The Cowboys’ offseason got off to a bad start when it was learned that wide receiver Antonio Callaway was arrested in Miami Saturday. Callaway was arrested on an outstanding warrant for driving with a suspended license.
SLATER SCOOP: Dallas Cowboys WR Antonio Callaway was arrested in Miami on Saturday.
Callaway had a warrant for driving with a suspended license and failing to pay, a law enforcement source tells me. pic.twitter.com/2gUpFwzeXo
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) June 4, 2023
Callaway was signed to the Dallas practice squad back in November, but never saw the field in the 2022 season.
Callaway was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. That selection came following his college career with the Florida Gators. His career there started well, but ended with him being suspended for the entire 2017 season over involvement in a felony fraud case and pleading no contest to a drug charge. And that came after a 2015 accusation of sexual assault, which he was cleared of in August 2016, sparked process complaints and further investigations.
In his rookie season with the Browns in 2018, Callaway appeared in all 16 of the team’s games, starting 11 and catching 43 passes for 586 yards and five touchdowns. But that’s been his high-water mark in the NFL to date; he started the 2019 season with a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, then only appeared in four games (starting two) and only made eight catches for 89 yards before Cleveland waived him that November (when he was also facing a 10-game suspension for a violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy)
Callaway then signed in the XFL in 2020, but never played there due to injury. He signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2021, but only appeared in five games and only recorded two catches. He then signed a reserve contract with the Kansas City Chiefs last January, but was waived last August. He was signed to the Cowboys’ practice squad last November, didn’t appear in a game, but signed a reserve contract with them in January.
Now with this latest incident, you wonder how this will affect Callway’s chances of landing a Dallas roster spot. The Cowboys were seeking a third wide receiver this season, but this addition to Callaway’s list of off-field issues won’t help his case. Callaway is going to have to prove his worth to owner Jerry Jones if he wants to keep his spot on the team.
Dallas could use a third option at this position and Callaway could have been an ideal fit. But he’s is going to be battling for a spot on the practice squad with rookies and free agents who would love to take his spot.
Another thing is that Callaway also didn’t pay the fine. Although this may not be a serious crime, Callaway may have to serve a few days in jail for not paying the fine depending on Florida law.
But this is just a bad look for a guy looking to make the team.
