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Bucs' Stevens Convicted Of DUI

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 8, 2007

TAMPA - Bucs tight end Jerramy Stevens likely is facing a long suspension by the NFL following his conviction on three counts of driving under the influence by a Scottsdale, Ariz., jury on Friday.

NFC information manager Randall Liu said Stevens' case will be reviewed under the league's personal conduct policy and a timeline for a disciplinary decision has not been set. However, that decision will be made by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and that does not bode well for Stevens.

Goodell suspended Tennessee's Adam 'Pacman' Jones for the 2007 season and Cincinnati's Chris Henry for eight games without pay for numerous violations of the league's personal conduct policy. Stevens has been involved in four separate legal incidents since turning pro in 2002, and has a long history of trouble prior to his NFL career.

Jones' off-field conduct included 10 incidents in which he was interviewed by police. Henry was arrested four times in a 14-month span, resulting in two benchings by Coach Marvin Lewis and a two-game league suspension.

The NFL's Personal Conduct Policy section about habitual offenders states '... the timing and nature of the discipline will be determined by the commissioner based on several factors including but not limited to: the severity of the initial charge and later charge; the facts underlying the later charge; the length of time between the initial offense and the later charge; and the player or employee's compliance with counseling and other programs.' There are no suspension guidelines listed, meaning Stevens' discipline is at the discretion of the second-year commissioner.

Stevens also faces 30 days in jail and will be sentenced on Oct. 2.

Bucs officials declined to comment once the verdict was reached. Earlier on Friday, Stevens, who attended the first two days of the trial Wednesday and Thursday, practiced with Tampa Bay in the morning in preparation for Sunday's season opener at Seattle. He declined to talk about his case after practice.

Prior to the Stevens' guilty verdict, Gruden said he supported the player signed as a free agent on April 29 - about six weeks after he was arrested and charged with DUI in Arizona and released by Seattle.

'As we said, the process was going to run its course and he would be back here, and here he is,' Gruden said. 'It's great to have him back. Hopefully we can get this whole matter resolved and move on with who I think is truly a damn good kid and a good football player's life.'

Gruden said he expected Stevens to play Sunday. Unless Tampa Bay suspends him, he will be allowed to participate until the NFL steps in.

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