/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55858735/usa_today_9755755.0.jpg)
Cowboys players just can’t stay of trouble. Dallas wide receiver Lucky Whitehead is the latest member of “America’s Team” in the news for the wrong reasons. Via TMZ Sports:
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Lucky Whitehead was arrested in Virginia in June for shoplifting -- and now a warrant has been issued for his arrest ... TMZ Sports has learned.
The 25-year-old was busted in Prince William County, VA on June 22 for shoplifting/petit larceny under $200. We're told Whitehead allegedly took stuff from a convenience store.
He was ordered to appear in court on July 6, but according to court records he didn't show up -- so a warrant was issued for his arrest. He's since been charged for failure to appear.
Whitehead is the third Cowboys player to be arrested this offseason. At least, I think he’s the third. I may have lost track because it feels like there’s been so many off-field issues with Dallas this offseason.
Let’s recap:
Lucky Whitehead was arrested for shoplifting
Nolan Carroll was arrested for DWI
Damien Wilson was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
Dak Prescott was accused of faking autographs
Randy Gregory was suspended for at least one year
David Irving was suspended for four games
Phew.
Oh, and I didn’t even mention the fact that the Cowboys’ best player, Ezekiel Elliott, is facing potential suspension due to an off-field incident from last year. This offseason, Elliott has been: caught on video pulling down a woman’s shirt, allegedly involved in a bar fight, and ticketed for speeding. Not exactly a great look.
But hey, that’s the team Jerry Jones has put together. What a likeable group of players.
UPDATE: The Cowboys officially cut Whitehead. But here’s an interesting note via Adam Schefter.
Lucky Whitehead's agent, David Rich, said his client was not in Virginia when the incident occurred and it's a case of mistaken identity.
On June 22, Whitehead was in Dallas, per his flight ticket that Rich has a copy of. Whitehead's United flight left 7:18 am direct to Washington D.C. that morning and landed at 11:30 am - that is 10 hours after the shoplifting crime occurred in Woodbridge, Va.
Rich told the Cowboys he didn't appear in court because he never received the citation and summons. The reason he didn't receive the citation and summons is because he wasn't in the state when the crime occurred, Rich said. Still the Cowboys announced they released Whitehead.
Rich has told the Cowboys this information. He says the plane record speaks for itself. "It's just unfortunate for the kid," Rich said.
So, assuming this agent’s claim is true, the Cowboys may have cut a player even though they were innocent. And the team has yet to punish the players on their roster who’ve actually committed crimes.
Great stuff happening down in Dallas.