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| Blackmon might have to take less money than 2011's No. 5 draft pick. (US Presswire) |
Jaguars rookie receiver Justin Blackmon, coming off another DUI charge from Sunday morning (and this one was an aggravated DUI), might have found out that though the worst time for an incoming rookie to get in trouble comes in the months before the NFL draft, it’s also not helpful to get busted before you sign your first-round contract.
As ESPN’s Adam Schefter points out:
Sounds like the Jaguars can and will give first-round pick Justin Blackmon a smaller and deferred signing bonus, less guaranteed money.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 4, 2012
This news coincides with the not guilty plea made by Blackmon in Payne County (Okla.) district court Monday morning. The case will be heard July 24 at 10:30 a.m.
According to the affidavit, Stillwater police officer Charles Murphy said Blackmon didn’t immediately pull over and was going as fast as 60 mph in a 35 mph zone before he stopped his vehicle. Murphy wrote that he immediately smelled alcohol on Blackmon’s breath and that he had slow, slurred speech with lethargic movements.
“I just flew in. I don’t know why you’re harassing me,” Blackmon allegedly told Murphy.
Murphy also wrote he had to tell Blackmon to take his hands out of his pockets on four occasions while giving him a field sobriety test. Murphy said he gave Blackmon two blood alcohol tests. The first one read 0.24, three times the legal limit. The second allegedly read 0.26.
Last year’s No. 5 pick, cornerback Patrick Peterson, signed a fully-guaranteed four-year deal worth $18.42 million with the Cardinals. Though Blackmon was supposed to see a slight raise from those figures, it looks like the Jaguars have a bit of leverage on him at this point.
The last time Blackmon was arrested for DUI, he was suspended for a game by Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy. This time around, if he’s found guilty, Blackmon very well could face a suspension from the NFL and a loss of guaranteed salary.
As if you needed even more reasons never to drink and drive.
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