Sheldon Richardson has already been suspended four games by the NFL for drug use. The New York Jets defensive lineman is now facing legal troubles.
Richardson was charged in St. Charles County, Mo., with resisting arrest and traffic violations for an incident on July 14 — just two weeks after his NFL-issued drug suspension for marijuana use.
Richardson spoke to reporters after the team’s first practice of training camp — but before the news broke about the charges.
The Jets were not aware of the incident until they saw media reports.
‘‘I apologized to my teammates and my organization and I told them they don’t have to worry about my name being in the news again,’’ Richardson said of the drug suspension.
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Shortly after that, FOX-affiliate KTVI in Missouri first reported the charges against Richardson.
According to a release issued by the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Richardson was driving at ‘‘exceedingly high rates of speed’’ on Interstate 64 in ‘‘what appeared to be a road race.’’
In the police incident report, an officer stated that Richardson and the other vehicle were traveling at speeds as high as 143 miles per hour. When the officer attempted to make traffic stops on the vehicles, Richardson sped away. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Richardson was driving a 2014 Bentley Silver Spur.
According to the report, Richardson exited the car, along with the passengers and a 12-year-old boy. A fully loaded semi-automatic handgun was found underneath the driver’s side floor mat, and the officer said the car smelled of marijuana.
Richardson, speaking about his suspension, insisted he wouldn’t fail another NFL-issued drug test.
‘‘Yeah,’’ he said when asked if he could guarantee that, ‘‘because I'm not a dope fiend.’’
Richardson was suspended by the league on July 2 without pay for the first four games of this season after violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He’s allowed to practice with the team until the regular season begins.
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‘‘I failed every drug test and this drug test, so there was no reason to appeal it,’’ Richardson said. ‘‘I take full accountability for my actions.’’
Giant frustration
The Giants have no firsthand knowledge about the extent of the hand injuries defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul sustained in a July 4 fireworks accident in Florida.
A seemingly frustrated co-owner John Mara disclosed that most of the Giants’ knowledge about Pierre-Paul’s condition has come from his agents and through text messages with the 26-year-old, who was tagged as a franchise player.
‘‘I am disappointed he is not here,’’ Mara said Thursday, when the Giants reported to training camp. ‘‘This is the best place for him to be. We have the best training staff in the league and access to some of the best doctors in the world. I think it would be his own best interests for him to be here for those reasons.’’
Mara said the team hasn’t been allowed to examine Pierre-Paul, so it has no idea either when he will be able to play or when he will show up at training camp.
Mara invited Pierre-Paul to come to Giants headquarters for treatment, reiterating that anyone telling him not to do that is giving him bad advice.
Mara said the Giants are aware of reports Pierre-Paul had a finger amputated in the accident and fractured a thumb, but the team has not been able to verify that. He added the team is planning to move ahead without him at this point.
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‘‘We don’t know how extensive the damage is, that’s the problem,’’ Mara said. ‘‘I don’t know how many fingers he has. I know what we have read and what we have been told, but until we actually see the extent of the damage, it’s hard to make any prediction on what type of condition he is going to be in.’’
Mara’s only contact with Pierre-Paul was in a text message in which the player described the injury as a bump in the road and that he would be back as good as ever.
‘‘He put a smiley face at the bottom,’’ Mara said.
Mara said the Giants made a long-term offer to Pierre-Paul in the offseason but took it off the table when he was hurt.
The concern in Pierre-Paul’s camp is that the Giants will put him on the non-football injury list because of his injuries once he signs his tender. If that happens, the Giants will not have to pay him until they deem he is ready to play.
Kromer submits plea
Buffalo Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer pleaded not guilty to a charge that he punched a boy in the face for using his beach chairs in Florida.
Walton County court records show that Kromer filed the plea Wednesday to a misdemeanor battery charge. He was placed on paid leave shortly after his arrest.
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In other Bills news, three players were placed on the active/non-football injury list, including defensive end Mario Williams. Cornerback Leodis McKelvin and kicker Dan Carpenter were the others.
Also, owner Terry Pegula said the team is in no rush to build a new stadium or sell naming rights to its current home. Pegula said that the team has time and an existing lease on the current stadium.
Unexcused absence
According to an ESPN.com report, Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor will hold out from attending training camp in an attempt to get a new contract. Chancellor signed a four-year, $28 million extension in 2013. Seattle opens camp Friday . . . Chargers star tight end Antonio Gates said he’s not sure how a banned substance got into his body, although he believes it could have been while he was cleansing his system in the offseason. Gates has been suspended without pay for four games for testing positive for a PEDs . . . Pass rusher Junior Galette visited the Washington Redskins to take a physical and meet with coach Jay Gruden and general manager Scot McCloughan . . . Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings pleaded guilty to reckless driving stemming from an arrest in Georgia in January. Jennings was sentenced to 40 hours of community service . . . Cowboys running back Darren McFadden will start training camp on the physically unable to perform list because of a hamstring injury. Also, linebacker Keith Rivers decided to retire rather than report to camp.