Clubhouse

Adrian Peterson And 10 Athletes Who Got Off Way Too Easy

Fresh Videos

By

Adrian Peterson And 10 Athletes Who Got Off Too Easy

Adrian Peterson
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Adrian Peterson has come to a plea agreement which will have him plead no contest to one count of misdemeanor reckless assault. As a result, there is sure to be public outcry due to Peterson getting off easy because of his star athlete status. Peterson was facing felony child-abuse charges and now looks like he will get away with a relatively small penalty. We'll take a look at 10 other athletes who also got off easier than they should have.

10. O.J. Simpson

O.J. Simpson
Getty Images

10. O.J. Simpson

O.J. Simpson
Getty Images

An absolute no-brainer for this list, O.J. Simpson was the star of a low-speed pursuit in 1994 after failing to turn himself in after being charged with murdering his ex-wife and her friend. Against all odds, the former star running back was acquitted of all charges. O.J., given a second chance on life, has since been sentenced to 33 years in prison for a number of felonies including kidnapping and armed robbery.

9. Ray Lewis

Ray Lewis Ravens
Getty Images

9. Ray Lewis

Ray Lewis Ravens
Getty Images

The Ravens linebacker and Super Bowl XXXV MVP was indicted along with two of his friends for murdering two men in January of 2000. One of the victim’s blood was found inside Lewis’ limousine. Lewis negotiated a plea agreement in which his murder charges were dismissed in exchange for his testimony against the other two suspects. He only received 12 months of probation.

8. Ben Roethlisberger

Ben Roethlisberger
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

8. Ben Roethlisberger

Ben Roethlisberger
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

“Big Ben” was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Lake Tahoe in 2008. Just one year later, the Pittsburgh Steelers two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback was under investigation for sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman inside a Georgia nightclub women’s restroom. Roethlisberger faced no legal consequences on either account.

7. Dany Heatley

Dany Heatley Wild
Getty Images

7. Dany Heatley

Dany Heatley Wild
Getty Images

Heatley, one of the great young stars in the NHL in 2003, lost control of his Ferrari while driving through a residential Atlanta neighborhood. The crash resulted in major injuries to Heatley and the death of his passenger and teammate, Dan Snyder. Charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, a crime which carries up to 15 years in prison, Heatley was only sentenced to three years of probation.

6. Donte Stallworth

Donte Stallworth
Getty Images

6. Donte Stallworth

Donte Stallworth
Getty Images

With a blood-alcohol level well above the legal limit, Stallworth struck and killed a 59-year-old man crossing the street. While the wide receiver was suspended for the entirety of the 2009 NFL season, Stallworth would spend only 24 days in jail.

5. Lawrence Taylor

Lawrence Taylor
Getty Images

5. Lawrence Taylor

Lawrence Taylor
Getty Images

The former star Giants linebacker has had more than a couple of incidents with the law since retiring following the 1994 season. Most recently, "LT" was charged with felony third-degree statutory rape for allegedly paying a 16-year-old girl to have sex with him. The Hall of Famer pled guilty and came out of it with just six years of probation.

4. Marvin Harrison

Marvin Harrison Colts
Getty Images

4. Marvin Harrison

Marvin Harrison Colts
Getty Images

One of the best wide receivers in the history of the NFL, Marvin Harrison was accused of shooting a man in 2008. One year later, the same man was shot and killed two blocks away from Harrison’s sports bar. Authorities were able to match bullets from the crime to one of Harrison’s guns but somehow, he was never charged for the crime.

3. Leonard Little

Leonard Little Rams
Getty Images

3. Leonard Little

Leonard Little
Getty Images

Leonard Little crashed into and killed a woman with his car after leaving a birthday party in 1998. The defensive end had a blood-alcohol level of 0.19. Little only received four years of probation and 1,000 hours of community service for his crime.

2. Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane Blackhawks
Getty Images

2. Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane Blackhawks
Getty Images

The Blackhawks' star forward was arrested in Buffalo along with his cousin for allegedly punching a cab driver. Why did Kane punch him, you might ask? The driver did not have the proper change of $0.20. Kane’s punishment? He was forced to apologize to the cab driver.

1. Todd Bertuzzi

Todd Bertuzzi Red Wings
Getty Images

1. Todd Bertuzzi

Todd Bertuzzi Red Wings
Getty Images

While playing for the Vancouver Canucks, Bertuzzi sucker punched Colorado Avalanche player Steve Moore from behind. Moore broke three vertebrae as a result of the hit, ending his playing career. Bertuzzi was charged with assault causing bodily harm but avoided jail time and received one year of probation. Moore filed a lawsuit in 2006 that is still unsettled.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on