Babineaux’s innocence just took a hit (off the blunt)
Jonathan Babineaux's eyes weren't pinkish for the game Sunday.
When he retires as a defensive tackle, Jonathan Babineaux should come back as a quarterback. He’s already well-versed on how to audible.
According to the Gwinnett County police report on Babineaux’s arrest last week for multiple traffic violations and felony possession of marijuana, the Falcons’ lineman lied to police multiple times about whether: 1) There was marijuana in the car; 2) Whether anybody had smoked marijuana in the car; 3) Whether he had smoked marijuana in the car; 4) Pretty much everything that didn’t involve his name and profession (which police already knew).
You can read the entire police report here.
The release of the report comes after Babineaux released a statement last Thursday night saying he and his family “have faith that you will see I’m not guilty.” It also comes on the heels of Babineaux’s attorney, Patrick McDonough, releasing a statement, saying: “I believe Jonathan Babineaux is innocent of these charges.”
When McDonough retires as a defense attorney, he can be Babineaux’s offensive coordinator. Defense doesn’t seem to be his strength.
I’m sure that some day soon, Babineaux, probably at the urging of those sitting in the Falcons’ executive suite, will convince the player to hold a news conference and pronounce, “I screwed up.” Then we can all move on (except for owner Arthur Blank and general manager Thomas Dimitroff, who will wonder about the $25 million contract extension they gave him).
But the story just got new legs. A few highlights from the report, which was released Tuesday:
– When the officer told Babineaux that he smelled marijuana in his Escalade, the player responded that he had loaned the car to friends as few days earlier and that they had smoked pot.
– When asked if there was marijuana in the car, Babineaux said no. When the officer asked if he could search the car, Babineaux said no. When the police officer said he had probable cause to search the car, according to the report: “Babineaux looked scared and nervous. He rubbed his face and kept looking back at the vehicle. He told me that [his friend and passenger Aaron] Robinson had a medical marijuana license.”
– When police called for backup from the the K9 (drug-sniffing dogs) unit: “Ofc. Bailey deployed K9 Cody on the Escalade. K9 Cody alerted to the odor of narcotics by scratching at the passenger door.” Busted. (Scooby snack for Cody.)
– After marijuana was found in a backpack in the car, Babineaux was asked if he had smoked some. He said no. Problem was that his friend, Robinson told police that Babineaux had smoked “at least two or three times.” Busted. Babineaux then admitted what, again, police already knew.
By the way, Robinson told police that he has a California medical marijuana license to ease pain in his legs (strange because the two purchased the drugs in Atlanta).
Look, this is not a referendum on marijuana use. But the fact this took place during the season on a Thursday night of game week before the Falcons’ biggest game of the season — and while he was driving — speaks volumes about Babineaux’s maturity and intellect.
A little advice, Jonathan: Come clean before this gets any sillier.
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135 comments Add your comment
naws
December 15th, 2009
10:39 pm
Another second rate, low rent, nigro. If it weren’t for sports, most of these people would be picking up our garbage, let’s face it.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 15th, 2009
10:42 pm
2004 & Counting…………
How long should a Franchise wait on the current regime to fix what was supposed to be a dynasty?
- 1997 ….. Playoffs Win
- 2002 …..Playoffs Win
- 2004 …..Playoffs Win
Between 1997 & 2002 that was a 5 year gap
Between 2002 & 2004 that was a 2 year gap
Between 2004 & 20?? No playoff wins
How long should management wait?
How much patience should they have?
How long should they wait until they realize the current Franchise quarterback is not the answer?
Should there be an unlimited window? How long should there be before the Franchise quarterback should be replaced, like the ones before him?
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 15th, 2009
10:48 pm
naws
HA HA HA
brian mallonee
December 15th, 2009
11:03 pm
Why is it that you assume that the police are telling the truth? A very misguided assumption indeed. We are talking about the police here. A high school diploma is the educational minimum for these characters. Jeff, haven’t you ever heard of the presumption of innocence. And why were the accused detained by the police for longer than it would have taken to issue a traffic citation? Most likely because the police do not understand or respect the 4th Amendment or the United States Constitution. Kind of like you, Jeff.
Wednesday Reading Room — Big Ten Expansion Madness | GazetteOnline.com
December 15th, 2009
11:34 pm
[...] [...]
