Could Davante Adams actually go to jail? A breakdown

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams had criminal charges filed against him for shoving a photographer in Kansas City. Here’s what that means:

Adams was charged with misdemeanor assault via a city ordinance, per police. What this means is that the cameraman did opt to pursue charges.

This crime carries a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail, and a fine of up to $1,000.

Given the resources and financial backing Adams has at his disposal, it would be a surprise to see him spend any time behind bars. Even if he defied the odds, that sentence could be commuted or moved until the end of the season, potentially.

Davante Adams charges: What they mean

An opinion piece from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio outlines this reality well:

"“Here’s the reality. Adams won’t spend a day in jail. Even if he takes the case all the way to trial and loses, he’ll get probation or a suspended sentence or something other than being required to spend a minute behind bars. The charges were filed because the victim initiated the process. If/when (when) Adams and the victim reach a settlement as to the civil claims, the criminal case likely will be resolved with a minimal punishment, if any.”"

The criminal process is sure to be a pain to Adams, especially as he’ll have to deal with some of the repercussions from his actions during the season. However, the more immediate concern is how the NFL will deal with this issue.

Adams could theoretically be fined or suspended for his actions. Many across the NFL landscape are calling for just that, as the Raiders wide receiver admitted to shoving a photographer out of frustration. Despite his apology, his actions were uncalled for.

“I want to apologize to the guy, there was some guy running off the field, and he ran, like jumped in front of me coming off the field and I bumped into him, kind of pushed him, and he ended up on the ground,” Adams said at his locker postgame. “So I wanted to say sorry to him for that because that was just frustration mixed with him literally just running in from of me. I shouldn’t have responded that way, but that’s how I initially responded. So, I want to apologize to him for that.”

He went on to apologize on Twitter, but that tweet has since been deleted.