The Green Bay Packers may consider keeping Andrew Quarless heading into training camp following an altercation that saw the tight end "fire a gun twice" while in a dispute on July 4, as ESPN and Pro Football Talk report that the Packers "plan" to keep Quarless.
Quarless was arrested in Miami Beach over the holiday weekend and was charged with a misdemeanor for discharging a firearm in public. Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports that the Packers "plan to stand by" Quarless after the incident. According to ESPN, the police report says that the incident occurred at 5:35 a.m. the tight end reportedly "fired two shots into the air outside a parking garage."
Quarless later was released from custody after the incident and further court dates have not been set for the tight end. Quarless is coming into the season after catching 29 passes last year for 323 yards and he previously signed a two-year deal for $3 million with the Packers. According to Demovsky, Quarless was set to battle with Richard Rodgers for the starting tight end job in training camp this summer. Demovsky added that Quarless could be "subject to discipline" under the NFL's personal conduct policy for the incident.
The Miami New Times reports that Quarless "tried to flee the scene and hide the gun in a plant" and is facing "first-degree misdemeanor with penalties of up to one year in jail in Florida." If Quarless misses time it will likely force the Packers to pick up someone as a free agent. The team does not have much depth at the position behind Rodgers with Justin Perillo, Kennard Backman, Harold Spears and Mitchell Henry.
Quarless had a career best 32 catches in 2013 and he has not missed a game for the Packers over the last two seasons. Rodgers is coming in after making 20 catches last season for 225 yards and two touchdowns and he could end up as the number one tight end on the depth chart if Quarless misses time with a suspension. The Packers have a deep offense this season with Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery and Eddie Royal and that should give Aaron Rodgers the chance to put up great numbers again. Rodgers the tight end is 6-foot-4 and that should make him a strong red zone option for Green Bay.
Check here for more on Quarless from Pro Football Talk.
The incident was reportedly witnessed by a parking garage attendant and had Quarless with another person and in an "apparent argument" with "two females" in the garage. The gun reportedly is legally registered to Quarless, "according to a source" per ESPN. The Packers previously said through a team spokesperson that they were "aware of the matter involving Andrew Quarless."