Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus has a fairly good chance of starting the first game of the season against the Chicago Bears. After that, things may get a bit tougher.
The 24-year-old was spotted by Ed Drantch WIVB-TV in Buffalo while leaving court in the Town of Hamburg Tuesday. He was present for charges stemming back a month ago, where he was allegedly involved in an illegal street race with teammate Jerry Hughes.
His appearance yielded a follow-up court date set for 10 a.m. Sept. 9, according to Dareus' attorney, Michael P. Caffery.
"If we’re unable to work out a resolution on Sept. 9, the case would then be scheduled for a non-jury trial," he told The Buffalo News.
That Sept. 9 date is two days after the team's first regular season game, and it may be the day a decision is handed down for Dareus' charges, which include second-degree reckless endangerment, participating in an illegal speed contest and reckless driving, all misdemeanors. Dareus reportedly refused a plea deal to the charges Tuesday.
Following a decision, the league will likely weigh in and decide if it will invoke a penalty, as well. There may be a earlier decision from the league to come regarding Dareus' other run-in with the law in Alabama, however, where he was arrested and charged with a felony drug charges in early May.
Dareus has since applied for and been accepted into a 30-day pre-trial program for those charges.
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