Former Falcons defensive tackle Peria Jerry, who retired from the team on HBO’s Hard Knocks, was taken into police custody after a traffic stop in Pontotoc County, Mississippi on Thursday.
The Sheriff's department did not list any other information or the nature of the charges in their online police records.
Some friends called Jerry’s former agent Bus Cook about the arrest, but didn’t have any additional details.
Jerry, 30, played for the Falcons from 2009 through 2013. The native of Batesville, Mississippi played at Mississippi.
When Jerry decided to retire in August, he walked away from $890,000 that he could have earned during the 2014 season.
The broadcast of his retirement announcement appeared to catch then Falcons coach Mike Smith off guard. Jerry was the 24th overall pick of the 2009 NFL draft and was likely headed for a reserve role on what turned out being the league’s worst defense.
Jerry’s career path was altered in the second game of his career when he suffered a gruesome knee injury. He came back, but the Falcons would only play him in passing situations in 2010.
On the show, Jerry didn’t appear to have a retirement plan.
Jerry was set to make a base salary of $760,000. He also could have earned another $160,000, by receiving $10,000 per game that he was active.
Over his career, Jerry made $10.3 million and should be in good shape if he didn’t squander his money.
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