Cowboys Cut Lucky Whitehead

via The Sports Xchange

The Dallas Cowboys cut Lucky Whitehead on Monday hours after police in Virginia announced that the wide receiver/kick returner is facing misdemeanor petit larceny charges stemming from an arrest in June.

ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 24: Lucky Whitehead during the NFL game between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys on November 24, 2016, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire)

The move came despite Whitehead’s agent, Dave Rich, telling NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport that his client was not in Virginia at the time of the incident. Rapoport reported that he reviewed Whitehead’s flight records from the day he was reportedly arrested, with Whitehead flying out of Dulles International Airport in Washington to Dallas only six hours after his arrest.
“It sounds like (the Cowboys) didn’t buy it or they simply decided, as to be the case with players who aren’t a lock to make the team, they decided it was not worth it to wait and see was he telling the truth and was he not,” Rapoport said on Inside Training Camp Live. “But this would explain why Whitehead, his agent and the Cowboys had no idea about the arrest or the hearing that he missed until earlier today when it was reported.”
Whitehead, 25, was arrested and charged with shoplifting/petit larceny under $200, a misdemeanor, on June 22 in Prince William County, Va. He then failed to appear for a court hearing on July 6, resulting in the arrest warrant being issued, according to Prince William County General Court records.
The Cowboys were not aware of Whitehead’s arrest until the news was first reported by TMZ Sports and confirmed by the Dallas Morning News and ESPN.
“First time I heard it was coming off the practice field,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Monday.
Garrett said at the time that the team was gathering information on the incident and did not deny that Whitehead could be released.
“We will do what’s in the best interest of the Dallas Cowboys,” Garrett told reporters at training camp in Oxnard, Calif.
The shoplifting arrest reportedly came in connection with a theft from a convenience store.
Whitehead was asked about the charges at camp.
“I didn’t even know about that,” he told reporters. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
Whitehead’s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 10, according to court records.




Whitehead made headlines last week when his dog, Blitz, was kidnapped and was briefly held for ransom. He announced the next day on social media that the dog was returned unharmed.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Whitehead served as the team’s punt and kickoff returner and combined for nine catches and 64 yards in 30 games over his first two NFL seasons. He also rushed 20 times for 189 yards and caught nine passes for 64 yards.
Whitehead’s legal trouble is just the most recent — or at least the latest to come to light — for the Cowboys in recent months.
Running back Ezekiel Elliott was involved in an altercation on July 16 at a club in Dallas where a man was punched. The Dallas Police Department suspended its investigation of the alleged assault, citing a lack of witnesses and an inability to contact the victim.
Elliott also is awaiting possible punishment from the NFL stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident a year ago in Columbus, Ohio.
Multiple sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter last week that Elliott could face a one- or two-game suspension, but the NFL denied it made a decision on a course of disciplinary action.
In other off-the-field incidents, Cowboys linebacker Damien Wilson was arrested July 4 on charges of assault with a deadly weapon; cornerback Nolan Carroll was arrested May 29 and charged with driving under the influence; defensive end David Irving was suspended by the NFL on June 28 for four games for violating the league’s drug program; and rookie cornerback Jourdan Lewis also was arrested with a jury trial scheduled to begin Monday in Michigan.

 



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