man in the bar, according to TMZ Sports and the Bleacher Report. TMZ Sports obtained a video (which is no longer available for viewing) showing McGinest, 6-feet-5 inches tall and weighing some 270 pounds, approach a man sitting at a table and punching him in the face. People with him hit the man several more times, and McGinest appeared to hit the victim several times with a bottle.
The NFL Network called McGinest’s actions “disturbing” and suspended him.
Although critics enjoy referring to the NFL as the “National Felons League,” arrests are down to 12 this year, a 22-year low.
There is one silver lining to these stories. Santa’s Christmas Eve load will be just a tad bit lighter, thanks to these two naughty listers.