Fair and Balanced
December 16th, 2009
7:10 am
Schultz, its safe to say everyone breathing on this planet has character flaws…including that starting RB that struck his girlfriend upside the head in Gwinnett County last year but the AJC has chosen not to actually write about more than the initial visit to the home by Gwinnett’s finest. Sorta like how you guys won’t tell us what actually happened at Patrick Kerney’s house.
bigeasy830
December 16th, 2009
8:34 am
Ted Striker
I actually agree with you, but where was this argument of yours when everyone and their Grandma was screaming that MV7 should come clean and tell the truth. MV7 was looking at a possible 15 years with that trumped up RICO charge. But, many was screaming tell the truth. MV7 did what he did after the incident to try to protect himself and keep from doing too much time. It’s funny how people want to throw away another person’s civil right just so they can see what goes on in a persons privated life. The Tiger Woods case is a perfect example, the only person he did wrong was his wife and their kids, and thats more than enough and I know it has to be killing him inside. He let down the most important people to him. The rest of us don’t matter. Charles Barkley’s commercial was genius because it is timeless. He nor Tiger nor any athlete is a role model but you people are so quick to say what will I tell my kids. Try telling them the truth about the situation and explain that in life sometimes people make mistakes. But back to Babineaux, the only shot he has is to get the search thrown out but that’s a long shot, the smell of the drugs is probable cause. He should have been kicked off the team after killing that dog but the Falcons turned a blind eye on that incident and then let him play Sunday after this one. Where is the outrage from you people and PETA. Yeah….I guess it’s because he is not the face of the franchise.
Falcons Suck
“Back To Life, Back To Reality”
dean
December 16th, 2009
9:04 am
Law Professor
December 15th, 2009
5:37 pm
“Jonathon, Jonathon, Jonathon…if you should have learned ANYTHING lately, it is that the old homeboys will get your azz sucked down the toilet.”
Didn’t take long to play the race-card, did it?
Sorry. I always heard the truth will set you free.
riley hawkins
December 16th, 2009
9:52 am
dont believe everything you read or hear–wait till after court
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired!!!
December 16th, 2009
10:03 am
I just wish that there could be one article written by an AJC sports writer THIS YEAR where the people commenting on the article would stay on the topic. There was absolutely nothing in Schultz’s article that mentions Michael Vick.
NEWSFLASH: **THIS IS AN ARTICLE AND BLOG ABOUT THE BABINEAUX SITUATION.**
For those of you with insightful comments (insert a YAWN here) to make about Michael Vick, I’m sure the Philadelphia Inquirer would welcome your comments. In case you don’t know where to go…(hold tongue in an effort to keep it clean) here is the URL:
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 16th, 2009
11:30 am
phillyBurbs.com /
The Intelligencer
The Michael Vick experiment doesn’t look quite so much like an experiment anymore. It looks like a success.
Vick has 11 touches in the last two games and among them are two touchdown runs, a touchdown pass, a 32-yard completion to set up a touchdown against the Giants, a 43-yard completion to set up a touchdown in Atlanta, a five-yard run for a first down and a five-yard run down to the 1-yard line to set up a touchdown against the Giants.
“It’s funny how you don’t hear anybody say, ‘Oh, Michael Vick is going to upset the offense’s rhythm’ anymore,” guard Todd Herremans said with a chuckle Monday. “I don’t think he’s upsetting our rhythm right now.”
Vick is no longer a work in progress. He’s an intriguing weapon that Eagles head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg are increasingly placing in critical situations.
After spending a year and a half in prison and not playing football for nearly three years, Vick is starting to look once again like the guy who went to three Pro Bowls for the Falcons between the 2002 and 2005 seasons.
“It’s great to have some plays in the offense where you can actually have some success,” Vick said after the Eagles beat the Giants 45-38 Sunday night at Giants Stadium. “I felt relaxed. I felt good. I felt myself again.”
Vick’s role has evolved since he made his Eagles debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Eagles third preseason game on Aug 28. He no longer is a Wildcat. He’s simply a quarterback like he was during his big years in Atlanta as a threat to run or throw whenever he’s on the field.
“The tough thing about him is you can’t view it as what everybody in the league refers to as Wildcat,” Giants defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan said. “He is a quarterback. You have to treat him like a quarterback.”
That means defenses can’t cheat up like they would against a pure Wildcat quarterback. They have to play the Eagles honest, since Vick is now throwing the ball so well. That makes him an even more dangerous runner.
“He’s a quarterback with great athletic ability and a great arm,” Reid said. “You’re talking about one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL before he was suspended there.”
Earlier this year, Vick was missing when he threw. He missed a wide-open DeSean Jackson on what would have been a 30-yard gain in San Diego. Now, he’s hitting those passes.
Advertisement In his first nine games after serving a two-game suspension, Vick was 3-for-9 for six yards. The last two, he’s 3-for-4 for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Similarly, he was 12-for-27 rushing (2.3 average) up through the Chargers game. During the Eagles’ four-game winning streak, he’s run 10 times for 66 yards (6.6 average) and two TDs.
