Posted on 02/13/2026 10:56:05 AM PST by thegagline
President Donald Trump has pardoned five former NFL players convicted of various offenses ranging from counterfeiting to drug trafficking*** Johnson revealed on social media Thursday that Trump has granted clemency to former New York Jets defensive lineman Joe Klecko, former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Nate Newton, former Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis, former Buffalo Bills running back Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon.
“As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again,” she wrote and added, “So is our nation.”
Johnson also credited Cowboys owner Jerry Jones with relaying the news to Newton, writing that Jones “personally” informed him of the decision.
“Special thanks to Jerry Jones for personally sharing the news with Nate Newton. I’m holding Nate’s pardon in my hands today — what a blessed day,” Johnson wrote.
Newton, 64, served 30 months in federal prison beginning in 2002 on a drug trafficking charge, and he has remained active in team events and media appearances since his release.
Cannon, a College Football Hall of Famer who died in 2018, served more than two years in prison after admitting in 1983 to participating in a counterfeiting scheme. He played for the Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders, and Kansas City Chiefs and was a two-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl selection.
Klecko, a former defensive lineman for the Jets inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023, was sentenced to three months in prison for perjury in an insurance fraud case.
Lewis, a former Ravens running back who won the Super Bowl in 2001, pleaded guilty in 2004 to using a cellphone to facilitate a drug transaction.
Henry, who played for the Bills, pleaded guilty in 2009 to conspiracy to traffic cocaine and served three years in prison.***
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
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Yay for the rich and/or famous!
national felon leaguq is now the NFFL, the national former felon league
All thugs, it sounds like. What is the supposed reason for this? If Obama had done it, we would be saying, what, exactly?
What’s next? NBA felons? No gambling pardons I see. Haha.
To be fair, these are all crimes that were committed some time ago, and every one of the convicts served their sentences, and there was no recidivism. All the pardon does is restore their non-felon status. It’s true that it is easier to get such a pardon when one is reasonably famous, which is concerning of course.
Newton and Henry got a slap on the wrist. Trump should not pardon celebrity criminals. Not a good move.
You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay, or you can call me Ray Jay…
It’s a curated pardon list by sport. This is the stuff Trump really cares about.
Pardon or Clemency?
The author uses both of those terms in the article.
She also trafficked cocaine, so she knows the ins and outs of the system.
“If Obama had done it, we would be saying, what, exactly?”
I would be against it because I don’t trust Obama’s judgement, while I do trust President Trump.
Yeah, I’m not going to lose sleep over this — though, I will say that the problem with such pardons and it was/is my big beef with that CZ knucklehead...
An actual *pardon* allows them to become eligible to rejoin certain industries that a conviction - even after time-served - blocks them from forever.
I don’t like that.
The perjury and insurance fraud in particular — no, I don’t know the details, but to my mind? One and done. No second chances. Get a different job. You blew your chance.
> All the pardon does is restore their non-felon status. <
That’s quite a bit. A pardon treats the crime as if it never happened. It would seem to me that pardons should be reserved for questionable convictions.
I am particularly concerned when a pardon is issued for a drug crime.
Don’t forget restitution -
As noted, I don’t know the background on these convictions — but that’s another big deal on pardons vs commutations.
Based on the convictions noted, I’m not sure any restitution elements apply... but a pardon also allows crooks to escape restitution judgments.
That, I do not like.
Much as I’m a pure buyer beware capitalist? I do believe that when the law/judgment applies restitution - even knowing the ins and outs of bankruptcy law, they never get fulfilled - people convicted shouldn’t escape that.
You should have your own judgement, too. Politicians of any stripe can rarely be trusted, is often rule number one, as well.
Pardoning 5 bruthuha’s is more than virtue signal.
But they still hate Trump.
Without the consent and permission of an Obama or biden appointed judge?
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