Saints’ Grant charged in death

May 21, 2008 – 12:49 pm

New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant and six others have been indicted on involuntary manslaughter charges involving an incident at a Georgia nightclub Feb. 3 in which a pregnant woman was shot and killed.

The Early County Times in Georgia first reported the indictments stemming from the altercation in the early-morning hours leading up to Super Bowl XLII. Bill Johnson, Grant’s agent, didn’t return a phone call left by the Sun Herald on Tuesday.

An Early County grand jury also charged Laquient Macklin with felony murder and feticide in the death of Korynda Reed and her unborn child.

Grant was also charged with creating a disturbance.

Woodrow Gray, one of the six others charged with involuntary manslaughter, was also charged with aggravated assault with a knife in the stabbing of Grant, who was pierced in the neck during the brawl.

Grant came away from the attack not seriously injured.

The charges against Grant certainly could draw negative interest from the NFL office with the increased crackdown on off-the-field behavior after the lengthy suspensions of such players as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones and former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry.

The Saints made Grant one of the highest-paid defensive ends in the NFL last offseason when they signed him to a seven-year contract worth up to $63 million with $20 million guaranteed.

Injuries and sluggish play led to one of his worst statistical seasons of his six-year pro career in 2007, when he tied a career low with 2½ sacks in 14 starts.

Source: Sun Herald