The Jacksonville Jaguars have cut wide receiver Matt Jones for violating the terms of his plea-agreement on cocaine-possession charges.
Jones had asked to be sent to jail rather than spend six weeks in a residential treatment facility after admitting he drank a couple of beers - a violation of the agreement reached in October, when Jones was ordered to undergo a league-sponsored substance-abuse counseling programme.
In July, Jones had been charged with cocaine possession when he was discovered allegedly cutting up cocaine by a police officer in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The NFL later suspended Jones for the final three games of the regular season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
Jones, who was released from jail on Saturday, had failed a drug and alcohol screening - a condition of the random drug testing as part of his plea deal.
A first-round pick of the Jaguars in 2005, the Jaguars had attempted to convert Jones from a quarterback in college to a wide receiver in the NFL with mixed results.
Jones, 25, was having a breakout season prior to his suspension, hauling in 65 receptions for 761 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He has 166 career receptions with 15 touchdowns.
Copyright 2009 AFP American Edition
