Jets rookie DT Ellis' felony trial scheduled for November

New York Jets third-round draft pick Kenrick Ellis' trial on a malicious wounding felony charge will take place during the season, with a move from next week to Nov. 28, The Star Ledger reported Friday, citing court records.

Ellis, a 6-foot-5, 346-pound defensive tackle, was arrested following a campus altercation in April 2010, while he was at Hampton (Va.) University. His trial was pushed back, according to Hampton Circuit Court records, after the defense asked for a continuance because he hired a new attorney. There was no objection to the request from the prosecution.

The defense could ask for another continuance, to postpone the trial until Ellis' rookie season is over. Ellis' new attorney did not immediately return a phone message left by The Star Ledger.

Ellis attended Hampton after he was kicked off the team at the University of South Carolina.

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Bucs CB Talib faces assault trial in March, attorney says

Aqib Talib had his assault trial scheduled for March 26, 2012, his attorney told the St. Petersburg Times, increasing the chances that the troubled Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback might not miss any playing time this season.

Police in Garland, Texas, charged Talib with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, stemming from a March 21 domestic incident. The second-degree felony is punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison, and Talib is out of jail on $25,000 bond.

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Talib attended the Bucs' player-run minicamp workout this week in Bradenton, Fla. He could be subject to discipline from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who doesn't have to wait for a court ruling to punish Talib under the league's personal-conduct policy.

Talib seemingly has been in trouble ever since he entered the league. He was involved in a fight with fellow Bucs rookie Cory Boyd at the 2008 NFL Rookie Symposium, hit teammate Torrie Cox in the face with his helmet while scuffling with Donald Penn during a minicamp workout in May 2009, and was charged with simple battery and resisting arrest in connection with an assault on a taxi driver in Tampa in August 2009. Talib received a one-game suspension for the latter incident.

But Talib, a starter since the Bucs drafted him in the first round, has done well on the field, intercepting 15 passes in his three NFL seasons. He's coming off a fine 2010 campaign in which he had 50 tackles, 11 passes defended and six picks, one returned for a touchdown.

Talib isn't the only Bucs defensive back who has experienced off-the-field issues. Safety Tanard Jackson received a one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy last season and isn't eligible to return until Sept. 22.

Jackson joined Talib on the field for this week's workouts and was happy to see his teammates for the first time since the suspension started.

"It's good to be back," Jackson told the Tampa Tribune on Wednesday. "(I've) just been trying to stay in shape and doing what I can do. There's not much that I can do with this lockout and being in the situation that I was in."

Said Talib: "That's my guy. He's out here. That's always good."

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Road-rage assault trial for Redskins' Haynesworth postponed

FAIRFAX, Va. -- A judge on Thursday postponed Albert Haynesworth's road-rage assault trial to give the Washington Redskins' defensive lineman an opportunity to settle the matter with the alleged victim.

A Fairfax County prosecutor said at Thursday's hearing that Haynesworth is pursuing an "accord and satisfaction" agreement with the alleged victim. In misdemeanor cases, a judge can dismiss assault charges when the victim acknowledges that he has received satisfaction for any injuries, usually in the form of a financial settlement.

The judge rescheduled the case for Tuesday, the second time it has been postponed.

Haynesworth's lawyer, Steven Merril, declined comment after the hearing, which lasted less than two minutes. But Merril indicated to the judge that he didn't believe a trial would be necessary.

The judge also maintains discretion to reject any accord and satisfaction agreement under Virginia law.

Haynesworth didn't appear in court Thursday.

Police say the alleged victim accused Haynesworth of punching him in January during a traffic altercation in Reston. The man told investigators that he made a gesture at the driver of a pickup truck he believed was following too closely. The two vehicles stopped, and the truck's driver, later identified as Haynesworth, got out of his pickup and allegedly punched the other driver.

Haynesworth's agent has said his client is innocent.

Haynesworth also is scheduled to go on trial in July for misdemeanor sexual abuse after he was accused of fondling a waitress at a hotel bar in Washington. He has pleaded not guilty.

Haynesworth is two years into a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins, who signed him in 2009 to what was then an NFL record of $41 million in guaranteed money. But Haynesworth repeatedly has clashed with Mike Shanahan and frequently skipped workouts since the coach was hired after the '09 season. Shanahan suspended Haynesworth for the final four games of the 2010 season for conduct detrimental to the team.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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