Why did the Cleveland Browns waive defensive lineman Lonnie Phelps?

As always the NFL offseason is a time of movement. From trades to acquisitions, you never know what’s going to happen. Yet, there’s also the possibility of controversy as players often get into trouble when they’ve got too much time on their hands.

Browns waive Lonnie Phelps after arrest

According to reports on Thursday, Cleveland Browns defensive end Lonnie Phelps was arrested Wednesday night in Key West, Florida, on charges of drunken driving and damaging property. Unfortunately, Phelps’ troubles didn’t end there as he was later waived by the Browns as per an official statement on Thursday.

It is understood that Phelps crashed his SUV into a restaurant and then refused to cooperate with officers, even refusing to take a breath test. As per the police report, Phelps turned away from officers at one point, saying that he was afraid he would be shot.

Further to that, the defensive end also reportedly had difficulty in answering the questions of law enforcement officials, with the report indicating that both Phelps and his female passenger appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Where the damage caused by Phelps is concerned, the building’s owner, Joseph Schroeder, estimates that it will cost upwards of $300,000. Thankfully, the restaurant was closed at the time of the accident. The former Kansas player who will celebrate his 24th birthday this August went undrafted last year before signing with the Browns. While he spent the 2023 season with the team, he was only able to play for the practice squad, failing to play in a single regular season game.