As we stand on the cusp of the brand-new 2011 NFL season, six-year veteran running back Laurence Maroney was acquitted of a misdemeanor marijuana charge on Tuesday in St. Louis. Associate Circuit Judge Elizabeth Byrne Hogan agreed to the request of Maroney’s attorney Scott Rosenblum to issue a “directed verdict” (when the Court stops a trial after determining an essential “material fact” has not been proven by one of the parties) because prosecutors failed to meet the burden of proof. Judge Horgan agreed with Rosenblum’s assertion and declared Maroney not guilty.
 
Rosenblum told the AP: “It [the directed verdict] is unusual because it hardly ever happens. The judge is saying the case doesn't need to go any further because, based on the evidence, the state hasn't made a case.”
 
Maroney was one of five people arrested in St. Louis for allegedly possessing pot on the night of January 17 after being in one of three vehicles slowing down traffic so that the occupants of the trio of cars could converse with people on the street. Police came to break it up, smelled pot and arrested everyone including Maroney. Maroney always maintained the pot was not his and he didn’t smoke any of it, even pleading his case on local St. Louis radio. He opted for a jury trial.
 
Maroney was born in Saint Louis, having been a multi-sport superstar for Normandy Senior High School and went on to play college football at Minnesota, becoming the first Golden Gopher to rush for over 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. The New England Patriots selected Maroney in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. He went on to have a solid rookie season.
 
Maroney was the starting running back for the 2007 Patriots team that went 18-0 before losing to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. In that game, the Giants stout defense held Maroney to a disappointing 36 yards on 14 carries, though he did score one of the Patriots’ two touchdowns as they went down in that shocking upset loss. He was traded to the Denver Broncos in 2010, but played just four games in an injury-riddled campaign and his contract was not renewed. In his career thus far, Maroney has rushed for over 2,500 yards at a 4.1 yards-per-carry clip with 22 TDs, rushing and receiving.  
 
Now with the dubious doobie charge dropped, the free-agent Maroney hopes to catch on with an NFL team in need of some backfield depth, and seeing that the NFL stands for “Not-For-Long” due to the high probability of injuries, Maroney should get a shot at some point. Rosenblum confirmed Maroney has two workouts scheduled, though he declined to name the teams involved, adding Maroney’s acquittal will increase his likelihood of making a team’s 53-player roster. “He needed it [the acquittal] to move forward,” Rosenblum said. “It's a different situation when you're a free agent.”
 
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