The top mugshots in NFL history. When I saw that assignment come across I knew that it would require some research to find out how many "mugs" were going to be in this unique universe for consideration. 

One of the first web sites I came across was the NFL Arrests Database, which is maintained by the San Diego Union Tribune.com. They have started keeping track of NFL arrests since 2000, and during that time the number of arrests of NFL players has swelled to 589 players.

Well there are some repeat offenders to be sure, so the actual number of players would be less than 589. Let's just say there were 589 incidents that they recorded. Everyone arrested on that list is assumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The web site does not provide a corresponding mug shot to go with the arrest, so I will have to go elsewhere to find those. Looks like there are two web sites that will suffice. You can check out the gallery of mugshots of sports stars offered up by TMZ.com, or you can go to the sports section over at Mugshot.com. Guess I can cross those web sites off my Bucket List now.

So to make the list manageable, we whittled the list down to 50 NFL players and a bonus slide of a player that will be drafted in 2012 to join the NFL.

Listed for you in alphabetical order, are the top 50 mugshots in NFL history.

Honorable Mention List

Why an honorable mention list? Well, for starters you actually need a physical mug shot to include a player in the best mug shots of all-time. In some cases, searches made for mug shots on these players came up empty. In addition, I know well enough that there would be a slew of comments like, where is _____?, and where is _____?  (fill in the blanks). How could you leave him off the list ?, etc.

So, without further ado, here is our Honorable Mention List

Brian Bosworth

Hollywood Henderson

Mark Ingram

Tank Johnson.

Jamal Lewis

Leonard Little

Mercury Morris

Nate Newton

Art Schlichter (pictured)

Jerome Simpson

Donte Stallworth

Photo Courtesy of New York Daily News

Jamal Anderson

Recently I wrote an article about the greatest all-time draft steal (in the late rounds) in the history of every NFL franchise. For the Atlanta Falcons, I named Jamal Anderson as that player. A colleague of mine at Bleacher Report let me know that he recently ran into Anderson, who saw the article and said to say thank you for remembering him.

According to his entry in Wikipedia, Anderson was "arrested in February 2009 on suspicion of cocaine possession. Atlanta police said that Anderson and another man were snorting cocaine off the toilet bowl in the restroom of the Peachtree Tavern nightclub". 

Anderson was a star running back for the Falcons from 1994-2001.

I am not so sure he will be thankful for being remembering like this, but I am sure he understands that I am just doing my job. 

Photo courtesy of TMZ.com

Cedric Benson

Cedric Benson is a free agent in 2012. Benson has been in the NFL since 2005 and has played for the Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals.

He was arrested in 2008, 2010, and 2011. His entry in Wikipedia about his legal troubles is almost as long as his NFL accomplishments. You can check that out if you so desire here.

If no team signs him in 2012, he can thank his many red flags for causing teams to look the other way.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

David Boston

David Boston was a wide receiver who played for the Arizona Cardinals, San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Bucs. His NFL career lasted from 1999-2006.

According to his Wikipedia entry, Boston has been arrested for allegedly punching a woman in the head, testing positive for GHB and a DUI.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Kenny Britt

Kenny Britt is a wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans (2009 - present).

From his Wikipedia entry, we have the following items:

On April 12, 2011 Britt was arrested in New Jersey on three counts (including a felony) following an alleged car chase with police. The charges were later reduced.

On June 7, 2011 Britt pled guilty to careless driving and was fined.

On June 8, 2011 Britt was arrested in Hoboken, NJ, charged with resisting arrest.

Photo courtesy of TMZ.com

Plaxico Burress

Plaxico Burress is a wide receiver that is currently a free agent. Burress played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and for the New York Giants. His career lasted from 2000 - 2008, and then Burress spent two years in prison. Upon his release he came back to the NFL and played for the New York Jets in 2011. Burress is looking to play for a new team in 2012. 

Burress accidentally shot himself at a night club in New York City. Due to unlawful carrying of a handgun and reckless endangerment, Burress was sentenced to two years in prison for committing the two felonies.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Reche Caldwell

Reche Caldwell was a wide receiver in the NFL from 2002 - 2007. Caldwell played for the San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins.

Caldwell was arrested for marijuana possession and driving with a suspended license.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Rae Carruth

Rae Carruth was a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers from 1997 - 1999. Carruth was found guilty of conspiring to murder the woman who at the time was carrying his child and is serving a prison sentence.

Carruth is expected to be released around 2018.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Chris Cook

Chris Cook plays corner for the Minnesota Vikings from 2010 - present.

Cook was charged with felony domestic assault. He was alleged to have tried to strangle his girlfriend, but he was found not guilty.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Julian Edelman

Julian Edelman is primarily a wide receiver for the New England Patriots. He has also been asked to serve on special teams and fill in as a member of the secondary. Edelman has been with the Patriots since 2009.