He’s been almost unstoppable on third down, running seven times, converting six times, and gaining 68 yards on those seven runs – an average of 9.7 yards per carry.
“You know what he does – there are a lot of guys with his speed and quickness,” Reid said. “He’s very patient. He (receives) the ball first, and then he sees things set up and then – phew – he goes. The more he plays, the better he’s going to feel.”
Vick isn’t the only reason the Eagles have won four straight games, moved into first place in the NFC East and find themselves on the brink of their eighth playoff berth in the last 10 years.
But it’s not a complete coincidence that the offense has been rolling and the Eagles haven’t lost since Vick began making plays. Big plays.
“He’s really become a big part of our offense,” Herremans said. “What he’s able to do, it’s definitely something that teams have to game plan for. I don’t think of him as a gimmick or a novelty. He’s just a good player. He’s dangerous.”
Vick Supporter
December 16th, 2009
12:30 pm
What do you people expect from NFL Players? They all can’t be saints…..I would say 80% of the NFL (all colors) smoke on that chronic.
Nothing wrong with it if you do it responsibly…
“Leagalize weed in 2010″
Vick Supporter
December 16th, 2009
1:48 pm
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20091216_Right_signals_from_Eagles__quarterbacks.html
Street Cre
December 16th, 2009
2:58 pm
Smoking weed is no big deal, especially for these million dollar athletes with tons of cash to buy the best stuff. They should drop the charges and let him smoke it when he’s got it.
pb
December 16th, 2009
3:08 pm
How did Michael Vick’s name come up here? This article was about Babineaux. I wish M Vick well, but no way Blank will ever have him back in Atlanta.
TED STRYKER AND ANGIE:
Where did you go to law school? This is not a legal advice blog.Please don’t tell people legal stuff unless you are legally qualified.
tyger
December 16th, 2009
4:27 pm
B – O – R – I – N – G
Paintman
December 16th, 2009
6:35 pm
1 word-Dumbass. Nuf said.
Paul Johnson has Moobies....
December 16th, 2009
6:36 pm
Falcon Freddie, who got us to the superbowl? Crystal Chandelier – not Vick. I love Vick but I’ll take Matt Ryan all day long to build a team around. MV may “get it” in the future if he grows up but he was too immature to take us to the promised land (nfc championship does not equal promised land, FYI)
Fair and Balanced
December 16th, 2009
6:43 pm
So now Eric Weems driving drunk? Is that date correct? Arrested a month ago and he hasn’t missed a game….interesting.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 16th, 2009
6:59 pm
The Falcons & the CHOKE are so pitiful & pathetic right now, it’s not even worth debating – my job is done here
About police, atlanta falcons, marijuana, jonathan babineaux | Find me About
December 16th, 2009
8:45 pm
[...] When he retires as a defensive tackle, Jonathan Babineaux should come back as a quarterback. He’s already well-versed on how to audible. According to the Gwinnett County police report on Babineaux’s arrest last week for multiple traffic violations and …Read Original Story: Babineaux's innocence just took a hit (off the blunt) – Atlanta Journ… [...]
About atlanta falcons, eric weems arrested, marijuana, jonathan babineaux | Find me About
December 16th, 2009
10:38 pm
[...] When he retires as a defensive tackle, Jonathan Babineaux should come back as a quarterback. He’s already well-versed on how to audible. According to the Gwinnett County police report on Babineaux’s arrest last week for multiple traffic violations and …Read Original Story: Babineaux's innocence just took a hit (off the blunt) – Atlanta Journ… [...]
You can get AIDS from the toilets at Piedmont park
December 17th, 2009
11:21 am
What scares me is he was pulled over in Gwinnett county. I moved here to be away from thugs and drugs! Mr Blanks, please get rid of the thugs.
A
December 17th, 2009
11:36 am
drinking and driving is worst than smoking and riding… how many people on this board can drink some liquor and go to work and function? How many people can smoke pot and still be on the dean’s list huh? I don’t drink, but pot is the shizzznik… and I thought weed makes you stupid…ha,ha… go and talk to a drunk person and see what an idiot they can be, but a marijuana smoker is cool,calm, and hungry!
