Buccaneers: Safety T.J. Ward arrested for possession
By James Yarcho
As if free agent acquisition T.J. Ward didn’t have a disappointing enough season, he was arrested Wednesday morning for marijuana possession.
Boy, the hits keep on comin’, don’t they? After making what they thought was a big free agent splash by signing safety T.J. Ward, the Buccaneers were sorely disappointed in what can only be described as a horrendous season for the safety. No splash plays, no impact, no leadership. Nothing.
Now, T.J. Ward has been released from jail on $2,500 bond after being arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Although details are still coming in, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times has been doing his best to keep everyone updated;
Bucs safety T.J. Ward's arrest this morning was in Channelside area. Also charged with misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Up until August, he was with Broncos ... in Colorado.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 3, 2018
Sorry — Bucs safety T.J. Ward was arrested on a felony count of possession of marijuana this morning, not a misdemeanor.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 3, 2018
T.J. Ward’s arrest today was actually on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on previous (and unreported) charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Arrested at his apartment, per incident report.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 3, 2018
Auman also pointed out that Ward came from the Broncos, where he lived in Denver – a place where marijuana is legalized. Now, that’s no excuse for Ward breaking a local law by being in possession of the drug – especially a felony amount.
In his five starts, Ward had no interceptions, no forced fumbles, no fumble recoveries and is set to become a free agent in March. Not exactly the best look when it comes to the overall picture of Ward and what he may – or may not, as the case may be – get on the open market.
Recently, DeSean Jackson was placed under investigation for having a truck registered in his name found abandoned with hollow point bullets (legal in Florida) and a misdemeanor amount of marijuana in it. The questions will begin to arise whether this is a team wide problem or purely coincidental.
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OR – and I’ll bring it up since many of you are thinking it – was T.J. Ward the friend that took Jackson’s car without permission and abandoned it, considering he had a warrant out for his arrest? Not likely, but something to think about.
Stay tuned as more information is likely to come become available.