Dennard DUI Hearing Delayed (Again)

Stop me if you've heard this before: Alfonzo Dennard's DUI hearing got pushed back.

The Patriots cornerback had his request for a continuance granted by a Lancaster County (Neb) judge last week. Instead of appearing in court tomorrow (November 13), he's now due back on December 6. It's the second continuance Dennard has been granted in the case, as his original court date was October 8.

Dennard was arrested in Lincoln Nebraska on June 11 for suspicion of a DUI after officer's spotted him straddling lane lines. Dennard has since claimed that he only had one or two beers that night and took a nap before driving to his girlfriend's house. That claim, combined with the fact that Dennard never officially blew over the legal limit (officer's claimed he didn't blow hard enough) has lead to some suspicion that Lincoln Police were targeting Dennard due to his history. However, he has admitted to violating his two years probation, resulting in a December 5 sentencing that is separate from the DUI case.

Dennard is under two years probation due to a 2012 incident in which he punched a police officer. The incident happened merely weeks before the NFL draft, causing the talented Dennard to slip all the way to the seventh round. The Patriots snapped him up there and he has emerged as a solid starter in his first two NFL seasons.

Dennard faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for violating his probation. His new probation terms are subject to the judge's control. He already faces 30 days of jail time for the original assault charges.

Its a situation worth monitoring. There is still a possibility that this legal situation renders Dennard unavailable down the stretch of the season, something that would be a tough blow for a defense that has already faced enough losses. If Dennard does miss any time, look for rookie Logan Ryan to take his place in the defense.