New Orleans Saints receiver Chris Olave was arrested Monday night for reckless driving.
According to a police statement, the Saints receiver drove 70 miles per hour in a 35-mile-per-hour zone. The police report details that Olave was recklessly maneuvering between lanes and other drivers. The former Buckeye was arrested at 9:10 p.m.
In Louisiana, where Olave was arrested, the first offense of reckless driving can bring a fine of up to $200 and up to 90 days in jail. While the jail sentence appears unlikely, the court system will impose the sentence later.
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Will Chris Olave Face an NFL Suspension?
It is highly unlikely Olave will get suspended.
For starters, the NFL allows the legal system to play out, and for a player like Olave, who has a clean track record, a first offense of reckless driving won’t bring a suspension. Players like Jalen Carter, Robbie Chosen, and Jordan Addison have all been charged with reckless driving in the past, and none of them served a suspension.
Kenner Police released the bodycam footage from Chris Olave's reckless driving arrest last night.
Olave: "I play for the Saints, man."
Officer: "And?"pic.twitter.com/Zkw9FKvYKB
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 24, 2023
As long as Olave doesn’t commit a second offense, raising the ire of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, he shouldn’t have to worry about an NFL suspension.
However, he did himself little favor in the later released video of the arrest. Although he did not resist when questioned by the officer, he can be heard saying, “I play for the Saints, man.”
The arresting officer did not seem impressed as Olave tried to leverage his NFL status to escape trouble.
Posting to X a short while after the video was released, Olave didn’t have much to say.
“Damn crazy world,” he wrote.
In a follow-up post, he seemed to call people out for trying to tear him down.
MORE: NFL Offense Rankings 2023
“They couldn’t wait to try to tear me down & bash me,” Olave said.
This isn’t the first time the Saints have dealt with off-the-field concerns and potential suspensions. Running back Alvin Kamara was suspended the first three games of the 2023 season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy due to his involvement in a 2022 incident in Las Vegas that left victim Darnell Greene hospitalized.
What’s Wrong With the Saints Offense?
With the addition of QB Derek Carr via free agency, the 2023 version of the Saints was supposed to be a more explosive and, ultimately, a more prolific passing attack. Instead, the New Orleans offense seems to have regressed, relying on dump-off passes to Kamara.
Not that Kamara is a bad pass catcher — football fans know that he’s one of the better receivers out of the backfield in the NFL. Still, the Saints have some explosive playmakers on the outside that they can’t seem to get the ball to.
MORE: 2023 NFL WR Rankings
A second-year receiver, Olave is one of the most dynamic playmakers and polished route runners in the sport. He’s an established offensive weapon, and there’s no excuse for why New Orleans can’t scheme Olave touches and get their best offensive weapon more touches.
The Saints also have Michael Thomas, who demands attention in his own right. Thomas may not be the player he once was, but the defense still must allocate resources to the reliable pass catcher.
Rashid Shaheed has developed into one of the most versatile players in the league as well. Shaheed is an underneath option that you can line up in the backfield or out wide in the screen game. He’s also one of the most dangerous deep threats in the NFC South and a special-teams asset.
The Saints have the pieces in place to become one of the better offenses in the NFC. The time for excuses is over.
