Marcus Maye, safety for the New Orleans Saints, has been sentenced for his driving under the influence (DUI) charge that occurred in 2021. Maye has reached a plea agreement that includes six months of probation, 50 community service hours, and a six-month suspension of his driver’s license. These penalties will conclude on February 21, 2024.
Maye’s attorney, Eric Schwartzreich, stated that his legal matter has now been resolved and that Maye is looking forward to focusing on his football career. The incident leading to Maye’s arrest took place on February 22, 2021, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Initially pleading not guilty in February of this year, Maye changed his plea to no contest in August. According to reports, Maye allegedly crashed into another vehicle on the Florida Turnpike, resulting in the other driver filing a civil lawsuit seeking at least $30,000 for neck and back injuries.
In addition to his legal consequences, Maye may also face a suspension of up to three games based on the NFL’s policy and program for substance abuse. The league has not yet commented on the case. Maye, who is 30 years old, is entering his second season with the Saints after spending his first five seasons with the New York Jets. During the previous season, Maye played in 10 games, recording 42 tackles and two passes defended.
Selected by the Jets in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Maye played college football at Florida. Throughout his time with the Jets, Maye accumulated 372 tackles, 3.5 sacks, six interceptions, and 26 passes defended. However, during his final season with the Jets, he played in just six games due to a torn Achilles in Week 9. In March 2022, Maye signed a three-year, $28.5 million contract with the Saints and is expected to be a starting safety for the team this season.
Speaking about his role as a versatile safety after joining the Saints, Maye expressed his enthusiasm for contributing to the team’s defense. He emphasized his ability to perform various tasks on the field, including playing deep free safety, covering in man-to-man situations, blitzing, and playing in the box. Maye expressed pride in his versatility, highlighting the importance of being able to adapt and contribute in multiple ways.
As of now, it remains to be seen how the DUI sentence and any subsequent suspension may impact Maye’s performance and availability for the New Orleans Saints. The team will likely need to evaluate their options and make necessary adjustments to their defense in light of this situation.
