9. Aldon Smith – The fastest player in NFL history to record 30.0 sacks, Aldon Smith was one of the catalysts for the early success of the San Francisco 49ers in the Jim Harbaugh-era. But between January 2012 and April 2014, Smith just could not keep himself out of trouble: DUI in Florida (Jan. 2012), illegal firearms possession (October 2013), DUI and marijuana possession (Sept 2013), a bomb threat at an airport (April 2014). While Smith has never been sent to prison for any of these crimes and faces no serious criminal charges in the future, the fact of the matter is that Smith has been unable to keep himself out of trouble and is already serving a lengthy suspension for his behavior. But if he doesn’t change his behavior soon, he may find himself out of the league before he knows it.
8. Mercury Morris – A three-time Pro Bowl RB with the Miami Dolphins in the early 70s, Morris was a key component of the Dolphins dominating running game with the undefeated ’72 Dolphins. He and Hall of Fame RB Larry Csonka became the first teammates in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. But after football Morris developed a serious cocaine problem and in 1982 was convicted of cocaine trafficking. He was sentenced to twenty years imprisonment, with a mandatory fifteen-year term. On March 6, 1986, his conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court because evidence Morris had offered to prove his entrapment defense had been excluded under a mistaken characterization as hearsay. Morris was granted a new trial. He was able to reach a plea bargain with the prosecutor, resulting in his release from prison May 23, 1986, after having served three years. He later went on to a career as a motivational speaker.
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