The Chiefs have been in the headlines all offseason — but for the wrong reasons.
Kansas City defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs faces two misdemeanor counts for second-degree animal cruelty in Alabama, according to Mike Rodak of 247Sports.
Buggs allegedly left two dogs — a pitbull and a rottweiler mix — "severely malnourished, emaciated, neglected" at a "residence appearing to be abandoned," according to the civil petition filed in Tuscaloosa County District Court. Buggs also allegedly left "no access to food or water."
He reportedly owed more than $3,000 in unpaid rent on the property and was served a termination notice by the property owner on April 15. A neighbor reportedly noticed the dogs on the back porch for at least 10 days.
Buggs' agent, Trey Robinson, later released a statement, via NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, claiming his client has been harassed by police and arrested two times for refusing to close his hookah bar in Tuscaloosa.
Isaiah vehemently denies the truthfulness of the allegations and charges asserted against him today. Under no circumstance does Mr. Buggs condone the mistreatment of any animal. The dogs at issue did not belong to him and he was unaware they remained at the property in question.
Furthermore, we believe the City of Tuscaloosa's decision to file the charges today is part of a concerted effort by the City of Tuscaloosa and its Police Department to besmirch Mr. Buggs' name and reputation as part of an on-going subversive campaign to force the close of his local business Kings Hookah Lounge.
These efforts are not new as Mr. Buggs was arrested at his business on misdemeanor charges on two separate occasions in the past two months, but each time no public record was made of these arrests. Rather, the City used the threat of pursuing and publicizing both the allegations filed today and these arrests as leverage against Mr. Buggs by offering to drop and not pursue them in exchange for his voluntary surrender of his business license. Mr. Buggs declined the City's offer as he has serious concerns about the City's and Police Department's motivation for deciding to target his business, which he plans to bring to light as part of his defense of the allegations and charges filed against him and his reputation and business.
The Chiefs signed Buggs to their practice squad in January after he spent the past two seasons with the Lions. Buggs was a sixth-round pick by the Steelers in 2019, where he played until 2021. He's tallied two sacks and 89 combined tackles in 56 career games.
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This is only the most recent in a string of police investigations into Chiefs players.
Second-year wide receiver Rashee Rice was the first after police discovered he was the driver of a Lamborghini that caused a multi-car accident in Dallas in the spring. He faces eight charges in that case. An assault case against Rice that popped up in May was later dropped by the victim. Rice could be suspended for multiple games by the NFL for the 2024 season.
Chiefs offensive tackles Wanya Morris and Chukwuebuka Godrick were arrested in mid-May for marijuana possession.
While he didn't do anything criminal, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has been in the news a lot lately for his controversial comments on women's rights at a college commencement.
The Chiefs as a team, meanwhile, are trying to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
