Bears Blitz

Sam Hurd Cut by Chicago Bears Following Arrest for Alleged Drug-Related Charges

Published by Tim Daniels on December 16, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears have cut wide receiver Sam Hurd after he was arrested on federal drug charges earlier in the week, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN Chicago.

Hurd allegedly agreed to buy a kilogram of cocaine from an undercover agent and was taken into custody outside of Morton’s The Steakhouse in Illinois on Wednesday.

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo had the following to say about the team’s decision:

There’s been a wrong and we’ve acted. We have a track record of doing that. Unfortunately a situation arose that caught us off guard but we are to the point where we are going to do the right thing. And the right thing is to cut Sam Hurd.

If found guilty of the charges, Hurd faces up to 40 years in prison, according to the Chicago Tribune. The wideout was apparently looking to set up a major drug-dealing operation, while serving as the system’s kingpin.

Hurd spent the first four seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys before signing with the Bears in July. The team insists there were no red flags attached to the special teams contributor and they were just as shocked as the general public when the news broke.

There was an initial report that a list of fellow NFL players who could have been Hurd clients was obtained, but the ESPN Chicago article quotes league spokesman Brian McCarthy as saying they have not been made aware of anything in that regard.

Hurd’s arrest marked the end of a nearly six-month investigation that began on the day before he signed with the Bears. The receiver talked with Homeland Security about an incident involving one of his vehicles that was used by another person and had a large sum of cash in a bag that tested positive for marijuana.

Hurd is currently being held in custody on $100,000 bond, according to Jason Meisner, who reports it could still be posted today.