Chicago Bears Tight End Evan Rodriguez Arrested in Miami

Meatball fans must already be muttering “See, da Bears miss Urlacher’s leadership” under their breath as news of tight end Evan Rodriguez’s arrest made headlines on Thursday morning.  Rodriguez was arrested in Miami Beach for “resisting an officer without violence and disorderly intoxication” after a car he was riding in was involved in a traffic accident.  

"According to Miami Beach police officers at the scene, Rodriguez interfered with the officers’ investigation of the accident that occurred at the intersection of Sixth Street and Alton Road.Rodriguez was initially reluctant to provide officers with identification, saying, “For what? I don’t need this, I’m an NFL player. I don’t need all the media stuff,” the report stated.Rodriguez eventually complied with the officers’ request for identification but refused to leave the street and walk over to the sidewalk when instructed by the police to do so. According to the report, Rodriguez responded, “I don’t need this, I’m an NFL player.”Authorities at the scene then said Rodriguez began to raise his voice while officers were performing roadside exercises with other parties involved in the accident, and police noticed that he had “slurred speech, bloodshot watery eyes, and the strong odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath.”"

Rodriguez has been in Miami training with Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and newly acquired tight end Martellus Bennett.  I guess they forgot to tuck E-Rod in on Wednesday night.  Just yesterday head coach Marc Trestman praised Rodriguez and described his role in the offense next season as a fullback and possibly expanding from there.

This is the last thing the Bears need as they recover from the PR hit they’re taking from Brian Urlacher’s departure.  It’s also the second arrest in recent weeks, following J’Marcus Webb’s drug arrest in southern Illinois, even though he won’t be charged.  At least the Bears lead the NFC North division rival Detroit Lions in one category in 2013  – arrests!  The Marc Trestman is not off to the kind of start he and the organization wanted.

Purely coincidentally I’m sure, the Bears signed tight end Steve Maneri, whom they had been pursuing the last few days, to a 2-year contract.