Daily Freeman (Kingston, NY)

Giants’ Baker among three on exempt list

Cornerback faces felony charges stemming from an offseason incident in Florida

- By Stephen Whyno AP Sports Writer

New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar and Washington wide receiver Cody Latimer were put on the NFL’s Commission­er Exempt

List on Monday while facing felony charges from offseason incidents.

A player on the Commission­er Exempt List cannot practice or play in games but does get paid. He can be at the team’s facility “on a reasonable basis” for meetings, individual workouts, therapy, rehab and other non-football activities if given team permission.

Baker and Dunbar were charged after a robbery at a cookout in Miramar, Florida. Baker faces four counts of armed robbery with a firearm and four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, while Dunbar faces four felony counts of armed robbery.

Baker and Dunbar were attending the cookout in May when a fight broke out, and Baker pulled out a handgun, an arrest warrant said. Baker, Dun

bar and two other men began robbing people of thousands of dollars, watches and other valuables, witnesses told investigat­ors.

Each player was released after posting bond. The players’ lawyers said they have witnesses who will clear them.

The same week, Latimer was arrested and charged

with a felony count of illegal discharge of a firearm. The Douglas County sheriff’s office said deputies arrested the 27-year-old after responding to a report of shots fired inside an apartment in the Denver suburb of Englewood, Colorado.

Latimer also faces charges of second-degree assault, menacing, prohibited use of a weapon and reckless endangerme­nt. He was also released after posting bond.

Baker, 22, was one of

three first-round draft picks the Giants had last year. He played in all 16 games, starting 15, and had 61 tackles.

Dunbar, 28, was traded from Washington to Seattle in March. The converted wide receiver started 11 games for Washington last season, making 37 tackles and four intercepti­ons.

The team moved on from Dunbar for financial reasons after he requested a new contract.

“I just felt that as the situation progressed, he was

looking for something that we weren’t prepared to give,” first-year coach Ron Rivera said. “He had a year left on his contract. We didn’t know him and just felt that because of that situation and circumstan­ces — his agent and his attitude just didn’t seem to change — we just felt that we were going to move in another direction.”

Latimer signed with Washington in March after two years with the Giants and four years before that with the Broncos.

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