People Editor
On Saturday, Apr. 1, Florida police arrested football player Faion Hicks on three charges. The Denver Broncos originally drafted Hicks as a cornerback in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft. Although he played a relatively small amount this past season, Hicks has been a seasoned football icon of many years. Before the Broncos drafted him, Hicks played football at Flanagan High School. During this time, he captained the Flanagan team for three years, and helped lead his team to victory in Florida’s 2015 Class 8A championship game. For college, Hicks attended the University of Wisconsin, where he started 39 of the 44 games that he played for the Badgers, as well as earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention in both 2020 and 2021.
The Broward County police originally pulled over Hicks — along with two passengers — for ignoring a stop sign in Hallandale, Florida, which took place at around 7:30 PM. Upon pulling him over, the officer reportedly smelled marijuana. But, when the officer brought this up, Hicks denied any possession. This led to a police search of the car, during which they uncovered marijuana, as well as a firearm concealed underneath the driver’s seat. Upon further investigation, the officer discovered Hicks’ driver’s license was roughly four-months expired.
Police then arrested Hicks, and upon his arrest, the Broward County records listed his three charges as disobeying a stop sign, driving with an expired driver’s license, and carrying a concealed firearm. Since his arrest, the county has reportedly released him on bail, and according to Fox News, he posted his 2,000 dollar bond on Sunday, Apr. 2. At this time, the Denver Broncos have declined to make a statement in regards to their plan for dealing with the situation, and Hicks’ future on the team remains up in the air.
As a result of the situation, fans have been speculating as to Hicks’ status as a player for the Broncos. Due to the team’s relatively weak cornerback depth, many suppose that the team needs Hicks, and that he may play a crucial role in improving the Broncos’ record next year. In addition, the Broncos are under the new management of head coach Sean Payton, which leaves fans wondering how Payton feels about keeping Hicks on the team. With the 2023 NFL draft beginning later this month, fans hypothesize that the team will attempt to look for more cornerback support to combat the situation, as well as strengthen the team in general.
(Sources: Denver Broncos, Fox News, New York Post, University of Wisconsin Badgers, 9 News)
Categories: National Sports, Sports