Alabama tackle Cam Robinson and reserve safety Hootie Jones avoided charges when Louisiana district attorney Jerry D. Jones dropped drug and weapons charges against the pair this week, citing insufficient evidence.
Whether the two will get off lightly with head coach Nick Saban remains to be seen. It's not clear yet whether Saban will suspend either for any games this season. However, Alabama has doled out punishments for Robinson and Jones leading up to the season.
Per AL.com, both players have been suspended indefinitely. Additionally, the pair will undergo weekly urine tests, submit themselves to regular drug counseling, appear on monthly video appointments with a mental health consultant and meet twice a week with Tuscaloosa police for gun safety education.
On top of that, both will complete 20 hours of community service. Robinson specifically must complete 26 hours of ride-along service with the Northport Police Department. Jones has to spend 21 days in a drug rehab program.
Alabama has not commented officially. The Tide open the season against USC in Arlington, Texas.
Jones and Robinson were pulled over in May and arrested after an officer found a bag of marijuana in the car and a stolen handgun under the driver's seat. Robinson was charged with possession and illegal carrying of a weapon, both misdemeanors, as well as felony possession of stolen firearms. Jones was charged with the first two misdemeanors only.
Upon dropping the charges this week, Jerry D. Jones said "I want to emphasize once again that the main reason I'm doing this is that I refuse to ruin the lives of two young men who have spent their adolescence and teenage years, working and sweating, while we were all in the air conditioning."
Obviously, a harsh form of punishment for Robinson and Jones would be to miss game time. In Robinson's case specifically, though, any absence could be detrimental to the Tide's quest for another national title.
