Former Georgia CB DeAndre Baker signs with Kansas City after dropped robbery charges

After robbery charges were dropped last week, former Bulldog DeAndre Baker is getting a fresh start in Kansas City. Details here

Former Georgia defensive back DeAndre Baker’s robbery charges were dropped last week after news the attorney representing three of the four men who were allegedly robbed by Baker, William Dean, was arrested on extortion charges.

Baker, a 2019 first-round draft pick by New York Giants, was released from the team after the incident in September.

He faced a minimum of 10 years in prison if convicted and now, only a week after charges were dropped, Baker has a fresh start as a Kansas City Chief.

NFL Network reported late Tuesday night that the defending Super Bowl champs have signed Baker to the practice squad with an avenue to the starting roster if he plays well.

Great to see Baker get another shot in the NFL after a rough rookie season in New York and the wild situation in September.

 


Make sure you’re caught up on Georgia Football before the game! I breakdown everything you need to know before the Dawgs take on Mississippi State in this week’s episode of the UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton podcast, featuring special guest, former UGA All-American punter Drew Butler. Listen here:

New York Giants to release former Georgia Bulldog DB

Former Georgia Bulldog defensive back Deandre Baker is set to be released. Baker was a first-round pick for the New York Giants in 2019.

Former Georgia Bulldog defensive back Deandre Baker is set to be released. Baker was a first-round pick for the New York Giants in 2019. Now, the Giants are looking to cut ties with the 2018 Jim Thorpe Award winner.

Earlier this offseason Baker was accused of armed robbery and aggravated assault with a firearm. With his mounting legal troubles, the New York Giants are moving on from him.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported the news in what has been a troubling year for Deandre Baker:

We’ll keep you updated on the status former UGA corner Deandre Baker. It will be unlikely that he’ll have any suitors as a free agent due to his pending legal issues and his status on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.

Baker’s release is yet to be official, but it is imminent. The Giants have given away Baker’s No. 27 jersey to corner Isaac Yiadom.

The selection of Baker is proving to be a costly one for New York Giants General Manager Dave Gettleman, who may be on the hot seat soon.

Dec 1, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Deandre Baker (18) reacts on the bench with teammates after being defeating by the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

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Arrest warrant issued for former star Georgia Bulldog DB

Former Georgia Bulldog DB Deandre Baker has an arrested warrant for robbery and aggravated assault with a firearm.

An arrest warrant has been issued for former Georgia Bulldog defensive back Deandre Baker. Baker was a first round pick for the New York Giants in 2019.

Now, he and Seahawks’ corner Quinton Dunbar are being accused of Armed Robbery and Aggravated Assault with a Firearm:

Baker, according to the warrant, robbed the victims of money and watches while allegedly threatening them with a firearm. The arrest warrant alleges that the robbery was planned based on the position of the cars.

The event occurred late May 13th at a house party in Miramar, Florida. Baker’s hometown is Miami, Florida. Dunbar aided Baker in the robbery, but didn’t have a firearm.

The warrant alleges that Baker robbed the victims after a card game turned wrong. Baker and Dunbar reportedly lost $70,000 at a previous night.

More information will emerge as the case develops. We’ll keep you updated on the status of both NFL players and former UGA corner Deandre Baker.

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Once considered a bust, Giants CB Deandre Baker turning it on

Former Georgia football CB Deandre Baker was once seen as a bust, but is now turning it on for the New York Giants.

Deandre Baker is one of the best defensive backs in the history of Georgia football. He simply locked down every wide receiver that he ever faced off against in college.

The New York Giants used a first round pick on Baker, hoping his lockdown skills would translate to the NFL.

For the first half of the NFL season, it was not looking good for Baker or the Giants. He was getting beat regularly, giving up a ton of room to receivers to make easy catches and was being targeted by opposing quarterbacks.

But that was then.

Now, Baker has been playing like one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.

Good for Baker, a former Jim Thorpe Award winner who is now playing like we knew he could.