Edelman was arrested for indecent assault and battery after an incident in a Boston nightclub.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Braylon Edwards

Braylon Edwards is a free agent now. He has played as a wide receiver in the NFL from 2005 - 2011 for the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and the San Francisco 49ers.

Edwards is known to have a heavy foot on the gas peddle. The last time he was pulled over, he was driving 120 mph in a 65 mph zone. He has had misdemeanor assaults and had a DWI charge.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Jeff Garcia

Jeff Garcia is a free agent right now. The quarterback has been in the NFL from 1999 - 2011 and has played for a host of teams. They are: San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans.

Garcia was arrested for suspicion of drunken driving.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Terry Glenn

Terry Glenn was a wide receiver in the NFL from 1996 - 2007. He played for the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys.

Glenn had multiple run ins with the law ranging from auto theft to marijuana possession.

Photo courtesy of TMZ.com

Charles Grant

Charles Grant was a defensive end that played for the New Orleans Saints and the Chicago Bears from 2002 - 2010.

Grant was charged with involuntary manslaughter that involved a pregnant woman being shot to death. The involuntary murder charge was ultimately dismissed, and Grant pled guilty to a charge of public affray and is being sued by the victim's family.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Chris Henry

Chris Henry was a wide receiver in the NFL from 2005 - 2009 for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Henry had multiple problems with the law. They ranged from marijuana possession, gun charges, and driving without a license, to name a few. He was suspended by the NFL for violating the substance abuse and personal conduct policies. 

In December of 2009, Henry fell out of the back of a moving vehicle and died two days later of blunt trauma to the head.

Photo courtesy of TMZ.com

Jamelle Holieway

Jamelle Holieway was in the NFL from 1989 - 1990 with the Los Angeles Raiders. He is probably more famous for the years he spent as a quarterback with the Oklahoma Sooners from 1985 - 1988.

Holieway was arrested for shoplifting and for jumping bail.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Michael Irvin

Michael Irvin is the NFL Hall of Fame. He was a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys from 1988 - 1999.

Irvin unfortunately also has a rather extensive history of trouble with the law. We have everything from alleged cocaine possession, speeding, unpaid tickets and possession of drug paraphernalia. Then there was a sexual assault charge that resulted in a civil suit 

To be fair, Irvin was also falsely accused of sexual assault, as the entire story was a fabrication.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Johnny Jolly

Johnny Jolly was a defensive end for the Green Bay Packers from 2006 - 2009.

Jolly has a problem staying away from codeine. He was initially arrested for possession of at least 200 grams of the drug in July 2008. Then, police found 600 grams of the drug in March of 2011 and Jolly was arrested again. Finally, he was caught a third time with codeine in October of 2011 and was also guilty of tampering with evidence.

He is serving six years in prison for violating probation.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Adam "Pacman" Jones

Adam "Pacman" Jones plays corner for the Cincinnati Bengals, as he just signed a new contract for 2012. Jones has been in the NFL since 2005 and played every year in between, except for the 2009 season. During his career, Jones played for the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys as well.

He was collared for assault, obstruction of justice, vandalism, disorderly conduct and public intoxication, battery and felony coercion. That resulted in 2007 in a one-year suspension for violating NFL player conduct policies. 

There are more incidents if you want to check the laundry list out, here you go. 

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Bonus Slide: Dre Kirkpatrick

Dre Kirkpatrick is our bonus slide, since he has never played in the NFL. He will in 2012 however, as he is projected to go in the first-round of the 2012 draft.

In January of 2012, Kirkpatrick was arrested for possession of marijuana, which is always a smart thing to do one month prior to the NFL Scouting Combines.

If Kirkpatrick goes on to have a stellar career, then he would seem to be in line to be hired after his career as an analyst at NFL Network, since it appears that they prefer to have half of their analysts arrested at least once before. You will see at least three current NFL Network analysts in this presentation.

I think it is wild that the three of them sit in a room to film "No Huddle" and bring in a fourth member, Jalen Rose, who was also arrested, to discuss what everybody else is doing right and wrong in the NFL. The irony in that just cracks me up.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Jevon Kearse

Jevon Kearse was a defensive end in the NFL from 1999 - 2009. He played for the Tennessee Titans and the Philadelphia Eagles.

The "Freak" was arrested for a DUI in June of 2008.

Photo courtesy of TMZ.com

Ty Law

Ty Law was a defensive back in the NFL from 1995 - 2009. Law was voted as a member of the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2000's. Law played for the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos.

