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Dallas Morning News
November 14, 2013
Sam Hurd appeared to have avoided a life of crime when he escaped his poor, drug-ridden neighborhood in San Antonio and made it to the NFL as a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys.
But he eventually succumbed to the same pitfalls that claimed so many others he grew up with, culminating Wednesday when he was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for drug trafficking.
The man once known for his sportsmanship and charity work stood shackled and wearing an orange prison-issued jumpsuit as he offered a teary apology for the marijuana addiction that led to his drug dealing.
“I regret not thinking about the consequences — the consequences of my selfish actions that have caused harm to my family. … I regret my actions that caused me to lose my football career,” Hurd said. “My life is made up of good fortune and the train wreck of bad decisions that I made.”
U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis could have sentenced Hurd to life in prison but opted for a term closer to the 10-year minimum. There is no parole in the federal system, but Hurd’s attorney said he’ll get credit for the year he’s already served.
Hurd pleaded for a lenient sentence that would give him a second chance, and Solis asked that the 28-year-old make good on his promise to turn his life around.
“It’s a tragedy,” Solis said. “You had everything going for you — no reason to get involved in this activity.”
Hurd played for the Cowboys from 2006 to 2010, mostly making an impact on special teams. He built a reputation as an upstanding player who overcame tough beginnings to become a role model, attending chapel services and participating in youth football camps. In his final season with Dallas, his teammates voted him the Cowboy who best exemplified sportsmanship and courage.
