Alfonzo Dennard Arrested: NFL Draft Prospect Accused Of Punching Police Officer

FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2011 file photo, Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard walks across the field on the first day of NCAA college football practice, in Lincoln, Neb. Dennard. Nebraska's outgoing star cornerback, has been arrested following a disturbance early Saturday, April 21, 2012, outside a Lincoln bar. Police Capt. Jason Stille said Dennard, 22, originally from Rochelle, Ga., was arrested on suspicion of assault of a police officer, third-degree assault and resisting arrest. He was held S

OMAHA, Neb. -- Nebraska's outgoing star cornerback Alfonzo Dennard was arrested Saturday on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, possibly hurting his status in next weekend's NFL draft.

Dennard, 22, has been projected to be as high as a second-round pick. But NFL.com draft analyst Gil Brandt said Dennard's arrest could drop him from the third to fourth round, a difference that could cost him about $300,000 in salary over a standard four-year rookie contract.

"It doesn't help the kid any," said Brandt, a former player personnel director for the Dallas Cowboys.

Dennard is known for his aggressive play. He and South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery were ejected from the Capital One Bowl for taking swings at each other. Brandt said he wouldn't connect Dennard's behavior in the bowl game to the incident early Saturday.

"Jeffery was probably catching a few passes and blocking him a few times, and you get frustrated. That's what happens," Brandt said. "I'm not sure why at 2 o'clock in the morning you're out and what provokes you to punch a police officer."

Lincoln Police Capt. Jason Stille said officers tried to break up a fight between Dennard and a 22-year-old man outside a Lincoln bar shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday. Dennard hit the man before punching an officer who tried to intervene in the head, Stille said.

He was arrested after a brief struggle with four officers, police said. The officer hit in the head did not seek medical treatment.

Dennard, originally from Rochelle, Ga., was held Saturday in the Lancaster County jail on suspicion of assault of a police officer, third-degree assault and resisting arrest.

He was the senior leader of Nebraska's receiving corps last season, earned All-Big Ten honors and won the conference's inaugural Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year Award.

Nebraska athletics spokesman Keith Mann said football coach Bo Pelini was aware of Dennard's arrest but had no comment.

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Comments

[Wow Unbelievable]

04:53 PM on 04/23/2012

Just another fine outstanding athlete that kids should look up to. Thank goodness we have outstanding citizens like this so our kids don't have to look up to th- uqs like Tebow.

[MHB48]

12:36 PM on 04/23/2012

The guy has a short fuse and can't handle pressure. In the Capitol One Bowl that receiver was beating him time and time again. He couldn't handle it and started throwing punches. Not sure why the other guy was ejected too. From what I could see he was only trying to defend himself. Anyway, he got pissed when the officer tried to break up the fight and he went off on him too. No surprize really. He's probably had "self control" issues his entire life.

[butchcliff]

07:46 AM on 04/23/2012

His draft status greatly affected. Should have stayed home that night & every night until the big day. Just cost himself the bigger money

[nygcruz80]

12:48 AM on 04/23/2012

Dumb a**....The NFL DOES NOT NEED YOU !

[onionboy]

12:39 AM on 04/23/2012

"Hey, I just have a week to go before my first ever million dollar pay day. Heck, I might even get injured, and never have the opportunity to receive such a high paying contract ever again in my life. I really don't want to mess this up. I have a great idea. I'll go punch a cop today."

DUMB-A**!!!!!!

[Trapper50cal]

12:16 AM on 04/23/2012

It's so interesting...these athletes are tailored from early high school for a ticket to the show. They are catered to, fawned over, hineys smooched, everyone comes out of the woodworks to tell them how great they are, tests taken for them, grades given without being earned, bonus's, female companionship from slobbering sycophants, sports cars, all the trappings of success before they've even accomplished anything...all based on potential...and then we wonder why they can't exhibit character. Because they never had to DEVELOP any!

[nygcruz80]

12:49 AM on 04/23/2012

Talk to their parents about that.

[Trapper50cal]

02:11 AM on 04/23/2012

I imagine it's next to impossible to teach boundaries to someone on a theoretical level with so much going on contrary to that surround any given college athlete.

[media1]

10:15 PM on 04/22/2012

Just another punk about to make some NFL overpaid bank.

[Liberal12]

09:38 PM on 04/22/2012

Young man - One day you will wake up and realize you threw your opportunities away It's time to learn that once the uniform comes off you need to behave and choose people who will raise you up and not bring you down to their level

[lj9283]

08:44 PM on 04/22/2012

To quote Herm Edwards: "Nothing good happens after midnight."


More kids should take that to heart.

[liblizard]

09:46 PM on 04/22/2012

David Robinson (Spurs) said the same thing.

[MrUniteUs]

02:23 AM on 04/23/2012

Who does guy think he is, George Zimmerman?

[George Picard]

07:18 PM on 04/22/2012

Tip for all the younger people out there.

DON'T punch a cop, they hate that and they have guns. Just saying.

[RetiredLtCPD]

04:20 PM on 04/22/2012

How did a story about some fool who happens to be a good football playere punching a police officer become a rant on unreasonable use of force by the police? How many millions of dollars do you suppose this guy cost himself with his lack of self control? Anyone who punches a cop will punch an official, or a coach, or a team mate, and THAT is what the NFL will look at.

[Jan Niles]

02:57 PM on 04/22/2012

Well, we all knew something like this was coming, you know, the draft is coming and someone has to mess in his nest. Teams should see these actions and stay away from this guy and draft someone more worthy. Aren't they tired of drafting all these bad boys with rap sheets and paying them money to go out and get in trouble again? Guess that's why they employ so many team spokesmen. Bypass these troublemakers.

[Achilles World]

02:45 PM on 04/22/2012

A week before the most important selection process and the net efforts to decide his financial and economic future Aflonzo Denard decides he will risk placing himself in a situation that has nothing but down side implications. At a time when family, friends,agents and advisers should be mentoring Mr. Denard to stay out of the public contact he just needed to party. Regardless of the outcome of the charges this will effect his entire relationship with the NFL. From the draft choice to the contract amount, he will pay dearly. He clearly has earned his fate. Achilles

[Davest]

07:57 AM on 04/22/2012

would this happen if they could smoke a little reefer instead of hitting the bars?

[texas Big Dog]

03:22 AM on 04/22/2012

Please put a picture of Alfonzo up when he was 12. Public support for him to get that big NFL contract next week.