Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs faces two misdemeanor warrants in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, on charges of second-degree cruelty to dogs. This news, combined with the ongoing legal issues plaguing the Chiefs, raises questions about the off-field conduct of some NFL players.

The Tuscaloosa Police Department acted on reports that two dogs were left without food or water on the back porch of a property Buggs had been renting. Authorities found a malnourished gray and white pit bull and a black rottweiler in a dire state. The residence appeared abandoned, and witnesses confirmed Buggs had recently vacated the premises. The pit bull’s condition was so severe that it was euthanized, underscoring the gravity of the neglect.

Buggs’ agent, Trey Robinson, vehemently denies the allegations, suggesting a broader conspiracy against his client. Robinson alleges the charges are part of a “subversive campaign” aimed at shutting down Buggs’ hookah lounge in Tuscaloosa. According to Robinson, Buggs was previously arrested on unrelated misdemeanor charges, which were not publicly recorded, as leverage to coerce him into closing his business.

Robinson’s defense paints Buggs as a victim rather than a perpetrator, insisting that Buggs did not own the dogs and was unaware of their presence at the property. He further alleges that city officials threatened to pursue and publicize these charges unless Buggs voluntarily surrendered his business license, a demand Buggs refused.

The Chiefs, who re-signed Buggs to a futures contract in February, now face a dilemma. This incident is the latest in a string of legal troubles involving team members this offseason. Wide receiver Rashee Rice was arrested in March for his role in a six-car crash in Dallas, facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault. Offensive linemen Wanya Morris and Chukwuebuka Godrick were also recently arrested on misdemeanor marijuana possession charges.

The repeated legal issues reflect poorly on the Chiefs organization and raise concerns about the team’s culture and player conduct off the field. Buggs’ situation highlights a disturbing case of animal neglect, regardless of the broader accusations of conspiracy and city corruption.

As the legal process unfolds, the Chiefs must navigate these controversies carefully. The implications extend beyond the football field, touching on the ethical responsibilities of professional athletes and the organizations that employ them. In a league that prides itself on character and community involvement, these incidents overshadow the positive contributions made by many other players.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster has officially returned to the team after domestic violence charges brought against him by ex-girlfriend Elissa Ennis were formally dropped by the court. After the ruling in favor of Foster was passed on Wednesday, 49ers general manager John Lynch issued a statement in which he said that Foster would return to the team.

Foster’s charges were dropped following a tearful admission by Ennis last week in which she claimed that she “lied a lot” in her allegations against Foster. A Wednesday ruling by California Superior Court Judge Nona Klippen indicated that there was not enough evidence to bring Foster up on those charges in order for them to warrant a full jury trial.

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Foster was also facing felony charges regarding an assault weapon, but those have been dropped down to a misdemeanor for which he will face a pre-trial hearing on June 6. However, Foster’s marijuana charge stemming from a January arrest is still in effect, and he will in court for that hearing on June 20.

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The linebacker’s return to the 49ers is huge for the team from a football standpoint. Throughout his rookie season, Foster showed signs of being a great defender in the making, recording 59 tackles and 13 assists in 10 games, all of which he started. His play was good enough to earn him a spot on the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2017, and at 23-years-old, he’s slated to become the core of the 49ers defense in the coming years. And it’s a good thing too, considering the vast improvement of division rival Los Angeles Rams during this offseason, as well as the potential for Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Josh Rosen to be a huge threat in the NFC West for the next decade.

Ten individuals working in the highest ranks of college basketball, including four assistant coaches and an official from Adidas, are facing federal bribery, fraud, and other corruption charges, Manhattan prosecutors announced Tuesday.

NCAA Basketball bribery scandal news

The New York Times was among the first to report the news.

The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York revealed in a statement that since 2015, federal prosecutors and the FBI have been investigating “the criminal influence of money on coaches and student-athletes who participate in intercollegiate basketball governed by the N.C.A.A.”

The probe has revealed several cases of bribes paid by athlete advisers, among others, to assistant coaches and in some instances directly to student-athletes at NCAA Division I universities, according to the complaint.

The payoffs were intended to force college players to work with specific agents and companies after they went professional, or to pressure highly-touted high school players to attend certain colleges.

Among the individuals charged was Chuck Person, an assistant coach at Auburn, where he was also a star player. Person played in the NBA for 13 years, a carer that included a stint with the Indiana Pacers. Coaches at Arizona, Oklahoma State and Southern California also received charges.

One of the three indictments charges five people with wire fraud and money laundering in a plot to bribe high school athletes to enroll in certain universities. Those indicted included Adidas senior executive James Gatto.

