3:08pm: The Browns have cut ties with the recently arrested defender. The team announced Thursday afternoon it waived Phelps.
1:19pm: Lonnie Phelps was arrested Wednesday night after he crashed his SUV into a Key West restaurant, as detailed by 7News Miami. The second-year Browns defensive end now faces charges for DUI and damaging property.
Phelps’ vehicle crashed into the Red Shoe Island Bistro just before 9:00pm on June 19 with the passenger side “embedded in the wall,” per the police report. The Hyundai SUV also sustained damage in the front, and airbags on both sides deployed. Phelps and his girlfriend were present at the time of the crash.
The parties were seen arguing upon exiting the vehicle, and the report indicates Phelps showed signs of intoxication. He refused a breathalyzer test and was uncooperative with officers before ultimately being booked into the Monroe County Detention Center. Damages from the crash have been estimated at $300K.
Phelps joined the Browns last spring as an undrafted free agent. He spent his first three college seasons at Miami (Ohio), collecting 16 sacks in 38 games. Transferring to Kansas in 2022 paved the way for him to have a strong final campaign at the college level with seven sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. Phelps did not see any game time as a rookie, but he remained in Cleveland by signing a futures contract in January.
The Browns’ edge group contains the likes of Myles Garrett, Za’Darius Smith, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Alex Wright. That quartet consists of returning players, and they will be expected to shoulder the load once again during the 2024 campaign. Phelps will again look to carve out a roster spot during training camp this summer if Cleveland elects to keep him in the fold. If the team were to let him go, he would be subject to waivers.
Well I’m sure this will encourage the team to give more chances to an undrafted practice squad player who’s never seen game action for them.
No way, a football player was drunk or drugged and destroyed their and/or someone else’s property? I can’t believe it. And not a Brown’s player. I just don’t believe it. At least this dumbs**t didn’t kill anyone.
$300,000 in damages. As an undrafted free agent I seriously doubt he’s got that much money banked. Homey gonna get sued for damages.
Does your vehicle insurance company cover stuff like this when the drivers drunk?
It’s an interesting question. From what I’ve read, it might depend on whether or not there is exclusionary language in the contract. It would have been interesting to see the level. While there is no doubt a suspension and his waiver is in his future, the severity of the punishment might differ on whether not he had 5 beers or 10 shots.
Thank god I am not a stupid kid any more.
“With fame I become more and more stupid, which of course is a very common phenomenon.” ~ Albert Einstein
See Chiefs? It’s not that hard!!
Lonnie Phelps should have just sexually assaulted a couple of dozen women. He probably would have had his base salary turned into a signing bonus.
I was thinking the same thing. No problem with sexual assault, but DUI is too much.
Another dumb spoda