Slipping, Slipping, Slipping…
March 1st, 2023
Georgia DT Jalen Carter.
The big buzz this morning at the combine housed at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis is that a guy some thought might be the first player taken in April’s draft could take a tumble.
Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter is in serious sh!t. A possible No. 1 overall pick, Carter was scheduled to speak this morning at the combine. Instead, at his scheduled time, his podium was empty. Not even his nameplate was there. Word is he’s not even in the cavernous building which once upon a time was known as the “Hoosier Dome” and hosted Colts games.
That’s because Carter had an arrest warrant issued this morning by Georgia authorities.
Multiple reports suggest Carter is linked to a sordid and sad event in Athens from the night the Bulldogs had a parade honoring them for winning the national championship. A Georgia football staffer was caught on video leaving a clothing-optional establishment with players in the wee hours of the morning.
A short time later, she was dead as her school-issued rig failed to navigate a turn at high speed, resulting in her death along with a passenger who happened to be a Georgia player.
It turns out, she was racing Carter, authorities allege.
Carter allegedly fled the scene is now wanted for reckless driving and racing.
Why is Joe bringing all of this up? Well, Joe thinks it is reasonable to assume Carter will no longer be the No. 1 overall pick. Provided he is still eligible for the draft — who knows what pandering NFL shot-caller Roger Goodell may do? — Joe would not be shocked if he is on the board at No. 19 when the Bucs pick.
Would the Bucs even entertain drafting a guy like Carter — despite his world-class talent — who might just be serving time in the hole? It certainly would be a Chucky-like move.
Maybe this might scare Carter straight? It’s an awful way to learn a lesson. Would he be worth a considerable if not expensive Bucs risk?
Ira Kaufman Podcast, presented by Bill Currie Ford.
March 1st, 2023 at 11:58 am
Guys with discipline issues? Hell no. We should’ve already learned this lesson with AB.
March 1st, 2023 at 12:01 pm
Bad judgement by all involved… Drinking and driving is bad. Drinking and street racing is just flat out idiotic.
First Stetson Bennett now this.
Come on Bulldogs. Get a freaking grip.
March 1st, 2023 at 12:09 pm
It’s just a minor “hassle” anyway, right Joe?
March 1st, 2023 at 12:12 pm
horrible story. hard to be optimistic to draft a player who could have had a hand in this.
March 1st, 2023 at 12:22 pm
So the big question is…
If Carter is still available at pick #19 – What should the Bucs do?
He would look pretty darn good next to Vea for the next 5 years or so.
I think you have to do a deep dive into this guys history in Georgia and even High School in order to figure out is this a recurring pattern of behavior? Or did the kid just make a very bad decision this one time?
People (especially young people) make mistakes. If his history shows he has been a solid citizen I would consider drafting him.
March 1st, 2023 at 12:27 pm
Does anybody remember Warren Sapp?
March 1st, 2023 at 12:31 pm
This is the problem with these new NIL deals dude’s are getting.
21 year old big man on campus with a $90k 700hp Jeep Trackhawk?
What could go wrong?
March 1st, 2023 at 12:39 pm
Too chancy on a low character guy. I suppose you have to look at his intelligence, his apptitude and other factors that make up the way he thinks.
In my opinion most of the better players in the NFL are bright and level-headed guys. Yeah there is always the usual like an AB or Lawrence Taylor or Michael Irwin that put up Hall Of Fame stats and even make it in the Hall of Fame but the majority of guys that get busted and break laws, usually end up not being players you want to pick in the first round.
Risk outweighs rewards when it comes to Premium draft picks.
March 1st, 2023 at 12:43 pm
Warren Sapp is an example of another guy that got into trouble but nothing that involved a death. He dropped in the draft because he was a know pot user but you know that most of the guys in the 70’s and 80’s smoked weed in college.
This is different because of the death invoived and the risk someone would take prior to the draft by drag racing. Pure stupidity and endangering other lives too.
March 1st, 2023 at 12:43 pm
Also Warren Sapp was a very smart guy, just not a very nice person.
March 1st, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Hard pass. The guy is a felon and you can’t rely on that.
