Cox Thrust into Tight Spot Behind Bars Following Arrest for Sexual Assault

"You can't catch me. No one can catch me... unless you're the police."

Denver Broncos rookie cornerback Perrish Cox was arrested on Thursday on charges of sexual assault stemming from an incident on October 28. On that day, Cox wasn't with the team when they departed for London to play the San Francisco 49ers in week eight. The week before, Cox suffered a concussion against the Oakland Raiders.

While his guilt has yet to be proven, one has to figure that however this turns out it won't be good for Cox. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was suspended six games to start the season following the second of the two sexual-assault accusations against him. While Roethlisberger's "sentence" was eventually reduced based on his good behaviour, one has to take into account that no charges were ever filed against him. The same cannot be said for Cox, who, if acquitted, likely will face more severe supplementary discipline at the hands of commissioner Roger Goodell. There's also the small distinction between the two players of Roethlisberger being a legitimate star and Cox not so much.

It's easy to build a case of nepotism against the NFL when discussing the suspensions it's issued in the past and ones it's conveniently neglected to (Houston Texans wide-receiver Andre Johnson after his dust-up with Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan, with the Texans next playing the Philadelphia Eagles in a game being broadcast on the NFL Network), but in this case Cox doesn't have nearly enough going for him in that regard to even merit the benefit of the doubt. Anytime your name is uttered in the same sentence as the league's personal-conduct policy, it's a good bet it won't turn out well for you. Most will say it's turned out pretty badly already for Cox.