The indictment reveals that around $100,000 was paid to the family of “Player-10,” a heavily recruited high school all-American. The player’s college decision, which was announced in June, reportedly came as a surprise. Payments were also made to other players’ families, according to the indictment.

Adidas said in a statement: “Today, we became aware that federal investigators arrested an Adidas employee. We are learning more about the situation. We’re unaware of any misconduct and will fully cooperate with authorities to understand more.”

Another complaint claims that Person solicited bribes from a financial adviser and business manager for professional athletes, in exchange for his consent to direct some of the school’s players to the adviser when they joined the NBA.

The complaint states Person accepted a total of $91,500 in the case, and gave approximately $18,500 to the families of two athletes.

The third indictment charged assistant coaches with receiving bribe to direct athletes to certain agents. Among those charged are Lamont Evans, an assistant at Oklahoma State and a former assistant at South Carolina; Emanuel Richardson, an assistant at Arizona; and Tony Bland, an assistant at USC.

Oklahoma State said in a statement: “We were surprised to learn this morning of potential actions against one of our assistant basketball coaches by federal officials. We are reviewing and investigating the allegations. We are cooperating fully with officials.”

USC said: “We will cooperate fully with the investigation and will assist authorities as needed, and if these allegations are true, will take the needed actions.”

The investigation follows another major scandal that recently rocked NCAA basketball. In June, Louisville was sanctioned and head coach Rick Pitino was suspended for five games after it was revealed several of the university’s coaches and athletic department staff members solicited escorts and strippers for recruits. The Cardinals were forced to forfeit several games, possibly including their 2013 national championship victory.

Longtime Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun lamented the findings.

“The shoe companies have always, through grass roots, A.A.U., tried to get the young great players to stay with their sneakers,” said Calhoun. I remember kids getting swag, trips. But I don’t remember kids getting money.”

“I shouldn’t say it’s beyond belief, but to give money is the wrong thing. Stuff like this is obviously disturbing.”

GLENDALE, AZ – APRIL 03: Przemek Karnowski #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs handles the ball against Kennedy Meeks #3 and Isaiah Hicks #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels in the second half during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The University of Louisville confirmed Thursday that the NCAA had formally charged current and former staff members of it’s men’s basketball program, including head coach Rick Pitino, with major rules violations relating to a scandal involving a university employee who provided escorts to perform sexual acts with players and recruits.

NCAA Charges Rick Pitino, Not Louisville Over Dorm Escort Scandal

The NCAA’s notice of allegations, released Thursday morning, includes four Level 1 charges: one to Pitino, two directed at former director of basketball operations Andre McGee and one aimed at former assistant Brandon Williams. The university itself was not charged with any violations, including a lack of institutional control or failure to monitor, the two most egregious NCAA infractions.

Pitino, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, has denied that he knew about McGee’s actions. The NCAA alleges that the 64-year-old coach “did not monitor” McGee and failed to “spot-check” his program, including “actively looking for red flags.”

Pitino has also repeatedly denied any knowledge of the accusations made by former prostitute Katina Powell. In her October 2015 book, Breaking Cardinal Rules, Powell alleged that McGee paid her and other escorts and strippers thousands of dollars and gave them tickets to games in exchange for sex with recruits and players in the players’ dormitory, Minardi Hall during a four-year period. The NCAA concurred, alleging that McGree paid some $5,400 to the escorts.

In a statement, Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich said he pledged to appeal the charge that Pitino had failed to monitor his employees.

“The N.O.A. aligns with the results of our inquiry: Improper activities took place in a dormitory that never should have occurred,” Jurich said, referring to the notice of allegations and going on to allude to Louisville’s self-imposed postseason ban last season. “When the facts were established, we acted. We took appropriate punitive and corrective actions.”

Louisville has 90 days to respond to the NCAA’s letter, and a hearing before the Committee on Infractions is expected to be scheduled for next spring.

The university will hold a news conference at noon ET Thursday, when Pitino, Jurich and Pinto will discuss the NCAA notice of allegations.

In conjunction with the university, the NCAA hired two consultants — Chuck Smart and Steve Thompson — to lead the investigation and conduct more than 90 interviews.

Pitino is one of college basketball’s most celebrated and accomplished coaches, credited with reviving Kentucky’s program in the 1990s and leading it to the 1996 national championship. Following an unsuccessful stint in the NBA with the Boston Celtics, Pitino returned to the state and led Louisville to an NCAA title in 2013.

SYRACUSE, NY – FEBRUARY 18: Head coach Rick Pitino of the Louisville Cardinals calls a play for his team against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the Carrier Dome on February 18, 2015 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeated Louisville 69-59. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)