Chicago Bears Receiver A Would-Be Kingpin
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By DERON SNYDER
By most accounts, Sam Hurd was just a nice guy. Teammates said he was well-liked and low-key and often sang gospel songs to himself. One former teammate said Hurd struck him as “a family guy.”
All of that could be well and true.
But federal agents said there’s more to Hurd, a side that could send him to jail for up to 40 years. He was arrested this week on charges of conspiring to possess and distribute cocaine. The Chicago Bears, who in July signed Hurd to a three-year, $5.1 million contract, released him on Friday.
The Bears’ contract included a $1.35 million signing bonus, but that apparently wasn’t enough to provide the lifestyle Hurd sought. He wasn’t satisfied with just being an NFL player; he wanted to be a playa-playa, along the lines of Tony Montana.
There’s no other explanation for Hurd allegedly expressing an interest — while meeting with an informant and an undercover agent — in purchasing 5-10 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 pounds of marijuana … wait for it … per week!