March 1st, 2023 at 12:45 pm
Tragic accident he wasn’t driving the car that crashed plus its “ALLEGED” she was racing him. Speaking for myself I was young and did stupid things like this thankfully no one ever died. I can say that I’ve been the one driving the other car and doing all I could to pass the car in front of me BUT we weren’t racing I was being dumb. I’m going to go out on a limb and say I’m not the only person on this site that has done dumb things when being young and under the influence. This has absolutely nothing to do with NIL but of course some that don’t like it will do all theycan to blame it on that instead of what it truly was. A tragic accident should it ruin this young man’s future? Until all the details are known I say no.
March 1st, 2023 at 12:46 pm
Buc Neckid Sapp smoked some weed. This guy left the scene of a fatal accident while drunk off his ass.
March 1st, 2023 at 12:53 pm
He’s not a bad guy because he was racing someone. Hell, as a kid around here in the early 90s, we basically recreated Dukes of Hazzards episodes, driving over 120mph on dirt roads, side by side, doing all sorts of dumb stuff. I’d rather have people driving like that than these POS who do 45mph in the fast lane. You want to talk about an awful person that should get the chair, start there.
March 1st, 2023 at 12:53 pm
No thanks. Let him be someone elses problem.
March 1st, 2023 at 12:54 pm
I would def take him at 19!! He’s not going to prison. And trust me, he’s probably been scared straight after this.
I raced a bmw m4 one time on my motorcycle, slowed down after i hit 80, raced my buddy on his harley, drove a vette over 100 once….i mean sometimes we do stupid stuff while young. The main thing is to learn from it and only do that kind of thing on a track. In those situations I was on my bike and wouldve suffered the most if something bad happened. In the vette, I was on the interstate and nobody else around me.
I think we’ve all done something stupid while young. The thing is, did he learn from this and will change his behavior moving forward….
March 1st, 2023 at 12:56 pm
I would take him in a heartbeat.He will not be in jail over this .He is a big time talent and if we could get him at 19 it would be a steal.People I know from Apopka high speak highly of this young man
March 1st, 2023 at 1:02 pm
MadMax,
Dang dude, you’re insane!
You drove a car over 100mph?
🤣🤣🤣
I hit 105 mph regularly in my truck.
If it wasn’t for the governor on it I’d be hitting 130ish.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:05 pm
The report says the Ford Expedition driven by LeCroy “failed to negotiate a left curve, resulting in the vehicle striking a curb with its front passenger tire and leaving the roadway,” going on to strike a “(Georgia) Power Pole and another utility pole cutting them in half.”
I see no where here that he caused this accident. Sound just like an accident I was in (not me driving and no one killed)…speeding fast car, girls egging on the driver who had very little experience……..went of the edge in corner and over-corrected resulting in rolling and people ejected from car etc.
but just because he was near by does not immediately make him responsible.
I would take a HARD look at him if he is still ther at 19.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:06 pm
lol doosh…I was thinking the same. I’d just shifting into 4th at about 100. lol
heck these new cars make 90mph feel like 30mph
March 1st, 2023 at 1:07 pm
LOL Doosh, i said over a 100, not how much (it was 140, but i got scared and backed off, had a cdl to protect)
March 1st, 2023 at 1:10 pm
At Mike S, where does it say he was drunk? No evidence on that. And its a misdemeanor, not a felony….check yourself.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:11 pm
He won’t fall to #19. Maybe five or six.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:11 pm
The last criminal the Bucs drafted in the first round was a bust. 😛
March 1st, 2023 at 1:15 pm
Interesting as a prospect, but as my gramps would say Carter has “some sh*t with’em” so pass
March 1st, 2023 at 1:17 pm
MadMax,
That sounds a little better.
You can continue to use your MadMax moniker.
😀
March 1st, 2023 at 1:17 pm
“As a result of the ongoing investigation into the January 15, 2023, fatal crash that occurred in the 900 block Barnett Shoals Road, the Athens Clarke-Country Police Department has secured arrest warrants for Jalen Carter, 21, for Reckless Driving and Racing,” the statement reads. “The investigation found that Chandler LeCroy, driver of the 2021 Ford Expedition, and Jalen Carter, driver of a 2021 Jeep Trackhawk, were operating their vehicles in a manner consistent with racing shortly after leaving the downtown Athens area at about 2:30 a.m. The evidence demonstrated that both vehicles switched between lanes, drove in the center turn lane, drove in opposite lanes of travel, overtook other motorists and drove at high rates of speed in an apparent attempt to outdistance each other. Evidence indicated that shortly before the crash the Expedition was traveling at about 104 mph.”
