Seth Udinski, FISM News

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A pair of headlines have developed in the sports sphere, both highlighting former NFL players who either were or are currently involved in high-profile legal cases.

The first involves Henry Ruggs III, the former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver who caused the horrific death of a young woman in November while allegedly driving his car at breakneck speeds under severe alcohol influence. After his arrest and release from the Raiders, Ruggs was placed under house arrest while awaiting trial. Initial reports said that his hearing would begin on Dec. 16, but this week the court delayed his initial trial hearings until March.

Additionally, the name of the woman and her cause of death have been released. Her name was Tina Tintor, and, she was 23 years old. According to a report from the county coroner in Las Vegas, Tintor was burned to death in the aftermath of the crash.

If convicted, Ruggs could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison.

And in other news, former NFL Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson is, as of last week, a free man. The Nevada Department of Public Safety announced this week that the former Heisman Trophy winner and convicted felon is officially finished serving his parole, following his conviction of kidnapping and robbery in 2007.

Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in prison in 2007, in what many perceived to be retribution for his acquittal in a highly publicized 1995 double murder trial. Simpson then stood accused of having killed his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994.

Simpson served 9 years in prison and was released ahead of schedule on good behavior. He remained on parole after his release in the fall of 2017.

For similar reasons, Simpson was granted early leave on his parole, which in function did not seem to disrupt his daily life in Nevada (or his wide social media presence), but was the last outstanding legal sentence against him and set to expire in February of next year.