Law was pulled over for a traffic violation, but decided to make the police officers chase after him on foot, running through a night club. He was arrested for several misdemeanor charges with the incident. Guess that you could say that Law fought the law and the law won.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Jermaine Lewis

Jermaine Lewis was a wide receiver in the NFL from 1996 - 2004. He played for the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Lewis was arrested in 2011 and in 2012. He was charged with resisting arrest after a hit and run accident with his car.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Ray Lewis

Ray Lewis is the heart and soul of the Baltimore Ravens. The linebacker has played his entire career with the Baltimore Ravens from 1996 to present. Lewis is a member of the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2000's. He has been voted to 13 Pro Bowls and to 10 All-Pro teams.

Lewis was arrested due to his actions in a fight that broke out after a Super Bowl party (Super Bowl XXXIV) in January of 2000. The fight resulted in two men being stabbed to death.

If you want to read the details, which are fairly involved, check them out with this link. 

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Marshawn Lynch

Marshawn Lynch is a running back that has played for the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks. He has been in the NFL since 2007. Lynch is also known for loving Skittles candy and Applebee's restaurants.

Lynch was arrested for possessing a loaded gun in 2009, as the result of a search after police smelled marijuana coming from his car.

He was also involved in a hit and run situation in 2008 in Buffalo, but charges was dropped because the female was dancing in the street and was not seriously injured.

Photo courtesy of the Hollywood Gossip.com

Todd Marinovich

Todd Marinovich was a quarterback in the NFL for the Los Angeles Raiders from 1991 - 1992. Marinovich was the subject of national scrutiny due to the way that his father trained him to be a perfect athlete.

Marinovich wound up experimenting with a wide array of drugs and was arrested numerous times for drug possession. 

Photo Courtesy of TMZ.com

Laurence Maroney

Laurence Maroney was a running back in the NFL from 2006 - 2010. He played for the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos.

Maroney was arrested for weapon charges in January of 2011. The charges were later dropped because Maroney has a permit to carry a weapon.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Rey Maualuga

Rey Maualuga is a linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals, where he has played from 2009 - present.

Maualuga was arrested in 2010 for drunken driving and careless driving in Kentucky. His blood alcohol level was double the Kentucky legal limit.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Pat McAfee

Pat McAfee is the punter for the Indianapolis Colts from 2009 - present.

I will save you the time in sneaking a further peek, he is the only punter on the presentation. McAfee was arrested for public intoxication in 2010. For his explanation of why he was swimming in a canal, check out the link here. This only proves that kickers and punters really are a little crazy.

Photo courtesy of Wish TV.com

Ryan McBean

Ryan McBean is a defensive tackle in the NFL that has played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos from 2007 to present.

McBean was arrested for stalking his girlfriend in 2011.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Keith McCants

Keith McCants played linebacker and defensive end during his NFL career that lasted from 1990 - 1995. McCants played for Tampa Bay, Houston and Arizona.

McCants was arrested for possession of drugs and for having drug paraphernalia. He maintains that he is clean now.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Steve McNair

Steve McNair was a quarterback for the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens. He played from 1995 - 2007.

McNair was arrested in 2007 for letting somebody that was intoxicated drive his car, according to this account.

Then there was another DUI incident involving his girlfriend in 2009. She later killed McNair and then committed suicide. A very sad ending to a great player's life.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Willie Middlebrooks

Willie Middlebrooks played corner in the NFL from 2001 - 2005 for the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers.

According to this article from Denver Post.com, Middlebrooks was arrested for suspicion of domestic violence after a fight with his girlfriend. He pleaded guilty to charges of third-degree assault and harassment.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Bam Morris

Bam Morris was a running back who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs. His career lasted from 1994-1999.

Morris was arrested for marijuana possession, cocaine possession, federal drug trafficking and for parole violation.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Randy Moss

Randy Moss is a wide receiver that played for the Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans from 1998 - 2010. Then Moss sat out the 2011 season, and in 2012 he decided to come back and is now signed to play for the San Francisco 49ers.

Moss was elected as a member of the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000's.

Moss was arrested for bumping a traffic control officer with his car. In the subsequent search, Moss was found to have marijuana in his ashtray. So, Moss was charged with a felony and a misdemeanor over the incident.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Igor Olshansky

Igor Olshansky was a defensive end in the NFL and is currently a free agent. Olshansky played from 2004 - 2011 for the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins.

Olshansky was arrested in 2011 for possessing 19 grams of marijuana.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Jason Peters

Jason Peters is a tackle in the NFL from 2004 - present. He has played for the Buffalo Bills and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Peters was arrested in 2011 for disturbing the peace as the result of playing loud music.

Photo courtesy of Black Sports Online.com

Lawrence Phillips

Lawrence Phillips was a running back that played in the NFL from 1996 - 1997 and again in 1999. Phillips played for the St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins.

