NY Jets Break Silence on CB Tae Hayes’ Arrest After Second Degree Misdemeanor of Being Charged With Marijuana

The New York Jets have found themselves in the limelight again. Before the dust could settle on Aaron Rodgers’ “unexcused” absence, another Jets player ended up in troubled waters with marijuana possession. It is none other than the cornerback who moved four teams last season, Tae Hayes. Rich Cimini, the NFL Nation reporter took to X and broke the news about Hayes getting arrested in Alabama by Trinity PD.

Due to the possession of marijuana, the CB was charged with a second-degree misdemeanor, per Trinity PD. His arrest was official in Morgan County at Hayes’ home state of Alabama around 3:46 a.m. with him being released at 5:07 a.m. after he posted a $300 bond. Cimini’s post on X revealed these details along with mentioning the source of it, “An official at the Morgan County jail confirmed the arrest, but declined to give further information.“

The X post further highlighted, “A Jets spokesman said the team is aware of the situation and will refrain from further comment, as it is a pending legal matter.” Thus, the team will look toward the legal protocol before going ahead with any action. This implies that the severity of the situation and action taken against Hayes remains to be seen.

The CB has played with 9 NFL teams in his career but didn’t have a stable role in any of the teams. In 2023, he changed 4 teams, moving from Patriots in June to Lions in August then Ravens for a short period of time and finally, he was signed by the Jets in October. An interesting fact about Hayes is that he played for the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions and even won a championship with the team.

Hayes’ career had a weird trajectory to it. He was signed by many teams, but they ended up waving him most of the time. The 26-year-old signed as a UDFA with the Jacksonville Jaguars but was released before the start of the 2019 season. However, the Jaguars did let him stay in the practice squad before he was signed to the active roster to replace their WR Marqise Lee and was waived in December of 2019.

A similar journey followed in other teams as well including the Phins and the Vikings. He played just one game for the Jets last season and had 2 total tackles. Though he is not a staple in the Jets roster, his present actions might have added to the already struggling Jets franchise. The laws in Alabama are strict considering the matter at hand.

What possible charges might Tae Hayes face?

With the event coming to light, it is salient to note that under Alabama law, marijuana possession can either be enforced as a misdemeanor or a felony. The grounds for the charges depend on the amount that the police personnel think is for personal use. While appeals and requests have been put forth to decriminalize the same, only medical marijuana has been legalized in the state.

The chief trial attorney at the Madison County District, Douthit said, “It’ll still be illegal at the same levels it always was in Alabama under state law,” in May this year even if the federal government decides to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous. This news also expectedly throws light on other such recent cases of Marijuana possession by the players of the football league.

Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackles Wanya Morris and Chukwuebuka Jason Godrick were arrested in May this year for the same and released after posting a hefty $2500 bond, as the possession of marijuana is illegal in Kansas. In 2008 when Shaun Ellis, NY Jets DE was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, the team “expected Shaun to take full accountability for his actions and express his disappointment to us, the fans, to his teammates, to his family, to himself. At that point, we disciplined him internally.”

Now, it remains to be seen if a similar course of internal disciplining will be followed for Hayes. However, Ellis had a couple of other charges as well in addition to marijuana possession. Undeniably, the situation of Hayes brings up the age-old discussion on the rules against the possession of cannabis. Do you think severe action should be taken against the player or not? Share your thoughts in the comments below!