5 NFL players who were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for heinous crimes

While NFL players are mostly known for their performances on the football field, their lives off the field are heavily scrutinized as well. In addition to being athletes, they are also celebrities, constantly under the microscope of the public eye.

This is especially true in the modern era, where social media has the ability to make any story go viral. Anything noteworthy done by an NFL player often makes headlines. When an NFL player is caught up in a controversy, social media often makes it the main topic of conversation among the media and fans.

On that note, here are five NFL players who were convicted of a major crime:

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#1 Kellen Winslow II

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Kellen Winslow II

Kellen Winslow II is the son of Kellen Winslow, a Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end. Winslow II never lived up to the high expectations that came with being the son of an NFL legend. But this was mainly due to his off-field.

Winslow II has been involved in many legal situations, including assault, burglary, and drug possession. The most heinous crime he was convicted for was rape, for which he was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

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#2 Michael Vick

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick

Michael Vick is known for being one of the best rushing quarterbacks in NFL history. He was the first quarterback to ever eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in a single season. But he will also always be remembered for his involvement in a dog fighting ring.

Bad Newz Kennels was brought down in a dog-fighting investigation and multiple arrests were made, one of them being Michael Vick. His involvement included providing funding for spectators to place wagers. He was charged with conspiracy and spent nearly two years in prison.

#3 Rae Carruth

Rae Carruth, Image Credit: Sports Illustrated

Rae Carruth was selected in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers as a highly-rated quarterback prospect. He made the All-Rookie team in his first season before getting injured during his second year in 1998.

During the 1999 NFL season, Cherica Adams, who was eight months pregnant with Carruth's child, was shot four times. The baby was fortunate to have survived, but Adams tragically passed away about a month later.

Carruth was charged with conspiracy to commit murder for his involvement in the case and he served 19 years in prison before being released in 2018.

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#4 Aaron Hernandez

New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez

Aaron Hernandez got off to a promising start with the New England Patriots after make a name for himself in college. But his demons eventually caught up with him, ending his football career as well as his life.

Hernandez was involved in many fights, as well as gang activities and shootings.

In 2013, he was charged with first-degree murder after Odin Loyd, a semi-professional player who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancée, was found dead of gunshot wounds. He received a life sentence in prison without parole, but committed suicide while serving his time.

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#5 OJ Simpson

Former NFL running back OJ Simpson

OJ Simpson was the first running back in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards in a single season, doing so with the Buffalo Bills.

His accomplishments on the football field made him an NFL legend, but he is much more known for his legal issues, especially his murder trial that became one of the most-followed news stories of all time.

Simpson went on trial for murder in one of the most high-profile court cases of all time, nicknamed The Trial of the Century. He was found not guilty in an extremely controversial ruling.

He was later involved in several other legal infractions, including drug possession and money laundering, before being convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping. He spent nine years in prison before receiving parole.