Cleveland Browns Star Player Arrested Over Disturbing Drunk Driving Charge That Led To Car CrashCar crash (Image via Facebook/Key West Police Department)
Lonnie Phelps, a defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, has gotten himself in huge trouble after he was arrested in Key West, Florida, on Wednesday night.

Key West police arrested Phelps on drunk-driving charges after allegedly crashing his SUV into a local restaurant.

Police revealed that Phelps’s black Hyundai was driven into the Red Shoe Island Bistro restaurant, according to TMZ Sports. He and his girlfriend were both present but said to be uncooperative during the crash and investigation.

Lonnie Phelps ended up being arrested and charged with a DUI.

Investigating cops further added that Phelps “consistently talked over them and disobeyed orders during ensuing lines of questioning,” which all displayed signs of him being impaired and did not help his situation.

Officers stated after some time, Phelps would eventually agree to do voluntary field sobriety tests but would become combative as he complained about how the tests were being administered.

Eventually, cops had enough of him and put him in the back of a squad car. He refused to end his night there as he continued to complain in the back of the cop car.

“Phelps talked about how thirsty he was,” one officer wrote in the report, “how he did not know what I was going to do to him because females are the worst, asked me not to kill him, asked me how long it takes to bail out, how long I was the detective and informed me I was Russian.”

 

Once Lonnie Phelps got to the station, he did not improve his behavior as he refused to take a breathalyzer and urinated on himself while sitting on a chair, which was yet another sign he was under the influence of alcohol.

Browns Defensive End Lonnie Phelps Signed With Cleveland In 2023 As Undrafted Free Agent

Lonnie Phelps already had an uphill battle to become a quality player in the league after the Browns signed him in 2023 as an undrafted free agent.

He would be waived and signed to the practice squad for the 2023 season.

This past January, he would be signed to a reserve/future contract.

Browns Stun The NFL By Sending Superstar RB Nick Chubb To NFC Contender In Blockbuster Trade Proposal

Nick Chubb of Cleveland Browns looking on.Nick Chubb (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Cleveland Browns superstar running back Nick Chubb is entering the final year of his contract, so one can’t fully rule out the possibility of a move between now and the 2024 trade deadline.

Nick Chubb suffered a gruesome season-ending knee injury in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers last year. Fortunately, 2022 fifth-round pick Jerome Ford was up for the challenge and did a fine job replacing the four-time Pro Bowler by recording 1,132 yards of offense and nine total touchdowns.

According to OvertheCap.com, the Browns are projected to be $42.215 million over the salary cap at the start of the 2025 offseason. Chubb will be entering his age 28/29 season, so it’s hard to envision Cleveland offering a long-term deal to a veteran who plays a devaluing position.

So there’s a case to be made that the Browns should trade Nick Chubb and get something in return rather than lose him for nothing. With Ford proving himself as a capable RB1, a Chubb trade should be considered by GM Andrew Berry.

 

One team that makes perfect sense for Chubb is the Dallas Cowboys, who lost RB1 Tony Pollard to the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Ezekiel Elliott was brought back on a one-year deal, but he’s simply not a starting-caliber RB at this stage of his career.

Dallas is in win-now mode with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Zack Martin, Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs. A top-five RB like Chubb could easily produce nicely behind that elite Dallas o-line for several more years.

What Cowboys Should Offer For Nick Chubb

Since Nick Chubb is approaching his 30s and in the final year of his contract, the Browns can’t expect too much of a return from Dallas. Their purpose in making this move is to clear cap space.

Dallas should offer a conditional 2025 fourth-round pick that can become a third, depending on Chubb’s playing time, and a 2026 fifth-round pick. This is a fair return for a player at a devaluing position, and it opens the door for Cleveland to run with Ford on a bargain rookie contract.