Arrest Warrant Takes Center Stage at NFL Combine
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah explained some fascinating team-building information at the NFL Combine Tuesday, including his opinion of Kirk Cousins, commitment to Justin Jefferson for the long haul, and philosophy of intradivision trading.
But one day later, the bad type of press dribbled out of the NFL Combine — an arrest warrant for one of the class’ top prospects.
Arrest Warrant Takes Center Stage at NFL Combine
The 33rd Team‘s Ari Meirov tweeted Wednesday, “An arrest warrant has been issued for Georgia DT and potential No. 1 pick Jalen Carter for Reckless Driving and Racing. Stems from the January 15th crash that took the life of a teammate and staffer. Carter is on the schedule to speak at the NFL Combine at 10:30 ET.”
And while the alleged infraction doesn’t necessarily claim Carter was directly responsible for the crash, the timing for the young defensive tackle couldn’t be worse. Some draft scouts have predicted Carter as the first overall pick, and the arrest warrant emphatically changes everything, at least for now.
Carter and another driver were reportedly racing, and the police statement claimed, “The evidence demonstrated that both vehicles switched between lanes, drove in the center turn lane, drove in opposite lanes of travel, overtook other motorists, and drove at high rates of speed, in an apparent attempt to outdistance each other.”
An offensive lineman for the Bulldogs, Devin Willock, and a recruiting staff member, Chandler LeCroy, were killed in the January 15th crash.
According to ESPN, Carter’s personal account of the crash changed throughout the investigation. The arrest warrant on the eve of the on-the-field activity at the NFL Combine is merely the next step in the investigation and appears to link Carter to the incident more so than was initially led on.
The police also stated that “alcohol impairment, racing, reckless driving, and speed were significant contributing factors to the crash,” although the who was unclear.
University of Georgia’s head coach Kirby Smart provided the following statement Wednesday:
The charges announced today are deeply concerning, especially as we are still struggling to cope with the devastating loss of two beloved members of our community. We will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities while supporting these families and assessing what we can learn from this horrible tragedy.
Carter was on deck to speak with media at the NFL Combine on Wednesday before the arrest warrant was issued, but that plan changed, and he did not appear.
Before the arrest warrant, Carter was the fourth draft selection in Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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