Jets release Tae Hayes following arrest for marijuana possession

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

Hayes, 26, from Decatur, Alabama, was booked at 3:46 a.m. Sunday and released less than two hours later on a $300 bond. The possession charge is a second-degree misdemeanor, according to the Trinity (Alabama) Police Department.

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

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

Hayes was considered a long shot to make the team. He signed with the Jets’ practice squad last Oct. 3, played a reserve role in an upset victory over the Philadelphia Eagles and spent the remainder of the season on the practice squad. He re-signed on a one-year contract after the season.

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