Jets release Tae Hayes after arrest for marijuana possession

Cornerback Tae Hayes was released by the New York Jets on Monday, a day after he was arrested in Alabama for marijuana possession.

Hayes, 26, of Decatur, Alabama, was booked at 3:46 a.m. Sunday and released less than two hours later on a $300 bond. According to Trinity, Alabama police, the possession charge is a second-degree felony.

In Alabama, marijuana is allowed for medical purposes, but it has not been decriminalized for other uses.

The Jets did not comment on Hayes’ release. On Sunday, a team spokesperson said the club was aware of the situation but declined further comment because it was a pending legal matter.

Hayes was considered a gamble to make the team. He signed to the Jets’ practice squad on October 3, played a reserve role in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles, and spent the remainder of the season on the practice squad. After the season he signed another one-year contract.

Since breaking into the NFL in 2019, Hayes has played for the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers, a total of 14 games.