Former Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears’ wide receiver Sam Hurd, 28, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a drug ring on Nov. 13.
Hurd pleaded guilty to drug trafficking back in April.
While no other Cowboy or Bears’ players are known to have been charged in connection with the case, Hurd claimed in an interview published Tuesday that he shared marijuana with Cowboys teammates and smoked during the last three to four years of his career “all day, every day” calling himself “an addict.”
“Everything I’ve done in relation to this case is a direct result of my marijuana addiction and would get me and lead me to more marijuana,” he said to the judge.
The former WR was arrested after an undercover sting December 2011 arrest outside a suburban Chicago steakhouse came after he tried to buy a kilogram of cocaine to an officer.According to a federal complaint, Hurd told an undercover agent that he wanted 5 to 10 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 pounds of marijuana per week to distribute in the Chicago area. He claimed he was already distributing 4 kilograms a week, according to the complaint. A kilogram is about 2.2 pounds
Two others have also been arrested for their involvement in the conspiracy. Hurd’s cousin, Jesse Tyrone Chavful was sentenced to eight years in prison and Toby Lujan will be sentenced in January 2014.
“I’m sorry and very remorseful for everything I did”, a tearful Sam Hurd said before a packed federal courtroom. “I was addicted to marijuana. I’ve never sold or used cocaine”, Hurd repeated several times in his personal plea for leniency, before Judge Jorge Solis.
