On Tuesday morning, Cleveland Browns defensive end Marcus Benard plead not guilty to two traffic charges given to him following his October 10th motorcycle accident, according to CBS. Benard was allegedly driving at "a high rate of speed" and swerved across a four-lane interstate to slam into a guardrail, sustaining a broken hand and other injuries that would earn him a reckless operation and a driving under suspension charge, both of which he plead not guilty to.
His attorney, Patrick D'Angelo, faxed in the plea for his recovering client. It's hard to imagine someone being flung an estimated 241 feet without driving recklessly, outside of somebody else being the source of his collision, which might just be his defense, something that happens a lot for reckless operation charges.
The accident also landed Benard on the injured reserve list for the season, meaning he won't be back until 2012. For the 26-year-old who fought his way off of a practice squad to become the team's sack leader, it's a pretty devastating injury.
After a motorcycle accident left Marcus Benard out for the season with a broken hand, his status with the Cleveland Browns was up in the air. Browns Head Coach Pat Shurmur made it very clear that off-field incidents like reckless driving were not tolerated, and Benard was placed on IR.
It was mentioned Thursday that Benard would be released from the hospital, good news for the lineman whose accident was "devastating for the young man," according to Browns Defensive Coordinator Dick Jauron, via Tom Withers of the AP. Despite his mistake and poor judgment, the Browns are still committed to giving Benard another chance. Said Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer,
The #Browns will pay Marcus Benard the rest of his 2011 salary ($370K)despite fact he's on nonfootball injury list, league source told PD.
It has been a tumultuous bye week for the Browns, who have seen CB Joe Haden hobbled with a sprain, C Alex Mack sent to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy and Benard’s motorcycle crash.
At 2-2 and last place in the AFC North, the Browns will have to put it all behind them out west if they hope to put forth their best effort against an extremely talented Oakland Raiders team.
Various Cleveland media outlets are reporting on Wednesday morning that Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Marcus Bernard will miss the rest of the season and will be placed on the non-football, injured reserve list. Cleveland based reporter Scott Petrak reported this on the situation:
#Browns DE Benard placed on reserve-nonfootball injury list. Officially done for year. Still in hospital.
The situation with Bernard is pretty messy, but at this point you can’t do anything but wish him a speedy recovery and hope he can figure his legal issues out.
In the meantime, the Browns added a defensive lineman to the practice squad. From Petrak via Twitter:
#Browns sign DT Kiante Tripp to practice squad. Went to Georgia.
Tripp is a 6’6" 295 pound rookie from Georgia who was a key reserve for the team last season.
Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal is reporting that Browns defensive end Marcus Benard has been charged with driving under a suspended license and reckless operation by Brooklyn police.
A police spokesman told Ulrich that a court date will be made available later today when a police report is finished.
Benard crashed his motorcycle on Interstate 71 Monday. A team spokesman told the media that Benard suffered a broken hand. Benard remains in Cleveland Clinic.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer, Browns defensive end Marcus Benard broke his hand, not his arm, in a motorcycle accident today.
A team spokesman told Cabot that Benard is alert but resting comfortably in the hospital.
Depending on the severity, having a broken hand is a much better diagnosis for Benard than a broken arm. Several players in the past have played with a broken hand, wrapped like a club.
According to multiple published reports, Cleveland Browns defensive end Marcus Benard suffered a broken arm in his motorcycle accident Monday on Interstate 71.
Browns coach Pat Shurmur told the media today that Benard is in stable condition at the Cleveland Clinic. The accident reportedly took place at 2:20 p.m. after the team’s morning practice. Shortly after receiving word of the injury, team trainer Joe Sheehan visited Benard in the hospital.
“Praying 4my boy Marcus Benard!!!!" Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs said on Twitter.
