Hayes will play for Bucs on Sunday despite arrest, Morris says

Linebacker Geno Hayes will play against the Detroit Lions despite his arrest at a Tampa nightclub early Monday morning, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris said today.

An officer used a stun gun, then tackled and arrested Hayes during an altercation at the Blue Martini at International Plaza early today, police said.

Hayes, 23, was arrested just after 2 a.m. for trespassing and disorderly conduct, according to an arrest report. Both charges are misdemeanors.

"These guys have to realize they are under the microscope at all times and you've got to have the ability to walk away at all times," Morris said during his weekly news conference Monday. "Any confrontation, any argument, you've got to realize that you can't be right. That's the bottom line in the life that we've chosen."

Hayes will play in Sunday's game at Raymond James Stadium, Morris said. He did not indicate whether Hayes will be disciplined by the team.

Hayes is the third Bucs player arrested in the past two months.

"You talk to your team about making good decisions all the time," Morris said. "Obviously, you're frustrated with anything that diverts attention away from your team. It's diverting away from us being positive, 8-5, and talking about that stuff."

According to police, Hayes was inside the club when an acquaintance tried to enter. The acquaintance, who was not identified, was turned away because he was not properly attired, police said, and the ensuing commotion drew Hayes' attention.

Hayes pushed police Cpl. Robin Penix aside and stood between her and the acquaintance, who became disruptive, and another unidentified man, police said. The unidentified men were not football players, police said.

The two men left and officers told Hayes he could go back into the lounge. Hayes however stood at the entrance of the bar, "making derogatory statements and menacingly staring at the lounge security personnel and police," police said.

Hayes was escorted to the parking lot by police Cpl. Gary Price and told not to come back.

About 10 minutes later, Hayes returned saying he left his credit card behind. He was told to have a seat at a nearby store while his friend retrieved the credit card, but he refused to leave the Blue Martini's front door, police said.

Hayes "assumed an aggressive stance, acted combative and refused to leave the establishment," police said.

According to Price's affidavit, Hayes "was loud, verbally abusive and made threats to myself and staff from the club."

Hayes, who is 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, was warned that he would be shocked with a stun gun if he didn't leave, and Hayes persisted, the report said.

Price used his stun gun, but Hayes' clothing was too thick for the shock to subdue him, the report said. Price, 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds, then tackled the linebacker and took him into custody.

"He's no longer a cop," joked police spokeswoman Laura McElroy about Price. "He was picked up by the NFL."

Records show Hayes was released at 5 a.m. after posting cash bail of $750.

The Bucs played the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., on Sunday afternoon. The game, which was over by 4 p.m., was won by the Bucs, 17-16. Hayes was credited with a tackle, two assists and a sack in the game.

Hayes was arrested in another nightclub incident in Tallahassee in 2007. While attending Florida State University, Hayes was charged with three misdemeanor counts of assault on an officer, resisting arrest without violence and disorderly conduct. An officer used a stun gun on him in that incident, too.

Hayes, a sixth-round pick in the 2008 NFL draft, is the third Bucs player arrested in the past two months.

Tight end Jerramy Stevens was arrested Oct. 23 on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of marijuana, both felonies, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor. He was released by the team a few days after the arrest.

Receiver Mike Williams was arrested for driving under influence Nov. 19. He was arrested even though his blood-alcohol level was lower than the level at which a motorist is considered too intoxicated to drive.

Also, cornerback Aqib Talib was suspended for the first game of the season for violating the league's personal conduct policy, punishment stemming from an August 2009 arrest after an incident with a cab driver.

Another off-the-field problem included safety Tanard Jackson's suspension after a second violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Jackson is not eligible to apply for reinstatement until September.