Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux arrested for pot possession

Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux is likely to play a Sunday game against the New Orleans Saints despite an arrest for possession of marijuana along with some driving violations.

While the arrest is being reviewed under the NFL’s substance abuse policy, a spokesman admitted that the team was aware of the charges, but declined comment.

“We are aware of the situation concerning Jonathan Babineaux and are in the process of gathering information. Because this is a legal matter, we will have no further comment at this time,” a team spokesman said in a statement released by the team.

Babineaux was arrested Thursday night during a routine traffic stop during which an officer claimed to have smelled marijuana. A subsequent search allegedly turned up 40 grams of pot. In addition to possession, 28-year-old Babineaux was charged with a missing tag light, driving without a license and having an expired tag. Babineaux’s 25-year-old passenger Aaron Robinson was charged with possession with intent to distribute.

This isn’t Babineaux’s first brush with the law in Gwinnett County- he was arrested in 2007 for killing his girlfriend’s pet pit-bull, Kilo, but the charges were dismissed nine months later. Babineaux denied intentionally killing the animal and stated Kilo had a history of aggression and unprovoked attacks.