Nov 10, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle (21) against the New Orleans Saints prior to a game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Joseph Randle has been given six months of probation for the shoplifting episode that saw him land in trouble last October, according to reports.
Records in Collin County, Texas, indicate that Randle pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft on Tuesday in a plea deal over his Oct. 13 arrest. At the time, the second-year Cowboys running back was caught stealing $123 in cologne and underwear from Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, Texas.
A judge in McKinney put Randle on 180 days of deferred adjudication probation. Tuesday's agreement means the guilty plea will be dismissed if Randle successfully completes probation. He also paid $706 in court-related costs.
Randle dominated the news cycle following the arrest, and it was only made worse when video from the Frisco jail showed him making inappropriate remarks to a female employee. In the same video, he also referenced legal issues that had involved teammates Dez Bryant and Josh Brent in recent years.
That arrest was the first of two incidents during Randle's second year with the team. He was arrested for possession of marijuana after a domestic disturbance call at a hotel in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, this past February. Prosecutors in that case subsequently said no charges would be filed, as there was insufficient evidence.
Randle is widely expected to win the starting job at running back in the wake of DeMarco Murray's departure in the spring â but his off-field history gives some pause. A big part of his job at training camp may involve winning back the trust of the Cowboys' coaches.
"I think Joe really has to make sure he takes care of everything on and off the field," Cowboys running backs coach Gary Brown said during the team's OTAs in May. "We want to trust Joe, we like Joe, but we want to make sure he's going to be with us at all times."
The fifth-round draft pick was a dynamic change of pace for Murray last season. He carried the ball just 51 times in 2014, but he averaged a whopping 6.7 yards per carry for 343 yards and three touchdowns.
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