Jets DE Sheldon Richardson busted for allegedly driving 143 mph, resisting arrest

Sheldon Richardson is becoming a headache for the New York Jets. A talented headache, but a headache nonetheless.

Richardson was suspended for the first four games of this season for violating the league's substance abuse policy, reportedly for marijuana use. On Thursday, as the Jets started training camp, there was a story out of St. Louis that Richardson was clocked for allegedly driving 143 miles per hour and then resisting arrest via a high-speed chase on July 14.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch said Richardson was clocked at that speed in his 2014 Bentley Silver Spur, then "increased his speed, drove off the highway, and sped through a traffic light to try to get away" when officers tried to stop his car. There was a 12-year-old in the car, and two other adults, the report said. Richardson eventually complied with officers' demands to get out of the vehicle and he was arrested. The Post-Dispatch said Richardson was charged with resisting arrest, exceeding the speed limit, following too closely, failing to use lights and failing to obey a traffic signal. Richardson is from St. Louis, and the incident happened in that area. The probable cause report on the Post-Dispatch's web site revealed a few more details. It said Richardson appeared to reach for something between his feet as he was told to stop. The report said a fully loaded semi-automatic handgun was recovered from underneath the driver's side floor mat. The report also the said the officer reported smelling the strong odor of burned marijuana coming from the vehicle.

Before news of the traffic arrest was brought to light, Richardson was explaining his reasons for his other off-field issue, the four-game suspension.

“I’m very disappointed in myself...I brought it on myself, me missing the four games,” Richardson said, according to the Daily News. "Just a little disappointed and embarrassed for my parents’ sake."

Richardson was a first-round pick in 2013 and the NFL defensive rookie of the year. He is one of the best defensive ends in the league. But the Jets would probably be happy if his next few headlines were strictly for what he does on the field.