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Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer saw the book close on his domestic dispute. According to AZCardinals.com, Dwyer entered a plea agreement related to the domestic violence charges against him for which he was arrested back in September.
Dwyer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. He will serve no jail time and agreed to 18 months of probation.
When the arrest occurred, the team quickly deactivated him. They later moved him to the non-football illness list, which ended his season.
Dwyer will be a free agent, having only signed a one-year contract last offseason to join the Cardinals.
The big question will be whether or not the Cardinals move on from him. Head coach Bruce Arians believed Dwyer was going to have "a big year."
His absence from the team and injuries to Andre Ellington really hurt the running game.
Dwyer is "an Arians guy," having been drafted by the Steelers when Arians ws offensive coordinator. It wouldn't be completely out of the question to see him brought back again.
After all, it seems the Cardinals are willing to retain the services of linebacker Daryl Washington, who has not only been suspended twice for substance abuse, but also was involved with domestic violence and pleaded guilty, but o a felony charge of aggravated assault.
Now the Cards could want to go a different way at running back, especially with the late emergence of Kerwynn Williams and because Dwyer will not be under contract. But if the team is willing to keep Washington around after his domestic incident, if they like what Dwyer gives them in the running game, bringing him back for another season isn't out of the question.
That's not to say there won't be better options in free agency or the draft, but if Washington will still be back, even with a likely suspension coming again after he is reinstated from his substance abuse suspension, the team shouldn't have an issue bringing back Dwyer, right?