Being a first round draft pick yields a lot of pressure, and one guy who knows a lot about that pressure is Giants running back Saquon Barkley.

Barkley talked with the New York Post about Baker and his rookie season.

“When you come in as a first-rounder, everyone sets expectations for you and there are expectations that you set for yourself and the kind of player you want to be,’’ Barkley told The Post on Friday. “Bake comes in every single day and works to get better and better. Obviously, he probably didn’t start the season how he would like to start his career. But these last couple weeks, he’s been playing lights out. He was a big reason why we got our first win in a while last week.’’

Georgia football: Bulldogs must have better bowl game, off-season

The Georgia Bulldogs fell to the LSU Tigers 37-10 in the SEC Championship Game. LSU dominated and UGA’s offense never got rolling. Jake Fromm and Georgia receivers couldn’t get in sync all game (more on the receivers later). All of this felt like a …

The Georgia Bulldogs fell to the LSU Tigers 37-10 in the SEC Championship Game. LSU dominated and UGA’s offense never got rolling. Jake Fromm and Georgia receivers couldn’t get in sync all game (more on the receivers later).

All of this felt like a accumulation of Georgia’s weaknesses and errors adding up over the course of the season. But make no mistake about it. Georgia had a despicable off-season in 2018-2019 following the 2018 SEC Championship Game defeat to Alabama. Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs must bounce back better following the crushing loss against LSU.

Last year, following the 2018 SEC title game UGA’s Deandre Baker started the off-season slide when he won the Jim Thorpe Award. Baker set a tone for the off-season that was not ideal. Following winning the award Baker was quoted saying this:

“I’m playing in the Sugar Bowl,” Baker said, per Jake Rowe of 247Sports. “…I just wanted to finish it right with my teammates, that’s all.”

Baker went on to sit out Georgia’s bowl game against Texas: a multi-score defeat to Texas. Players who are going to sit out the bowl game need to decide soon and be honest about it. Coaches need to prepare with the guys they’ve got and start building momentum for 2020. Regardless of who shows up, Georgia needs a win to be making progress as a program.

Baker’s decision was one of the least notable things of the 2018-2019 off-season.

Receivers Mecole Hardman Jr., Riley Ridley, RB Elijah Holyfield, and tight end Isaac Nauta all declared for the NFL early following the Sugar Bowl loss. Georgia lost Justin Fields in a transfer to Ohio State. Fields would’ve looked mighty good in Georgia red and black this season.

Every player has the right to declare for the NFL early, but for many it is not the best choice. There’s no going back. Some players family situations prevent them from being in school. That being said, Holyfield and Nauta would’ve been served better staying in Athens. Each would’ve had large roles in the offense. Neither is set up for NFL success now. Players should do what’s best for them and their families at the end of the day.

Kirby Smart secured yet another talented recruiting class, but that was the least of UGA’s 2018-2019 off-season worries. Seven Georgia players were arrested in 2019 before the Dawgs suited up to play Vanderbilt. WR Jeremiah Holloman proved to be the most costly of UGA’s arrest-related off-season losses. Georgia never made up for his loss and struggled to stretch teams down the field, especially in loses to South Carolina and LSU. Fromm missed Holloman’s back shoulder fade ability as well.

How does UGA have a better off-season this time? Jake Fromm staying would help, but don’t count on that. If he leaves, it may be Georgia’s turn to land a talented QB transfer like D’Eriq King of Houston. Kirby Smart needs borderline players to return and/or not transfer.

Players leave programs and that’s a reality of college football in 2019. Smart must land more recruits. UGA’s class of 2020 is extremely talented, but the Dawgs only have fifteen commitments. They will look add about ten more. Smart needs to land a talented tight end in this class. Darnell Washington or Theo Johnson would be huge for UGA. It’s the most talented tight end class in years.

Lastly, Georgia must stay out of trouble. 2-3 arrests would be excellent in comparison to seven. Yes, last off-season all seven weren’t all serious offenses, but they hurt the team.

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