Eagles reserve offensive lineman Josh Sills has been indicted on rape and kidnapping charges stemming from a 2019 incident, according to reports. Sills joins a list of NFL players arrested prior to the conference championship game or the Super Bowl.
The Eagles are 11 days out from Super Bowl LVII and have yet to make a comment on the matter.
Sills is a reserve lineman who’s appeared in one game for the Eagles this season, in October against the Arizona Cardinals.
The NFL has placed Sills on the Commissioner Exempt List in the wake of the charges. He will not be allowed to practice, play in games, or travel with the team until he’s off of it.
According to reports, Sills “engaged in sexual activity that was not consensual and held a victim against her will.” Reports say Sills allegedly forced a woman to perform oral sex on him for “approximately 20 minutes.”
He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 16, four days after the Super Bowl, to hear the charges of one felony count of rape and one felony count of kidnapping and enter a plea.
Sills joins the growing list of NFL players arrested prior to huge playoff games and Super Bowls.
Charles Omenihu, San Francisco 49ers 2022
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Charles Omenihu was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence last Monday. He did play in the NFC Championship Game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, but his team was pulverized 31-7 and looked out of sync.
A woman who claimed Omenihu is her boyfriend called the police from his home the Monday before the game reporting domestic violence and alleged that he “pushed her to the ground during an argument.”
Omenihu gave a statement when the police arrived and was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence. He was then taken to the Santa Clara County Jail and was released after posting bail, according to reports.
Stanley Wilson, Cincinnati Bengals 1988
On the eve of Super Bowl XXIII, the Bengals running back was suspended from the game for cocaine use. Wilson had been suspended in the 1985 and 1987 seasons for the same issue. His addiction impacted his teammates and might have contributed to the 20-16 loss to the 49ers in the big game.
Boomer Esiason tells Mad Dog the inside story of the events that lead up to the suspension of Bengals RB Stanley Wilson on the eve of Super Bowl XXIII. pic.twitter.com/JDizd9Di9Z
— Funhouse (@BackAftaThis) January 4, 2020
Eugene Robinson, Atlanta Falcons 1999
On the eve of Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami, Robinson was arrested on Biscayne Boulevard on charges of soliciting an undercover police officer who was posing as a prostitute. He was a Pro Bowl player and the team’s starting free safety.
In the game Robinson gave up an 80-yard touchdown reception to Denver Broncos receiver Rod Smith, and in the fourth quarter, he missed a tackle on Denver running back Terrell Davis that enabled Davis to break a long run inside the red zone. The Falcons lost the game 34-19.
How good was the 1998 Atlanta Falcons defense? The starting front 4 had 29.5 Sacks (Falcons had 18 as a team last year).
Lester Archambeau 10
Chuck Smith 8.5
Shane Dronett 6.5
Travis Hall 4.5Eugene Robinson robbed us of what could have been an epic Super Bowl match up. pic.twitter.com/hGdE78Pt9q
— Atlanta Falcons on AllFalcons (@AllFalconsATL) August 1, 2022
Robinson, whose wife and children were with him in Miami for the game, had been awarded The Bart Starr Award on the morning of the day of his arrest. It is given annually to the NFL player who “best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community.”
Barret Robbins, Oakland Raiders 2003
Robbins wasn’t arrested prior to Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego but an incident revealed some serious struggles the lineman was going through at the time. He disappeared in the days leading up to the game and apparently went on a drinking binge across the Mexican border in Tijuana. Robbins suffered from depression and bipolar disorder.
He showed up at the team hotel the night before the game, but head coach Bill Callahan told Robbins to go to his family. He didn’t play in the game.
What's the real story of why Raiders lineman Barret Robbins missed Super Bowl XXXVII?
Find out in the newest edition of #SportsUncovered. Download and subscribe: https://t.co/qbFNdRKxFp pic.twitter.com/O4HmDkQXKN
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) July 10, 2020
Following the incident, he was busted for using steroids and arrested on a few occasions.
Warren Sapp, NFL Network 2010
The great Warren Sapp was retired by Feb. 7, 2010, when he was arrested in South Florida and charged with domestic battery. The former defensive lineman was in the area working as an analyst with the NFL Network for Super Bowl XLIV. As a result of this mini-scandal, Sapp was yanked from NFL Network temporarily, but eventually the charges against him were dropped.
Adrian Awasom, NY Giants 2008
Awasom was on the injured reserve list and unable to participate in practices and game preparation. While he wasn’t going to see the field for the Giants’ historic 17-14 win over Tom Brady’s undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, Awasom wasn’t even in in the building when his team ended New England’s run toward a perfect season because the backup defensive end was arrested on suspicion of “extreme DUI” or double the legal limit.
The team sent him home. After that it got worse for Awasom. He was released before the start of the 2008 season after suffering a season ending neck injury. He would get one more shot with the Vikings before bouncing around the Arena League and USL, where he won two titles.