Frank Lucas
December 17th, 2009
11:57 am
First,
I feel sorry for Mr. Babineaux. Mr. Blank, Coach Smith you had to see this coming. If you want to help this man get his life back on track, you need to enroll him in a substance abuse program immediately. It is apparent that he has a dependancy problem. Mr. Babineaux it is important that you understand that when you put yourself in these kinds of self-inflicted situations your money can’t always buy you an acquittal. Don’t lose everything because of your substance abuse problem. Disassociate yourself from individuals that use drugs. Your road to recovery will not be easy. Please surround yourself with individuals who will protect you and will provide you with honest reflection when you ask for it. Don’t tarnish your brand because of stupidity. Learn from Tiger Woods indiscretions. Stay strong and ask for forgiveness. PEACE.
Big Mike
December 18th, 2009
10:43 am
How do you plead? Not Guilty! even if you are guilty, every lawyer will tell you to plead not guilty for the sake of negotiations, that is obvious. But, on the other hand, all players with less than 7 years of clean service should be required to hire at say $50-100K per year, a person who sees that they are in compliance with tags, driver license, etc. It’s not like they couldn’t afford it. Anyway, he’ll probably get fined by the team. what are you going to do!
timthebrave
December 18th, 2009
11:24 am
There is not one team in the league that would be in the playoffs with major injuries to starting qb, starting rb, starting left tackle, starting cornerback, starting defensive end, #2-#3 wide reciever and kick off return man.
Falcons Hero Zero
December 18th, 2009
11:32 am
Who was that ex-Buffalo Bill who promoted smoking to ease the pain of playing football for 16+ games a season? He said that he would never have played o long, had he never smoked. The pain was constant (An excuse, I know..)
How they are passing The NFL Drug Tests?
“Whizzinators”?
Falcons Hero Zero
December 18th, 2009
11:43 am
The stuff is not ‘roids… It won’t make them stronger in the trenches.. He was The Falcons best DT, but that is not that important now because they have a Dynasty of being The NFL’s worst Defense..
Eventually, the mind stops holding-on to important details like… Gap control in a 1 gap defensive scheme.. (although I do believe that the secondary is the culprit for most of The Falcons defensive woes)..
A great deal of pass-rushing is “jumping the snap count, anticipating to moves of your opponent across from you, and “play recognition”…
You won’t get to the likes of Drew Brees (behind a very good O-Line whether being allowed to hold or not)… It takes more than physical talent..
I don’t see that going well with this addiction..
If you cannot live without it.. You are hooked. It’s not food. You do not have to smoke it.
JeanE
December 18th, 2009
11:52 am
Jonathan Babineax = dumb as dirt. Unfortunately, our best defensive player this year so he’ll play ’til the league tells us he can’t. That is the sad reality of the world we live in. And, he’s not the only player in any league smokin’ it either. He’s just stupid enough to get caught with it. That should be a crime in itself. Weems, also not the brightest bulb. Cut ‘em both. Don’t want these turds on my team.
Jeff Schultz
December 18th, 2009
11:58 am
JeanE — Babineaux will be back. Weems? I’m guessing not, especially if Harry Douglas is ready to go next year.
zino
December 18th, 2009
6:36 pm
Let the brother smoke if he wants.
The fact that pot is illegal but alcohol and cigarettes are A-OK is so ridiculous that millions of reasonable taxpaying Americans tend to do what they want and “fire that mother up!” The only people that think pot is bad have never smoked pot. So act like this is nothing more than a traffic ticket and let’s move along.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 19th, 2009
10:59 am
You LOSERS live in a dream world. It’s almost like, you know the truth, yet you still want smoke blown up your butts
I mean seriously, do you really think the facts will change just because you wish they would?
I bet when you guys were kids, you would play with fire and you know it’s going to burn the hell out of you, but if you dreamt of rain, that fire would magically disappear
Would it really change the state of the Falcons if I came on the blogs and say something like this:
Hey guys I still think the Falcons will get in the playoffs and win the Superbowl. I think Matty is the best quarterback in the NFL. Coach Smith and Dimitroff has done a great job building the defense and scheming against teams with winning records. I really like where this team is headed and I am not concerned that they have a worse record than last season. Playoffs are okay, but the most important thing is we have good character players. Winning is less important than having guys that play by the rules.
“Now that is sure” to make the team magically elite
I really didn’t know that me criticizing the CHOKE and the Falcons would make them suck on the field
modsquad7
December 21st, 2009
11:00 am
Sends a dangerous message. Boo Mike Smith. bit.ly/9247MY
Countdown: Fighting cyclists! Biting harness riders! Brooklyn! | Jeff Schultz
July 20th, 2010
1:38 am
[...] in his Escalade. Later, he suggested to a police officer he shouldn’t be charged because his friend had a medical marijuana license in California. Well, Babineaux has pleaded down to three misdemeanors, two of which can be dropped if he stays [...]