Favored to become the starting quarterback next year at Arkansas, Ryan Mallett has hit a bit of a snag thanks to a public intoxication arrest deep deep deep into the early morning Sunday. He was arrested on Dickson Street in Fayetteville and booked at 3:47 AM.Mallett is sort of a big deal because he's six foot six and bulletproof or something like that. He was a highly coveted recruit out of Texas who signed with and played for Michigan as a true freshman before transferring when Rich Rodriguez brought the spread circus to town. Arkansas, and specifically Bobby Petrino's explosive dropback system is a much better fit for Mallett. That is, if he can get his act together.
Competition in the form of Nathan Dick, younger brother of last year's starter Casey Dick, transferred to effectively clear the decks for Mallett. Maybe that's the problem. Regardless its an odd arrest, as our editor Ray Holloman said in email: The story says outside a "nightspot". I've been to Fayetteville. I don't think anything there qualifies as a "nightspot".
The last Arkansas player to get in trouble outside of a "nightspot" was the great Darren McFadden, who ended up injuring his toe just a few weeks before the 2006 opener against USC after some kind of equally early morning altercation.
Punishment remains unclear at the moment, as Arkansas has only expressed a cursory "disappointment" and that Mallett will face "team discipline". Translate that however you wish but count on him skipping the doghouse long before the season opener so long as he stays out of further trouble. That's not too much to ask, right?
Sports Figures in Trouble With the Law
March 1: Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, pictured here with Michigan in 2007, was arrested on a public intoxication charge outside of a nightspot near campus. Click through for more of sports figures' legal woes.
Joe Robbins, Getty Images
Feb. 27: Former Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter was stopped in Texas and arrested on drunken driving and marijuana possession charges.
Ron Jenkins, Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT
Feb. 26: Celtics guard Gabe Pruitt is arrested in Hollywood and accused of driving under the influence just hours after Boston lost to the Clippers.
David Sherman, NBAE/Getty Images
Feb. 21: Marshall Lobbestael, expected to compete for the starting quarterback job this season, picks up an alcohol charge after being found asleep in his pickup truck in a police parking lot.
Dean Hare, AP
Feb. 20: Lazare Adingono, seen here in a 2001 photo when he played for Rhode Island, faces a felony charge of second-degree assault and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.
Jeff Gross, Getty Images
Feb. 20: Steelers kicker Jeff Reed pleads guilty to disorderly contest and criminal mischief after police say he broke a towel dispenser in a convenience store.
Gene J. Puskar, AP
Feb. 15: Jason Richardson of the Phoenix Suns is arrested and charged with reckless driving, excessive speeding and failure to use a child seat. Police say they clocked him at 90 mph in a 35 mph zone.
Barry Gossage, NBAE / Getty Images
Feb. 11: Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch was arrested in Southern California on a weapons charge. Police say they found a loaded firearm - as well as multiple marijuana cigarettes - in a 2006 Mercedes-Benz occupied by Lynch and two other men.
David Duprey, AP
Feb. 8: Former Atlanta Falcons star Jamal Anderson was booked on a felony charge of cocaine possession and a misdemeanor marijuana charge.
Jim Mone, AP
Feb. 5: Former Cowboys star Terry Glenn faces public intoxication and marijuana possession charges from his arrest on Jan. 25.
Tony Gutierrez, AP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-02-2009 @ 10:54AM
DP said...
Just like any other program, the punishment will end up being not getting to start in the first game against the customary Cupcake University of Northern Sector of the Southwest Technical Institute. Maybe, just maybe he won't get to play the first quarter. Ooh....
I imagine Petrino is happy with Lane Kiffin joinging the SEC - now the spotlight is on some other douchebag.
Reply
3-03-2009 @ 7:43AM
Jim Guppy said...
Give the guy a break
Reply
3-03-2009 @ 8:42AM
cdeadbeat said...
a misdemeanor pi...dont punish the rest of us...we got rid of houston N because he wouldnt quit playing D and now we might get stuck with another D
Reply
3-03-2009 @ 8:49AM
Drew said...
Nightspot in Fayetteville???? No Way. Last time I was there, it was dry. If you want wine with dinner, you have a membership at that establishment, check your wine in, and they will serve you your own wine. There were no drinking establishments that sold liquer at all. There must be a lot more to this story.
Reply