Two months ago, Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard was convicted of assaulting a police officer. In two days, Dennard will find out whether and to what extent he’ll be incarcerated for his crime.
As James Walker of ESPN.com points out, Dennard’s sentencing will happen on Thursday. As MDS pointed out in the wake of the conviction, the typical sentence for third-degree assault of a police officer typically ranges from probation to 180 days in jail -- even though he’s technically facing up to six years.
The separate question is whether the NFL will suspend Dennard for something that occurred before he entered the NFL. While the punishment came during his time with the Patriots, Dennard’s arrest happened before he was drafted. His plunge to round seven as a result of the arrest arguably constitutes a just consequence for his conduct.
The league has said the incident will be reviewed under the personal-conduct policy. If a suspension is imposed, another legal skirmish could be coming.