“The toxicology report indicated that LeCroy’s blood-alcohol concentration was .197 at the time of the crash. Investigators determined that alcohol impairment, racing, reckless driving and speed were significant contributing factors to the crash. The case will be given to the Solicitor General’s Office.”
y’all have gotta read linked articles…
March 1st, 2023 at 1:17 pm
He left a “clothing optional” establishment and got in an accident racing someone.
Thankfully there are no “clothing option” establishments near where the Bucs play and practice for him to go to.
I don’t mind these establishments myself, but it doesn’t seem like a good fit here.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:17 pm
But if he did fall to 19, man, him and Big V would be blowing stuff up when together. He could be in on some plays while V is resting, and then V will rest him.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:21 pm
A very unfortunate end to a night of celebration and fun. It could happen to any of us when we were younger. You don’t think this is going to haunt him for the rest of his life? He shouldn’t have been a part of it but I don’t think he’s a bad person and should still be drafted pretty high.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:24 pm
@Eliot,
I currently drive a Hemi Durango, but I’ve always dreamed of owning a Hellcat Durango, just can’t afford it at 100K.
Those Jeep Trailhawks are killer! (Hellcat smokes it, although both have superchargers).
My point is, how in the world is some college kid driving a Trailhawk? Times have changed, I reckon.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:28 pm
MadMax leaving the scene of an accident with serious injuries in the state of Florida is indeed a felony. Look that up. Also of course he was drunk – are you daft?
March 1st, 2023 at 1:28 pm
Off the top of my head, yeah .. Warren Sapp, Joe Mixon, Ray Lewis, Aquib Talib … hell, even Jameis Winston. Some have managed genuine paths to redemption and stand-up citizenship. I agree with others suggesting research into the time before the events of this horrible story. But would err on the side of “avoid” if it’s any gray area.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:30 pm
Yes that’s not gonna happen. Glazers overrule any draft deciding bottom line
March 1st, 2023 at 1:30 pm
Kaptain Morgan whatever you do keep him out of Pasco County – full nude/full liquor. Yikes.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:30 pm
LOL Doosh, ive lived with it since the movie came out.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:31 pm
Pewter Power I don’t see the Glazers signing off on him either.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:32 pm
@Mike, you’re the daft one. He might’ve been, might not have been. You gotta think lawyer logic on this stuff pal. No evidence!
March 1st, 2023 at 1:36 pm
He won’t be on their draft board if the allegations are true.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:37 pm
MadMax Says:
March 1st, 2023 at 1:07 pm
LOL Doosh, i said over a 100, not how much (it was 140, but i got scared and backed off, had a cdl to protect)
———-
OK, that’s a much cooler story than what you said the first time, it sounded like you were scared that you got to 100, which made me laugh because it was so limp wristed. But 140, now that’s some speed you can be proud of.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:37 pm
He left his teammate dead or dying in a wrecked car because he knew it would affect his draft stock. Hard pass.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:44 pm
If both parties were willingly racing, then that’s called personal responsibility. The driver who wrecked, that’s on them. Now if he was pointing a gun at them from another car and demanding they drive faster and faster until they wrecked, well, that’s murder.
Nothing I’ve seen or heard so far makes me think he’s a bad guy. He’s young and was driving fast, oh my, that makes him like 90% of the population his age. Well, 90% when I was his age, people today are such sissies it’s probably like 10% today.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:45 pm
MadMax this isn’t court of law its a football team. Making character judgments is part of the deal. You’re slated to be the 1st overall pick – millions of dollars on the line – and then go out and race the highways wasted and someone ends up dying.
This is a guy you want to bet the first round pick on? Talent alone is not enough to evaluate. Whether or not they can be relied upon is important too. Too many jobs on the line here. The fortunes of people’s families hang in the balance.
Jalen is super lucky they only charged him with misdemeanors. I’m shocked at that. They could have easily charged him with felonies – should have charged him with felonies. He’ll get drafted I’m sure. They’ll be a suspension likely.
