Unfortunately, when you are successful enough in your sport to play it professionally, you receive much more attention and scrutiny from the public than the average Joe. Because of that, your accomplishments are celebrated, but your mistakes are magnified and criticized.

When it comes to players, past and present, on the New York Giants, these players fit into that category, having been in trouble with the law at one point or another.

As one would expect, the issues that have faced Giants’ players in the past have ranged in severity, from traffic violations to murder charges. Luckily, however, certain stories that we found for these players have involved tales of redemption. Players have become public speakers, or advocates, for those who suffer from issues that plagued them during their earlier years.

Take a player like Lawrence Taylor, for example. He is one of the best players to play for the G-Men, and one of the most fearsome defensive players in NFL history. Even he, one of the most beloved players in Giants’ history, had his struggles during his playing days. Taylor spent the better part of two decades, from the 90’s until the late 2000’s, working on himself and trying to live a clean lifestyle.

If there’s one takeaway from this story, or my earlier stories on the Yankees and Mets, it’s this: if you read a headline of a player who’s in trouble, do some more research before you pass judgement on them. There may be more than meets the eye.

All of that being said, here are ten players who played for the Giants, who had run-ins with the law, and where life took them from there.

Every pro athlete has a human side, and as humans, we make mistakes. Here are ten New York Giants’ players whose mistakes got them in trouble with the law.

Brown was arrested on fourth-degree domestic violence charges in May of 2015. He said at the time: “I objectified women and never really worried about the pain and hurt I caused them.”

He has since become a public speaker, speaking to groups about how to better treat women and those around you.

Baker was arrested, alongside Quinton Dunbar, for armed robbery and aggravated assault after the two allegedly robbed a house party at gunpoint in May of 2020.

Rosas was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors after a high-speed hit-and-run in March of 2020. He was sentenced to three years of probation. He played six games for the Jaguars the following season after leaving the Giants organization.

Rudolph totaled 3 receptions for 32 yards in 2017 with the Giants, before being waived by the team. He was arrested in 2021 on a first-degree murder charge, as well as counts of attempted murder.

He is currently on trial, and his “stand your ground” defense was recently denied.

Lauletta was drafted in 2018, and arrested that same year in October, for certain traffic violations. Lauletta was dinged on his way to the Giants’ facility in Jaguar, for eluding police, obstruction and more.

Beal was arrested in 2020 in Ohio, and pleaded guilty to gun charges, as well as possession of marijuana and a traffic violation. The combination of infractions led Beal to be placed on probation in 2022.

Petitgout was arrested in 2015 for harrassment involving his ex-wife. More recently, he was arrested in Miami for getting in a fistfight with the waitstaff of a restaurant after getting in a verbal altercation with them.

Latimer’s had two notable run-ins with the law. While being investigated for a domestic complaint, he was arrested for an outstanding traffic violation. He was also arrested later (in 2020) for firing a gun illegally.

Plaxico Burress had one of the more well-known issues in Giants’ history, when he accidentally injured himself with his own handgun while at a club in New York City. He served 20 months in prison for charges related to endangering the public.

He was also indicted after failing to pay $48,000 in income taxes in 2015.

Taylor struggled with substance abuse during his career, and was arrested during his career in relation to this issue. He was sober from 1998 to 2009, according to reports, and was committed to living a clean lifestyle. Unfortunately, in 2010, Taylor was also arrested for sexual misconduct.

Head coach Jim Fassel and company used the facilities at the University at Albany each preseason for over a decade, as some of the best Big Blue beasts tore it up in the Capital Region before taking the field in the NFL.

Filed Under: Albany Area Sports, Football, Legal Issues For Athletes, New York Giants, New York Sports, Nfl, Pro Athletes Who Were Arrested.