Phillips was constantly getting in trouble. For starters he assaulted his girlfriend in college, driving his car into three teenagers, more domestic abuse incidents, and was finally arrested on seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon. He is serving 26 years in jail before he is eligible for parole.

Charles Rogers

Charles Rogers was a wide receiver with the Detroit Lions from 2003 - 2005.

Rogers failed a number of drug tests throughout college and the NFL. He was arrested for assault and battery of a female acquaintance in 2008. He was also arrested for violating parole.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Deion Sanders

NFL Hall of Famer, Deion Sanders played corner for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens. Sanders NFL career lasted from 1989 - 2005. Sanders is a member of the NFL All-Decade Team of the 1990's.

Sanders was arrested for disorderly conduct in 1991 and then again in 1989 for assaulting two fans that heckled him in a minor league baseball game. A third arrest occurred in a department store in 1988.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Warren Sapp

Warren Sapp was a defensive tackle that played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders from 1995 - 2007. Sapp was voted as a member of the NFL All-Decade Team of both the 1990's and 2000's.

Sapp was arrested in 2010 for domestic battery charges.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Chris Simms

Chris Simms was a quarterback in the NFL from 2003 - 2010. He played for the Tampa Bay Bucs, Tennessee Titans and the Denver Broncos.

Simms is the son of legendary New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms.

Chris was arrested for being intoxicated with marijuana while driving in 2010. In 2011, Simms was acquitted of charges of DWI.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

O. J. Simpson

O.J.Simpson was a running back that played for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. Simpson played from 1969 - 1979.

Simpson was pleading guilty to domestic violence charges in 1989. That was the precursor of things to come. As per his Wikipedia entry, " Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman were murdered on June 12, 1994. Simpson was charged with their deaths and subsequently acquitted of all criminal charges in a controversial criminal trial. In the unanimous jury findings of a civil court case in February 1997, Simpson was found liable for the wrongful death of Ronald Goldman and battery of Nicole Brown."

There was also the arrest in 2007 for a robbery attempt to retrieve memorabilia in Las Vegas. Simpson is currently serving a 33-year term in prison.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Aldon Smith

Aldon Smith is a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, who just completed his rookie year in 2011.

Smith was arrested for a DUI in Florida in January of 2012.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Jimmy Smith

Jimmy Smith was a wide receiver that played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1992 - 1993 and for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 1995 - 2005.

Smith was arrested for multiple drug charges in April of 2009. That was not the first incident, as Smith was handed a four-game suspension in 2003 for violating the NFL substance-abuse program.

Photo courtesy of TMZ.com

Lawrence Taylor

Lawrence Taylor was a linebacker for the New York Giants. His career spanned from 1981 - 1993. Taylor was voted on to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team as well as the NFL All-Decade Team of the 1980's.

Taylor had a hard time staying away from drinking and drugs. He was arrested twice for buying cocaine from undercover officers. Since then he has been arrested for leaving the scene of an accident, and was also arrested for having sex with a 16-year old girl.

Photo courtesy of New York Daily News. com

Sean Taylor

Sean Taylor was a safety with the Washington Redskins from 2004 - 2007.

Taylor was arrested for DUI in 2004 and was again arrested in 2005 for armed assault.

Taylor passed away in 2007 from gunshot wounds, when his home was invaded. He was just 24 years old.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Michael Vick

Michael Vick is a quarterback that has played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles. Vick played for the Falcons from 2001 - 2006 and then served two years in prison. In 2009 - present, Vick has been with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Vick was arrested for his infamous dog-fighting business that he oversaw. The NFL suspended Vick without pay for violating the NFL player conduct policy. Vick spent two years in prison from gambling charges and the cruelty to animals that he inflicted through his dog-fighting business. For a more detailed description of the events, check this link here.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Mike Vrabel

Mike Vrabel was a linebacker that played in the NFL from 1997 - 2010. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs.

In one of the stranger arrests in the presentation, we turn to his Wikipedia entry for their description of his arrest. " In March 2011, Vrabel was arrested and charged with a Class D felony for theft at an Indiana casino. According to reports, the incident involved eight bottles of beer at a deli in the Belterra Casino."

It does seem rather mild compared to a number of other things we have shared, but a mug shot is still a mug shot no matter what the crime is.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com

Ricky Williams

Ricky was a running back that played for the NFL in stretches that ran from 1999 - 2003, in 2005, and then again from 2007 - 2011. He played for the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens.

Williams was arrested in 2000 for refusing to sign a traffic ticket. 

Williams had a long history of problems with marijuana and drug use. He was found to have failed numerous drug tests and that led him to serve suspensions from four-games up to one-year in length. He threatened to retire from the NFL and fled to Canada to play in the CFL.

Thanks for checking out the presentation.

Photo courtesy of Mugshots.com