Seems a mess to deal with.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:46 pm
gotbbucs yeah that’s not good.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:47 pm
gotbbucs Says:
March 1st, 2023 at 1:37 pm
He left his teammate dead or dying in a wrecked car because he knew it would affect his draft stock. Hard pass.
———
There’s nothing I’ve read that even says he was aware of the crash, more or less left the scene. They’re just saying he was racing the other vehicle at some point before the accident.
Before you all go out and start lynching people, how about waiting a few days for the full story to come out.
March 1st, 2023 at 1:48 pm
We drafted Sapp.
March 1st, 2023 at 2:02 pm
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned the part where Joe wrote … ‘Carter allegedly fled the scene’. THAT’S sort of a big deal & it changes the whole dynamic of this situation IMO. Yes young people (and old people) do stupid things. It happens. But leaving the scene of an accident is NEVER a ‘stupid thing’ if it was intentional (and the charge makes it sound like it MAY have been intentional).
IF that’s the case, you can keep the guy; I don’t care how good a football player he is. And IF that wasn’t the case, odds are pretty good we won’t be seeing him at #19 pick.
March 1st, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Mike S Says:
March 1st, 2023 at 1:45 pm
MadMax this isn’t court of law its a football team. Making character judgments is part of the deal. You’re slated to be the 1st overall pick – millions of dollars on the line – and then go out and race the highways wasted and someone ends up dying.
——–
You literally don’t know if he was drinking — and while they say he was racing the other car, it got up to… 104mph. WOW. 104 – speeds a Geo Metro can obtain! I was driving the other week on the vets, thought I was doing like 80, and I look down and I’m doing 105. Part of the reason I didn’t think I was going that fast was because I wasn’t zipping by anyone else, everyone was doing at least 90. MURDERERS!!!! ALL MURDERERS AND BAD PEOPLE!!!
As for the wreck, all the report says (at least from what I’ve read at this point) is that he was racing the other vehicle BEFORE the accident. It doesn’t say anything about him being at the scene, seeing it, causing it, leaving the scene, nothing. It just says they were ‘racing’ in traffic before the accident.
That’s as big of a non-story as there is, at least at the moment. If more comes out maybe I’ll change my opinion, but I won’t default to stringing people up and finding out the evidence later.
March 1st, 2023 at 2:06 pm
Defense Rules Says:
March 1st, 2023 at 2:02 pm
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned the part where Joe wrote … ‘Carter allegedly fled the scene’.
———
I’m not sure if Joe is getting that from somewhere else or not, but that’s not part of anything I’ve read.
March 1st, 2023 at 2:13 pm
As long as he’s mostly clean with the rest of his life, I can forgive this accident that the vast majority of us have made yet got lucky enough to escape the massive consequences.
March 1st, 2023 at 2:22 pm
I think the question is- do you trust the Bucs to accurately research that though? After all, we heard about all the money and resources they spent on reseraching Jameis…
March 1st, 2023 at 2:23 pm
That’s a whole lot of mental gymnastics from Rod lol
March 1st, 2023 at 2:36 pm
Lichts choice
March 1st, 2023 at 2:39 pm
Sad story, but I think we’ve all done some stupid stuff at that age and got lucky it didn’t turnout the same. He’s 21 about to turn 22yrs old…Let him have his day in court – if he’s guilty he’ll pay a price for this mistake. As far as drafting him, I don’t know if this is an isolated incident (bad one) or does he have a list of character issues. If its an isolated issue and you get a sense that he’s humble / remorseful…why not, he’ll have the money and platform to make a difference in the community.
Go Bucs!
March 1st, 2023 at 3:02 pm
As A Teenager I used to do 160 almost on a daily basis on my crotchrocket.
In my 20’s I hit almost 180 on the 7 mile bridge in a Jaguar XKE v12.
Driving fast IS dangerous, however that depends on the skill of the driver and the actual ability on the rig they are driving.
That said I would NEVER leave a friend and Teammate to possibly die to protect my ass in a situation like that. That is a coward move even if he was intoxicated. Should have stopped and tried to save them.
March 1st, 2023 at 3:08 pm
I do so love speculative stories about speculation and then read all the speculation from all the speculative experts on the speculative situation…
SMH
March 1st, 2023 at 3:09 pm
Remember Randy Moss. Dallas regretted not drafting him at 7, Minnesota got a great deal at 22. This isn’t like Raiders WR Henry Ruggs, who actually did kill someone. YES take him.
March 1st, 2023 at 3:16 pm
@rod – dude left the scene then came back and lied to police. He is in major trouble. Pass on this guy.
March 1st, 2023 at 4:43 pm
SB … ‘As A Teenager I used to do 160 almost on a daily basis on my crotchrocket. In my 20’s I hit almost 180 on the 7 mile bridge in a Jaguar XKE v12.’
Friend of mine & I used to work on his Jaguar XKE v12 many many years ago. Never knew it went THAT fast, but I’m not surprised. Sweet machine (but the carbs got out of sync easily it seemed).
We both flew fighters and it wasn’t unusual to get them up to 500 knots (plus) at low altitude. Kinda fun. Actually a lot more fun than doing some of the Mach 2.0 (plus) runs I got to do when I had to take them up on Functional Check Flights after an engine was changed or whatever. The world passes by slowly at 40,000 feet, even at Mach 2.
Never got to do a crotchrocket though. Sounds like an awful lot of power to have between your legs SB.
March 1st, 2023 at 5:20 pm
Fastest I ever drove was 105 in an old Pontiac Catalina 400.
It felt like if I hit an acorn I’d flip over. My Yamaha Vstar 250 maxes out about 84. I don’t ride it much anymore.
It sounded to me the accident happened while they were racing. Carter might have been out front, (article doesn’t specify) but he had to have heard the crash or at least realized his friends weren’t with him anymore. That makes me conclude he was probably drunk also. Now there’s no way to prove anything unless someone looks at the club’s video.
March 1st, 2023 at 5:23 pm
There’s gonna be a lawsuits soon and they’ll be digging up those recordings unless Carter’s lawyers buy them off.
March 1st, 2023 at 5:59 pm
LOL!!!
Yamaha R6 – 148 MPH
350Z – 138 – MPH
Those are my current speed records…
March 1st, 2023 at 6:02 pm
That’s why I say – if Carter is available at #19 – we absolutely have to take him.
Young people sometimes get caught doing stupid things…
Dude made a mistake – it doesn’t mean he is a bad dude.
March 1st, 2023 at 6:16 pm
^ He’s a bad dude on the field, thats for sure!
Since he was out of reach, I never watched any of his highlights…I mean I watched a few games but knew we couldnt land him.
Dude is a wrecking ball….he’s mastered moves that takes seasons for vets to master if they even ever get there.
Im sure he probably wont drop far though…still out of reach….Buc luck
March 1st, 2023 at 6:16 pm
@MikeS – I’m a convicted felon from when I was 18 , does that make me a bad person ?? Sounds like you are trying to play judge and jury ! I now own 2 successful businesses, married to my beautiful wife for 17 years and have 4 wonderful children. I’ve owned my house since I was 20 years old and drive a new vehicle. So WTF is your point about being a “Felon” ? Not all people who have a past life mistake turn into career criminals ! Azz
March 1st, 2023 at 10:50 pm
@ DJ82 – I think that is a great story dude. You probably had to work twice as hard with that felony hanging over you. My real issue is the cowardice. He left his friends literally burning alive in a twisted metal mess. Is that really someone you want in a locker room next to you? He’ll get another chance or two but I’d prefer it be somewhere else.
March 2nd, 2023 at 2:04 am
I had an epic race on US 19 back in the early 90s. I was in a 1982 Chevette, and some poser in a Pontiac T1000 was next to me right and we both gunned it. I’m not kidding, we hit nearly 70mph, with the cars shaking violently. I pulled out the victory, and only a few years ago found out why. The Pontiac T1000 was just a Chevette with a slightly different front end, except Pontiac made it heavier, and less powerful.
I think having to drive that POS early on made me never ever ever want a slow car again, and that has driven every car purchase since then.
March 2nd, 2023 at 8:41 pm
It’s not even close to the type of incident that will cause him to drop much at all. He’d drop more from a bar fight. I have no problems grabbing the guy if I am any NFL team.